John L Sullivan Vs Tony Galento (20rds MoQ)

I would not judge a fighter's handspeed based on appearance personally. Tubbs and Mathis had quick hands, yet were portly.
One just never can tell...

 

agreed.. I once sparred with a young fellow who weighed around 300 lbs but easily blocked every shot I threw at him and retaliated just as quickley. Being overweight might have some bearing on the speed of one's footwork, but the hands can be misleading.

 

According to contemporary accounts we was lightning fast. I would envisage a Tyson/Patterson type. He was a natural born athlete, skillful and preternaturally strong.

 

What on earth were you thinking sparring with a 300-pounder? Do you have a death wish?

 

LOL.. Sometimes I wonder.. It was light sparring, but yes, the big boy had fast hands.

 

This whole forum is about "repeating with a response" he grant. Where do youe xpect things to go? Neither is obligated to agree with the other, but I have only seen janitor be polite & respond rationally. I see no cause to insult him or act bored & cynical.

The Golden RUle applies here, be respectful to get respect as decent,

About this quote:

"For his time does not mean lighting quick compared to the field of history. Cars from 1910 were considered fast back then too.

It's clear Corbett was light years ahead of Sullivan in terms of speed and technique.

With limited film of Sullivan later in life hitting a bag, and weak opposition in the ring it's hard to quantify how good Sullivan was. I picture a very good puncher in a time when there were not a lot of punchers who never fought the best three men (Jackson, Slavin, or Goddard ) of his time."

Also, I never heard that Sullivan never fought anybody in his time, let alone the best, if I understand the above quote. Please elaborate.

Maybe Sullivan was quick only for his time, maybe for later times also, at least compared to HWs. But he was a completely washed up fat out of shape alcoholic against Corbett. How could he have effectively shown off his swarming techniique effectively & not have his speed compromised then? It is like using 8''s Ali as an example, or the long retired,, coming down from seriously obese Boilermaker.

 

What does a lightning quick fighter look like?:huh

Or in this case, a lighting quick one.:yep

 

Tantalisingly, Joe Choynski said that Sullivan was as fast as he was, and there is footage of Choynski.
Joe Choynski once fought an exhibition with John L Sullivan. While Sullivan was touring Australia he was interviewed by an Australian journalist and questioned about how Sullivan might have fared against Peter Jackson and Joe Goddard. His answers give a possible insight into the hand speed of John L Sullivan. On Goddard he said:

“I don’t think he would have a ghost of a show with Sullivan. You see its this way. Sullivan is quicker than I am and he hits with terrible power. If I had a tenth of Sullivan’s force Id have beaten Goddard both times I fought him. Now its easy to figure out. I honestly think that John would smash him down with little trouble”.

If we take Choynski at his word that Sullivan had faster hands than him then it is quite instructive because we have footage of Choynski sparring with Jim Jeffries:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsB3O0JnBjI

This content is protected

 

Janitor, video fail.

Nice quote though. Is that from Pollack's book? I've been meaning to reread it.

 

Damn!

Yes I did get the quote from Adam's book.

Obviously there is footage of Choynski in the public domain.

 

Tyson had quick hands so did Patterson and Ali ,three more disparate builds it would be hard to find. Do Meldrick Taylor and Roy Jones have similar physiques? It was a stupid comment from a stupid man.

 

Yeah, I agree. :good

 

To elaborate a bit more...

Choynski fought Corbett, Sharkey, Jeffries, McCoy, and Fitzsimmons!. Did say Choynski say Sullivan was say as fast handed as Corbett or McCoy? Where is the frame of reference? Fast compared to whom?

Fast fighters seldom have Sullivan's build, which was a bit barrel chested. Back in Sullivan's day boxing footwork was mostly forward or retreat. There wasn't a lot of lateral movement or fancy footwork back then. I tend to doubt the fundamentals of defense were as refined too.