John L. Sullivan vs. Bob Fitzsimmons

If you mean the time-machine type of "modern rules" then Fitz wins, either by knockout or by Sullivan DQ'ing himself. The ancient bareknuckle clinching that Sullivan will be looking to employ in this matchup isn't legal anymore. He won't be able to defend himself properly under a modern ruleset, especially against a good/great puncher like Fitz.

If we assume that both men have enough time to learn how to not DQ themselves, then Sullivan clinch-hustles his way to an extremely boring UD. He's far too big to lose to Fitz in a wrestling match...he just has to learn how to clinch in a fashion that's legal in modern-day boxing.

 

I would favor Fitz by kayo. Boxing made tremendous strides in a short time because of Corbett's dismantling of Sullivan in 1892. The skill level went up and scientific boxing was ultilized. It was not just two neanderthals beating the daylights out of eachother anymore. Corbett was the father of modern boxing. Sullivan was strong as an ox but modern rules would favor Fitz. The old rules Sullivan. So I pick Ruby Robert by 12th round knockout.

Fitz KO 12 Sullivan

 

To be honest I cant say with any certainty.

First you have the task of interpreting what Sullivan was like based on the historical sources, and then you have to interpret what Bob Fitzsimmons was like.

If you get either interpretation slightly wrong your prediction goes out of the window.

 

Sullivan KO Fitz. 1st or 2nd round.

 

Fitz, late TKO.

 

Fitz via mid round TKO, which in a 20 round match is between rounds 8-12.

Fitz to me fought and beat much better gloved fighters, hit harder, and
was more skilled on offense or defense. It took a good amount of power shot to stop Fitzsimmons in his prime, so Sullvian's punchers chance is not that great.

The fight might look a bit like Fitz vs Maher. Maher was about Sullvian's size, and like Sullvian had a big right hand.

 

Probably not the best thread to drag back up, but that is what the search engine does sometimes. For what its worth, this how Sullivan approached this fight, he would have been weighing in at 275 pounds (i bet he d fit in to todays scene at that weight), like he did when he knocked out heavyweight Journeyman Jack McCormick.

http://cdnc.ucr.edu/cdnc/cgi-bin/cd...al-20--1-byDA---sullivan+mccormick-all---1905

ANd this is what Sullivan said of the fight. It seems that he was keener of making the fight happen than Fitz was.

http://cdnc.ucr.edu/cdnc/cgi-bin/cd...al-20--1-byDA---sullivan+mccormick-all---1905

And here is some more talk from Sullivan. He certainly seemed confident.

http://cdnc.ucr.edu/cdnc/cgi-bin/cd...al-20--1-byDA---sullivan+mccormick-all---1905

 

I have no clue, but I'll pick Sully to stop Fitz based on strength if nothing else.....

No friggin' way Fitz is more strong than Sully..... Yet I'm sure some nut will come outta the woodwork and tell us all how a 180 pound Fitz could move a house all by himself cuz he was a blacksmith by trade....

MR.BILL:bbb

 

I believe from my own research that Sullivan was a physical marvel who had the genetic material to be one of the greatest cruiserweights that ever lived. He had tremendous power, speed, strength, stamina, heart and the ability to absorb punishment. This being established, he was never trained as a skilled boxer. As previously noted in this thread, there was a huge jump in style and finess between the 1880's and the 1890's and Sullivan did not make the cut ... Fitz was a master at jabbing and defense along with his brutal offensive skill set and would chop Sullivan down over a finite amount of rounds ..

 

Thats about the size of it, many talk about Sullivan as though he was just a bareknuckle guy ,but he actually preferred fighting with the mitts on , I think Kilrain was much more of the old school wrestle and grab type than Sullivan ever was.
John L's assault is described as swift, and dynamic in its ferocity, he had speed to go with his power.
Fitz ? Well, he is the punch picker, terrific power, and crafty as a fox.I wouldn't argue too much on either side ,but I lean a shade towards Ruby Robert.

 

One of the articles i just read about Sullivan, had an interesting comment, he said that in his prime, he believed he could throw more punches in a second than any other fighter he had seen. (from memory he mentioned throwing 10 punches in a second). This is interesting for those who claim that the game has progressed so much, and was one punch at a time, clearly it wasnt for Sullivan.

And as another side issue, it seems that From John Ls own account, John Patsy Hogan (I assume it was him as the article mentioned Hogan), who was a Well respected area champion actually scored a knock down over a young John L Sullivan, in a fight John L had agreed to go easy in, and John L then forgot the agreement, and Broke Hogan's nose.

 

"Why don't he meet all-comers, except coons, and see what'll happen?"

very evolved specimen, this Sullivan...

 

Prime for prime, I think Sullivan prevails for the same reason Jeffries beat Fitz. Too much size, strength, power and stamina. Beyond that, John L. had a slight reach advantage. Fitz never weighed more than 175, while Sullivan competed at weights as high as 230. It took Corbett 26 rounds to land a stale and dissipated 34 year old Sullivan. How long does Fitz last with the version who took out Ryan in 1882 and Kilrain in 1889?

 

I agree with he Grant in everything save that I'm very unsure of the final result. Anyways, Sullivan was one serious piece of nature.