Best bareknuckle fighter of all time head to head.

Good point.... only 4 bare-knuckle fights. But it was Sullivan who really got Queensbury rules going, he was more a gloved fighter........ he carried on with Mace's belief in the gloved game...... Sullivan is the best at both in his prime (HW).

 

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HEENAN, IRELAND'S PRIDE


I am a bold American,
John Heenan is my name,
To fight Tom Sayers, of high renown,
Three thousand miles I came,
My age is five and twenty,
My height is six feet two,
And born of Irish parents,
Of metal bold and true.

So, now, my lads, I'll bodly strive,
To gain myself a name,
To win and wear the English belt,
Three thousand miles I came.

So cheer up, you lads of Erin's Isle,
And never be dismayed,
I'm the son of a true-bred Irishman,
And never was afraid;
I'll show these English boasting lads,
Now I've come over here,
How Donnelly conquered Cooper
In the county of Kildare.

On the sixteenth day of April,
Which most of you know,
I'll teach brave Tommy how to box,
When with him toe to toe;
If fortune should but favor me,
Which I have but little doubt,
I'll silence all those boasting lads,
And stop the lion's mouth.

The stars and stripes of America,
Shall never be put to shame;
Right manfully I'll stive my boys,
The colors of Old England,
Which long have borne the sway,
And British boxing both must fade,
Upon that glorious day.

It's not for brave Tom's gold, my boys,
That I've come here to fight,
For all his hard-won honors,
Have no pleasure in my sight;
But to gain a lasting name, my boys,
And let Old England know,
It's a pleasure in J. Heenan's breast,
To help a fallen foe.

In a twenty-four rope ring, my boys,
Before my noble foe,
With youth and strength upon my side,
I cannot call a "go;"
I've a giant's power in my arn,
Brave Tom he must give in,
And as friendly as I enter it,
So I will leave the ring.

So now my song is ended,
I've nothing more to say,
But I'm sure to beat your champion,
Should I receive fair play;
And if he'll sail away with me,
Across the Atlantic sea,
I'll try to heal the wound I've made,
Through his lost victory.

 

I am sure it was Bobby Sinn who posted and made mention that the Australian fighters adopted gloved fighting and it think Queensbury rules before sullivan.