Going into the fight the betting odds favored Killrain, but newspaper polls of the public favored Sullivan. London Sporting Life "There is not one impartial man in this city who believes that Sullivan has a three to one chance in a prize ring encounter with Killrain. Nearly all the sporting men at the clubs were of the opinion that Killrain will win, and they think Sullivan is aware that he has no chance." Billy Edwards "I had a look at Sullivan last Friday, and assuredly he is not the man he was. He and Killrain are of the same age, but one has taken good care of himself, and the other hasn't. If they had met five years ago Killrain would have stood no show. Killrain never does anything for show. Hes all business in the ring. Hes a two hander, and a jabber from way back. Besides that he has got a right that is able to put Sullivan or anybody else to sleep. Hes as good a general too, as ever put up his hands. It will surprise me if Sullivan wins." Jimmy Caroll "With Sullivan's wonderful hitting powers and his great cleverness he ought certainly to win." Jack Dempsey "Killrain will provide nothing more than a pleasant sparring bout before getting knocked out." Tom Allen "Sullivan is greatly overestimated. He has proved himself a knockout artist with gloves, but there is a big difference between Queensbury Rules boxing and real fighting. Killrain is a very clever fighter, well up in the London Prize Ring rules, and will whip Sullivan." Hugh McManus "Sullivan is not the fighter he used to be, and it is a question whether he ever was the man that Killrain is." Otto Floto "During all the time that John has been pouring liquor down his throat Killrain has been rapidly improving, and to my judgment will win the fight." Ed McAvoy "Killrain can't lick the big man. Sullivan is rapidly getting back into his old time form, and when in that condition you know he is invincible."
Analysis I am going to pretend that I don't know how the fight turned out, but the arguments for Killrain sound a lot more logical, and a lot better thought out. I think that if the forum had existed back then, I would have almost certainly picked Killrain. Sullivan's recent health problems, combined with his drink problem, and lack of London Prize Ring experience, would have been very good reasons for favoring Killrain.
Who knows. I have not seen one report saying that Sullivan had more LPR experience, or that there was nothing to choose between them! Back then, it only took one or two good LPR fights, to make you the favorite over a talented Queensbury fighter.
Apples and me oranges. London rules I think allow for more unpredictable things to happen. A man can get spiked meaning getting spiked on his lower leg by spiked shoes to slow him down. Hence the rule no spiked shoes in gloved boxing. or he can hurt himself in a fall from a throw.
Amazing share, thank you Who knew that all of these confident one sided opinions would witness one of the greatest 2 sided wars of attrition and pain tolerance the great art of fighting ever knew I admit even I would've found myself doubting Sullivan's chances, he was going off the deep end and Kilrain was a good contender and was being trained by the p4p king Charlie Mitchell
Then when the Corbett fight happened, which was truly a hopeless situation, many people still couldn't pick against Sullivan, because he had confounded the doubters before!
I dunno...I kinda like Sullivans chances here. Jake is not a massive puncher and taking over a hundred rounds to draw with Jem Smith, himself not that much, leads me to think him a bit of a Richard Fox hype job. Sure, Sullivan has gone back but he has form and he has the punch. We'll see!
Jake failed to really impose himself on Burke, Mitchell, Greenfield, Fryer, Goode and Scholes so he probably wasn't as good as rated. His performances against Godfrey and O'Donnell argue well for the old timers though.
Next thing you will say that he is taking his training seriously, just to build up interest in the fight!
When you have two guys expected to stand and trade pick the one who hits harder / can take it better. Since Sullivan wasn’t old here and Jake was not a great fighter I would have Picked Sullivan under the condition he didn’t enter the ring drunk
