Let's pontificate on a fighter we know nothing about versus one who has put us all too sleep. (ps. this will be a perfect thread only if nobody responds.)
Under modern rules? Byrd would school him. I guess he'd win every round before the referee or Sullivan's corner would stop it. Under Sullivan's rules, it'd be an easy decision win for him.
No an easy one to call because most of what we know about Sullivan is anecdotal. Those who say that it depends upon the rule set are probably not far off tha mark. I believe that Sullivan was an all time heavyweight puncher in the mould of Jack Dempsey with terific power and fast hands. He was a good technician by the standards of his day to boot. Under his own rule set he would have taken some beating. If he was brought along today from his amateur debut by a modern trainer he would probably be the next big thing.
BE, you horrible, genius *******...you're like that nutbar from beautiful mind. Under March 18th, 1972 rules Byrd wins by lefthandedness Under Thunderdome rules, Sullivan wins by chainsaw death
I have zero recollection of ever even contemplating this match-up. It's great when every drunken fart of an idea is preserved in the memory banks here. That said, if the odds were especially good, I would put a hundy down on John L.