John L Sullivan?

I am going to be publishing another book on John L. Sullivan this year. Check it out!

 

Not sure where you would go with that!

 

Really? Cool. Loved the first book.

 

Oh, wow!

Curious if it is another 'boxing-biography' style book, a more general bio, or does it focus on a particular topic or group of topics related to Sullivan?

 

Let's just say that I think this version of the Sullivan story will blow my first book out of the water.

 

Sweet Jesus.

Did you explore more his exhibitions and career post-Corbett?

I really enjoyed the first book. It went far in illustrating how much better prime Sullivan was than his contemporaries. I don't know if the division has ever had such a gap between the champion and the contenders.

 

By all accounts the prime, 1882 - 83 Sullivan has outstanding physical talent. He was a true one punch KO artist. He had considerable hand speed, a terrific chin, physical strength, stamina and courage .. I don't think any of that is disputable .. however, he excelled in a different sport. It's that simple .

 

I am intrigued!

 

Cro-magnon would kill modern man.

 

if this was any other poster, youd be laughed off the board!

Still, history says you will never do it, you are way past prime and dont have the reflexes to pull it off! :bbb

 

Yeah, and in his time the fundamentals of defense and footwork as we known them today were seldom if ever seen.

Sullivan himself admitted he'd have no chance vs Jeffries because the game changed. I posted this in the honesty of John L Sullivan thread.

But back to his power, could you imagine being a puncher in that time line? With limited defense and mobility, it must have been a puncher's paradise.

And Sullivan was one of the few big time punchers of the time. He must have really stood out, and impressed.

 

How do we check it out ? Is there a link to it ?

 

People claim a lot of different things at different times, for a variety of reasons.

Sullivan also claimed that James Jeffries ducked him and he challenged Jeffries to a unification fight. World LPR rules Champion vs World Queensbury Rules Champion. I am not sure whether or not this was at the same time that Sullivan came out of retirement to KO Jim McCormick.

It is worth noting that technically, Jeffries ducked Sullivan!

 

Jeffries and John L sparred in 1900, I think. My Sullivan quote was in full context. Perhaps your mixing up the quote with someone else.

Sullivan was over the hill in 1892. By 1900, he would not have lasted two rounds with Jeffries.

He also sparred a bit with Tom Sharkey whom he was very fond of.

 

I have no doubt that he said it. I know he talked of Sharkey being the future of the sport and himself finished. Boxers are often gracious towards other fighters and say things publicly i am sure they dont believe deep down. You cant take their comments always as gospel.

Either way though, the cold, hard facts are that John L Sullivan tried get a big money fight with James J Jeffries, at a time when he was well past his best. In fact, i am pretty sure the challenge was for either LPR rules fight or a Queensbury fight. I cant remember whether or not the challenge was for a winner takes all purse but i do doubt it. It never actually happened, of course, and not to many took it seriously, but it was a decent sized campain for the fight (not just a throw away line).

I doubt that you would make those sorts of challenges and go to the trouble of coming back against McCormick, if you thought that Jeffries would ahve completely outclassed you, even in your prime.

Jeffries was there to be hit. WHo knows, if Sullivan got hold of him, crazy as it seems, he might just knock him into next week. Prime for prime, stylistically from what we know, i think that Sullivan has to start a favourite against Jeffries.