Have you ever read anything on the Exhibition that Sullivan did with Corbett 10 days after their New Orleans showdown and which took place in NYC over 3 rounds? Also, any mentions ever of the Choynski exhibition from 12/20/91 in San Francisco? How about the ones against Sharkey or Jeffries?
There is a fair bit of information floating about concerning the Choynski exhibition. Even then, John L had to take it easy on Choynski. Gives you some idea how dangerous he was in his prime.
Does Pollack go into any of this? I read some comments from Choynski regarding no man alive being the match for Sullivan but I think they were made before any exhibition.
Adam touches on it ... Choynski did say that Sullivan was a bigger hitter than he was which says a lot ...
Adam Pollack quotes the San Francisco Examiner in 1891: Sullivan boxed a three round exhibition with Joe Choynski. Choynski was quite willing and made earnest attacks. Johns L showed some of his defensive skills and landed counters. They hit each other freely and John exhibited his speed. The last round was business like with each man mixing it up. Sullivan seeming incliuned to be gracious. Propheticaly, one reporter saw that Sullivan was heading for a fall. I like Johns verry much and I believe that he could whip any man in the world if he took care of himself. From what I have heard about him in the last few months however, I am convinced he has set his mind on going to the dogs as fast as he can. He apears to think that he can thrash anybody, and continues to try to drink all the liquor there is in every town that he visits. Choynski made the following observations about Sullivan: When asked if Goddard could beat him- 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. When asked if Jackson could beat him- You have never seen Sully fight Smiler. His right arm don’t do any swinging, it come across like a flash of lightning with a jerk, and if he misses he is so quick you can’t get your head out of range before he’s back ready for another shot at your jaw and how it does fly ping ping.
Sullivan sparred with Sharkey, and told him he would make a champion. Sullivan also sparred with Jeffries when Jeffries was a new champion, and was astounded calling Jeffries the fastest big man he ever saw
I read some where (not sure if it was 19th centyry gladiator or some other book from the same time period) that john l sullivan had a diffrent kind of punch where he had his wrist rounded out instead of rounded in. then when he threw the punch he would turn it over so the back of his hand would be facing him self and his thumb pointed down wards. this would also cause the larger knuckles to line up more easily with the tip of the chin making it easier to hit the button which would explain his ability to knock people out. any one know anything about this?
