Is it fair to call John L Sullivan the Kimbo Slice of his day?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Zulu King, Jun 24, 2021.

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  1. Zulu King

    Zulu King Member banned Full Member

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    Or vice versa, Kimbo Slice is the John L Sullivan of his day.

    Slice never held any official titles like Sullivan, but he was widely regarded as a People's Champion.

    A lot of the casuals forget that Slice had a boxing career in addition to MMA
     
    Zulu King, Jun 24, 2021
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  2. 70sFan865

    70sFan865 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    No, it's not.
     
    70sFan865, Jun 24, 2021
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  3. Kamikaze

    Kamikaze Bye for now! banned Full Member

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    They both boxed, drank a lot and started off scrapping in poor areas for $ bare knuckle thats as far as it goes I think.
     
    Kamikaze, Jun 25, 2021
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  4. janitor

    janitor VIP Member

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    No, nothing could be more misleading.
     
    janitor, Jun 25, 2021
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  5. MaxDamage

    MaxDamage Member Full Member

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    No, Sullivan is widely recognized as the best at what he did , Slice is...not.
     
    MaxDamage, Jun 25, 2021
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  6. BCS8

    BCS8 VIP Member

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    Kimbo got beaten up by a fat cop straight off Married with Children.

    Sullivan was the greatest of his era.
     
    BCS8, Jun 25, 2021
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  7. Gazelle Punch

    Gazelle Punch Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Although interesting comparison Sullivan was more successful in his day.
     
    Gazelle Punch, Jun 25, 2021
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  8. choklab

    choklab cocoon of horror Full Member

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    I think Sulivans reputation grew during a time where bare knuckle prize fighting was seen as the acceptable face of underground sport. And John L dominated this sport. Whereas Kimbo was just an early internet underground thing. It was small.

    There was always acceptable and reputable authoritative people who gambled and backed prize fighters which legitimised its following. For its day, it was quite big. Technically it was outlawed, literally only because gambling was frowned upon. The act itself of organised fist fighting was still, for those days, seen as acceptable as drinking might have been during prohibition. It went on. And it was big.
     
    choklab, Jun 25, 2021
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  9. fists of fury

    fists of fury Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Hell no.
     
    fists of fury, Jun 25, 2021
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  10. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist

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    Sullivan was never a porn industry enforcer.
     
    NoNeck, Jun 25, 2021
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  11. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    He would have loved it though.
     
    McGrain, Jun 25, 2021
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  12. mrkoolkevin

    mrkoolkevin Never wrestle with pigs or argue with fools Full Member

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    mrkoolkevin, Jun 25, 2021
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  13. Zulu King

    Zulu King Member banned Full Member

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    May be not but he certainly mingled with an assorted cast of characters
     
    Zulu King, Jun 25, 2021
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  14. janitor

    janitor VIP Member

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    John L Sullivan fits firmly in the same bracket, as Jack Dempsey, and Mike Tyson.

    A global superstar, in the most important combat sport, and the badest man on the planet.

    A standout talent, who had no obvious peer, until Jeffries overcame his early wobbles!
     
    janitor, Jun 25, 2021
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  15. 70sFan865

    70sFan865 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    You don't think that Bob Fitzsimmons could make such a claim?
     
    70sFan865, Jun 25, 2021
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