Slavin didn't challenge Sullivan until 1889. Same year Sullivan fought Kilrain. Does anyone know if Kilrain was as good as Slavin? I never read much when comparing the two. Also in Sullivan's challenge to everyone he included Slavin's name in it. Though Corbett was the one who came up with the money.
Killrain was a superior bareknuckle fighter, who was contemporaneous with Sullivan. Slavin was a superior gloved fighter, who came along at the end of Sullivans reign. Hard to say which of them was better, though Slavin did beat up a shot Killrain. You would be on safe ground saying that Killran was a bigger obstacle as a bare knuckle fighter, than Slavin was as a gloved fighter, for a gloved fighter like Sullivan.
Interesting, I never new they actually fought each other. Do you think there was a difference between the Kilrain that fought Sullivan and the one that fought Slavin?
I would say a big difference, from what I can tell. The Killran that fought Sullivan was a potential rival, and after that he seems to have gone into the tank.
Looks like my upcoming book on Sullivan needs to be read by a lot of folks on this forum. Hoping to have it out by the end of the year.
I just read about the Slaving vs Kilrain bout. Looks like Kilrain just went 44 rounds with Godfrey just three months before that. While Slavin only had one 3 rounder with Charlie Mitchell barely two months before. I wonder if that could've played a role in Kilrain's performance. Having such a short rest after a gruelling fight.
Did you read the full fight report? I think Mitchell did fairly well giving up a lot of size and power. I asked you a few questions. I'll check back for your reply later. Have a nice weekend
Mitchell tried to survive, by going down repeatedly without being hit, in the hopes that he might outlast Sullivan. If you find this impressive, then you are very easily impressed.
historical significance could mean different things but the only people who i could see above him are johnson, dempsey and ali. Probably between ali and sullivan for #1
He is all the more impressive when you realize that he was essentially champion of two combat sports.
There's often the unavoidable assumption that trouncing your opposition equates to them not being very good. There may be some truth to it but only in proportion to what you know about them. It's also important to remember Sullivan was well past it for his three most famous fights - Mitchell (LPR), Kilrain (LPR) and Corbett. The most famous images of Sullivan are the pot-belied version. New fans are intrigued to learn he was once slim, athletic.
Sullivan ducked Slavin. Richard K Fox who issued belts to fighters and was the editor ot the Police Gaztte backed the fight. Sullivan pulled a Rid**** Bowe and put the belt in the trash. You want a good source? How about Adam's book which says Sullivan could have fought Slavin before Corbett! [url]https://books.google.com/books?id=DkTYBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA207&lpg=PA207&dq=sullivan+and+slavin&source=bl&ots=ta9l1Tfxj_&sig=jD2RjScaSOBKxq47GEFEbWDN3-k&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CCIQ6AEwAWoVChMI0oCU0ce4yAIVjOaACh3DbgA7#v=onepage&q=sullivan%20and%20slavin&f=false[/url] I asked you who was the best gloved fighter Sullivan beat? I say Mitchell and little Charlie was just 150 pounds for the Fight. Sullivan was 190. I asked you to list the best punchers of the time? Is that too much to ask. A reply would be nice.