John L Knocked Jeffries Down!

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by mcvey, Jan 2, 2016.


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  1. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    It appears John L Sullivan , the old ex champ , knocked the retired undefeated former champion Jim Jeffries down in a bar-room fracas in Tom Sharkey's Saloon.This was in 1906 when both men were retired.Jeffries of course coming back 4 years later to challenge the then champion Jack Johnson.

    Witnesses to the knockdown apparently included:
    Steve O Donnell,Harry Corbett ,Jim's brother,Con McVey,and Eddie Graney famous referee.
    Those present stated everything was cordial and friendly, friends and hangers on drinking convivially at the bar until someone asked the former pugilists who would have won had they met.
    Sullivan was at first gracious but, as drink took him, began to belligerently declare himself the superior fighter and when Jeffries too began to respond in kind the atmosphere became heated. Without preamble John L suddenly launched his mighty right fist and Jeffries ,who was standing with one hand on the bar, took the full force of the blow on the chin.
    The impact knocked Jeffries over backwards and he broke a barstool as his body made contact with the floor .
    Jeffries was up in an instant and a body of friends interspersed themselves between him and John L.

    The mob surrounding both men quickly smothered any chance of further hostilities and Sullivan was hustled away by a throng of admirers before a conclusion could be reached.



    Sullivan/pfp,newpapers&f=12.com
     
    mcvey, Jan 2, 2016
    mcvey, Jan 2, 2016
    #1
  2. choklab

    choklab cocoon of horror Full Member

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    Great find!

    I love this kind of stuff. Old John L reminds me of the kind of drunk people want to believe Oliver Reid was.
     
    choklab, Jan 2, 2016
    choklab, Jan 2, 2016
    #2
  3. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    I guess that Sullivan really could lick any SOB in the house!
     
    janitor, Jan 2, 2016
    janitor, Jan 2, 2016
    #3
  4. WhyYouLittle

    WhyYouLittle Stand Still Full Member

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    Ha! John G Sullivan.
     
    WhyYouLittle, Jan 2, 2016
    WhyYouLittle, Jan 2, 2016
    #4
  5. doug.ie

    doug.ie 'Classic Boxing Society' Full Member

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    seems jeffries couldn't get a quiet drink anywhere..


    It must’ve been around 1904 at a bar in San Francisco, I was drinking with some admirers when Jack Johnson strutted in and demanded I fight him for my heavyweight championship of the world. For about a minute I listened to his boasts about speed and defense and how he’d carve me up, then told him to get out before I knocked him out. Johnson persisted, what an obnoxious fellow he was, so I reached into my coat, grabbed about two grand, and slammed it on the bar and said, let’s go down to the cellar, and this money’s yours if you make it back up the stairs.
    I ain’t no cellar fighter, he said. You’re afraid of blacks.
    This way, I said, pointing the index finger of a big left hand ready to flatten him.
    Johnson darted the other way, out the door.

    - James J Jeffries
     
    doug.ie, Jan 2, 2016
    doug.ie, Jan 2, 2016
    #5
  6. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    It was Jim Corbett's brother Harry's bar. No money was produced by either party ,Jeffries offered to fight Johnson in the cellar purely for bragging rights.
    Johnson sensibly declined.Jeffries later said he was ashamed of the incident.
     
    mcvey, Jan 2, 2016
    mcvey, Jan 2, 2016
    #6
  7. edward morbius

    edward morbius Boxing Addict Full Member

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    "without preamble"

    sounds like Sullivan hit a guy who wasn't ready.

    comes across like one of those barroom bullies in old B westerns.
     
    edward morbius, Jan 2, 2016
    edward morbius, Jan 2, 2016
    #7
  8. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    That's the time to hit them.

    What was I going to do ,send a post card.Jack Dempsey
     
    mcvey, Jan 2, 2016
    mcvey, Jan 2, 2016
    #8
  9. FrankinDallas

    FrankinDallas FRANKINAUSTIN

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    Sucker Punch. That's a real bar fight for you, not some UFC/MMA rolling around on the ground stuff.

    I've seen a lot of bar fights back in the day when I was a musician, and I never saw a fight go more than one punch...or one bottle to the head.
     
    FrankinDallas, Jan 2, 2016
    FrankinDallas, Jan 2, 2016
    #9
  10. choklab

    choklab cocoon of horror Full Member

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    Ain't that the truth.
     
    choklab, Jan 2, 2016
    choklab, Jan 2, 2016
    #10
  11. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    That is the reality.
     
    mcvey, Jan 2, 2016
    mcvey, Jan 2, 2016
    #11
  12. apollack

    apollack Boxing Addict Full Member

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    This sounds like bs to me.
     
    apollack, Jan 2, 2016
    apollack, Jan 2, 2016
    #12
  13. reznick

    reznick In the 7.2% Full Member

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    John L Sullivan! Legendary
     
    reznick, Jan 2, 2016
    reznick, Jan 2, 2016
    #13
  14. he grant

    he grant Historian/Film Maker

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    Never heard this story anywhere before ..
     
    he grant, Jan 2, 2016
    he grant, Jan 2, 2016
    #14
  15. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    A bold move for a man having declared the superiority of Jeffries and his era!
     
    janitor, Jan 2, 2016
    janitor, Jan 2, 2016
    #15
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