Should John L Sullivan rank number one.

Was Pat Killen a Sullivan-duck?

Killen was 55 wins (52 KO), 2 Losses (KO'd once), 3 draws; 1 no decision.

Regarding one of his 2 losses (Mervine Thompson, 1886), boxrec notes (with out citation) "Having knocked down Thompson 4 times, Killen is DQ'd when the crowd enters the ring. Most newspapers of the time recorded this fight as a victory for Killen, given the farce of the decision by the referee, as the reason the crowd rushed the ring was in protest to Thompson's handlers repeatedly carrying him back to his corner to be revived, and the referee's repeated slow counts."

BOX REC, regarding two of Killen's draws:

1886, Bill Bradburn, Draw 5: Bradburn refused to fight, because there was not enough money, and only agreed to spar five rounds with large gloves, Killen showing to the better advantage, according to 'Chicago Daily Inter Ocean'.

1886 Draw 4, Paddy McDonald: St. Paul Pioneer Press 8-8-1886. Killen won on points but could not knock out his opponent, so the fight was declared a draw per the pre-fight conditions.

BOX REC, regarding Killen's No Contest:

1886 No Contest Pat McHugh: Stevens Point Daily Journal 3-13-1886. "Pat McHugh, formerly of this city, and Pat Killen fought at Park Theater Chicago, last Saturday night. A dispatch from that city says that time was called at 10:44 and McHugh began a series of dodging, clinching, and wrestling and anything he could do to avoid being hit or rather to avoid any fighting. The crowd yelled 'Rats' and hissed themselves ho**** and cursed the affair as a swindle. McHugh kept up this baby play; clinching, wrestling, and gouging to the end, and the affair was decided no fight."


Cardiff seems to have legitimately drawn Killen in 1887; Killen KO'd Cardiff in 4 rounds the next year.

In 1889 alchoholism (and Joe McAuliffe) caught up to Killen.
BOX REC
Killen reportedly entered the fight intoxicated and missed so wildly on his punches while drunk, that he fell and dislocated his right shoulder in the 2nd round, hence fighting the remainder of the fight with his left only--Source: Pittsburgh Post 9-25-1889 in interview with Killen's trainer for the fight, Tom Madde

Anyways, Killen was, in essence, 59 W (with a ton of KO's), 1 L, and 1 (avenged) D.
Not exactly sure of the quality of Killen's opposition ...... Got to wonder, though, if Killen qualifies as a pretty big duck on Sullivan's part.

















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Wow, good find, Reason 123!:hi::happy:good

 

Bump..

 

Sullivan was not a dominant champion. He got knocked down by Mitchell(who weighed 150 pounds) won a decision against McCaffrey, probably lost against Cardiff(which would have made Killen the lineal champ) but kept his crown then didn't have a major gloved fight for 5 years hopping in and out of retirement.

 

Sullivan was arguably the most dominant champ in heavyweight history, he battered Mitchell like a red headed step child after it took him a split second to get up. The only reason Cardiff got a draw was because John L. broke his left arm in round 1, and he dominated McAffrey as well despite being out of shape.

 

Historical for sure ...

Sullivan
Johnson
Dempsey
Louis
Ali