Buffalo Evening News 12-22-1896 Fans write to ask that pet sporting question: "Was John L Sullivan champion of the world and if not why did he carry the belt for so long?" The ex-slugger from Boston was for years heralded as champion of the world, but it was a hollow title, for he never won it. Pugilism ls a recognized sport In three countries, America, England and Australia, and South Africa should now be Included. When Sullivan came to the front as at fighter the title of champion of America was Paddy Ryan, m man considerably older than John L., and a man not in the best of physical condition. Sullivan beat Ryan at Mississippi City on Feb. 2, 1882, and was heralded as "champion of the world," though not entitled to {t. After that he added to bis reputation by knocking out a score of third-raters and religiously refused to battle with Peter Jackson, the champion of Australia, who certainly would have proved his master. Jake Kilrain, a second-rater, challenged Sullivan, and John refused to meet him, Then Kilrain journeyed to England and challenged Jem Smith for "the championship of the world"-a title that either one of them was as much entitled to as he would be to the title "Pope of Rome." Sullivan Beat Kilrain. Smith and Killrain boxed to a draw, and then, Kilrain returning to America, Sullivan was forced to battle him. Sullivan won handily. The World Almanac, thought by many to be an authority, rules that Sullivan was champion of the world, winning that title by defeating Paddy Ryan, who in turn came Into possession of the title by beating Joe Goss, Many take issue with the World, on the score that Sullivan never defeated Peter Jackson, the champion of Australia, and came within an once of meeting defeat when he boxed a draw with Charley Mitchell at Chantilly, France, on March 10, 1888, At that time the Boston man was clearly bested, and the story that Sullivan's backer Harry Phillips, paid Mitchell £1750 to consent to a draw has never been refuted. - It will be seen from the above how hollow was Sullivan's claim to the title of champion of the world. He defeated the American champion, an old man, nearly lost to the champion boxer of England, and drew the color line on the champion of Australia, Jim Corbett has not a clear title to the championship, though his is better than was Sullivan's. Jim beat Sullivan at New Orleans with ease. Drew a 61 round contest with Peter Jackson and smothered Charlie Mitchell at Jacksonville, FL., on Jan. 35, 1890. With but one blot against his record -that of the "no contest"- -Corbett Is more entitled to the title champion of the world than Sullivan ever was. In regards to the belt, It is evident fans forget Sullivan's belt was a present from a crowd of admiring sports who raised money and bought the emblem outright making Sullivan a present of it. The so-called championship belt was donated by Richard K. Fox, but Sullivan designated it a "dog collar," and never accepted it. This is the belt that went to Jim Corbett and was afterwards stolen from him There is but one world's champion at present, and that is Boston's dusky featherweight, George Dixon. The battle between Fitzsimmons and Corbett will settle the championship of America and England, because Corbett holds them. Peter Jackson or Peter Felix must be disposed of and then the championship of Australia will be secure. --- I did my best cleaning up the spelling and grammar while trying to keep it original. I have expressed similar sentiments here prior. I don't honestly even view Sullivan as a queensberry champion let alone world. Simply never won that title. Tied the Englishman using LPR rules with gloves and was given a title for it. That's without the accusation Chuckles was paid off. To each their own, but I do agree with the Buffalo.
I realize a lot can be lost to history, but there’s also been a long time since for people to dig up artifacts of provenance of bouts missing from the record and I will be happy to be corrected if I am wrong here, but I don’t understand Peter Jackson’s claim of anything by 1896. By this point, he had gone four years without a proper fight. He took part in exhibitions from what I understand, but didn’t actually fight from 1892 until 1898, when he was bested handily by Jim Jeffries in what today would surely be called a ‘cash-in’ fight to claim a final big payday based on his name and reputation. “Champion of Australia” is a meaningless term if said champion is reclining for four years by the time this was written. I think John L did what was necessary in the days long before any sanctioning bodies or commissions handing out world title belts to secure the then-mythical title of champion of the world. A draw certainly doesn’t count against such claim. He beat the men who were around to beat, although a win over Jackson earlier than this point surely would have enhanced that claim.
