Sullivan Ryan, the gloved fights

Some extracts from the press about the MSG bout.

1885-01-20 The Evening Telegram (New York, NY) (page 1)
THE FIGHT.
Both men retired to their corners after shaking hands, but immediately faced again in the centre, Sullivan at once letting fly with his left for Ryan's head, but was neatly stopped, and Ryan, feinting with the left to draw the champion on, sent in a crusher with the right on Sullivan's left ribs, which made him wince. Both men at once rushed in, Ryan surprising and delighting the onlookers by rather more than holding his own and twice forcing John L. backward. Sullivan's right, which se sought to plant effectively, several times landed on Ryan's head and neck instead of the jaw, and Sullivan rushing to a close drew Ryan's head to him and again essayed to plant a finisher. Paddy ducked cleverly amid cheering, and again sent in his right on the champion's sore ribs and gathered himself for more effective work.
THE POLICE
At this interesting point Captain Williams and two burly policemen interposed before the men had fought forty seconds.


1885-01-20 The Sun (New York, NY) (page 1)
When the noise had climbed down, Capt. Williams whispered in the ear of each of the men, and Inspector Thorne came after him and did more whispering. Both men nodded, and Mr. Johnston, who was going to be timekeeper, was told to go home, because it was to be peaceful, and no timekeeper was needed. Mr. John Scanlan was selected to be master of ceremonies, and when both men had been squeezing their gloves for five minutes, he called time and they came together.
Ryan looked determined, and his friends cheered. Sullivan was mindful of what he had been told, and, with a smile, aimed a gentle blow at Ryan's chest. It fell short, and Ryan led out with his left and struck Sullivan gently on the stomach. So far everything was gentle, and Inspector Thorne looked pleased. The men danced around each other for a moment, smiling the while, and Sullivan led off again, smiling as before. The blow was a gentle one for him, but it landed full on Ryan's neck and made him stagger. The smile was still on Sullivan's mouth, when it was rudely broken by a sounding blow from Ryan's right.
Then everything changed. Sullivan's face grew ugly, and his eyes blazed with fury. The two men rushed together, and for three seconds thundering blows were exchanged on either side, regardless of science or law. Sullivan was hit on the face and neck, but seemed to mind it no more than a puff of wind. He made no attempt at self-defence, but showered his blows on Ryan's chest and ribs with savage ferocity.
Just as it seemed that Ryan must go down under the terrible punishment a portly form was seen climbing through the ropes, and Inspector Thorne's arm and club were stretched between the men. But they fought on savagely, striking as best they could, body to body, and paid no attention to the Inspector's command. Then Capt. Williams came too. He called Sullivan "John," and bellowed in his ear that he must stop. Sullivan knew the face, and drew away glaring savagely at Ryan as he did so. Ryan glared back, and it seemed as though the fight would begin anew. Then Capt. Williams marched Sullivan to his corner and pulled off his gloves for him. Inspector Thorne did the same for Ryan. The fight was over in just ten seconds.


1885-01-20 The World (New York, NY) (page 1)
After much sponge work had been done on both men, and when they had been fanned until enough air had passed through their lungs to last them a week, they were ordered to shake hands and retire to their corners. This they did, and then time was called. Sullivan led with his left at Ryan's stomach, but was unexpectedly short, and when he rushed in to get his right on Ryan's face he was countered heavily on the chest. Ryan then rushed at Sullivan to force the fighting. He planted his right glove on Sullivan's ear with force. Sullivan got home on the face and drove Paddy's head back, but was cross-countered heavily on the ear with the right. Then they clinched, and Ryan holding Sullivan's head in chancery administered two hot ones on the ribs. A break-away followed and Sullivan led, but was again short at the stomach. Ryan drove at him with the left, getting home on the chest and swinging his right on Sullivan's ear twice and they clinched again.
Inspector Thorne jumped into the ring and, with Capt. Williams's aid, separated the men. They told Sullivan and Ryan to stop fighting, and the gloves were then taken off.

 

1885-01-20 New-York Tribune (New York, NY) (page 5)
At last the gloves were tied on. Captain Williams examined them carefully to see that they were soft enough, and the two magnificent brutes advanced to the centre of the ring. Only a moment was consumed in preliminary sparring, when Sullivan let drive with his left at Ryan's stomach, but fell short. Ryan then struck out with his right, but that also failed to get home. He again struck out with his right and landed it on Sullivan's jaw. At this point Sullivan made one of his mad rushed at Ryan and planted a blow on the side of his head with his right, which Ryan countered with a left-hander on Sullivan's ribs. Sullivan's rush having met with such an unexpected reception, he became furious and began a series of short right and left-handers. Ryan fought coolly, striking back with much effect. As Sullivan endeavored to duck a right hander he was caught about the neck by Ryan, who delivered several short-armed blows on Sullivan's face. As Sullivan freed himself and straightened up Inspector Thorne stepped between the combatants and ordered them to their corners. Barely a minute was consumed in the fight for it could not have been called sparring.
Save in the case of confirmed Sullivanites, there were no two opinions as to the merits of the fight. There was not a sporting man present but was convinced that Ryan would have outmatched his man had the rounds been fought out. The oldest veteran present observed: "If Paddy had only fought like that three years back, instead of being scared and fighting off, he would have whipped Sullivan then."


1885-01-20 The New York Herald (New York, NY) (page 6) - National Police Gazette re-printed the Herald's description of the bout in their report on Feb 7
When all the preliminaries had been settled Captain Williams handed each man his gloves. These were about four ounces in weight and much smaller than the ordinary boxing gloves.
A VERY BRIEF COMBAT.
The combatants were told to come to the centre of the platform and shake hands. When they had done this they retired to their corners and time was called. They just put up their hands and made one or two weaving motions, when Sullivan led off at the body with his left hand, but the blow fell short of its mark, as Ryan jumped back out of danger. In stepping into distance again he was met by Sullivan's left glove, which just reached his face, making a slight blow. The meeting brought them to short range, and Ryan swung his right heavily into the champion's ear, which made him nod. He rallied very quickly, however, and made play at the face, giving a good clean blow. Ryan again countered twice, once on the neck and again on ear. Then came a clinch, which was terminated by Ryan getting Sullivan's head in chancery and adminstering two heavy blows on the Bostonian's ribs. They broke away and sparred at long range for a second or two, when they came together again.
This time Sullivan made his lead on the mouth, Ryan putting in a clean, straight left-handed counter on the chest and a swinging right on the ear. Then they rattled away at short range, Ryan getting the best of the exchanges, which were all over the body and face. This close work precipitated another clinch, and as they stood hugging each other Inspector Thorne jumped on the stage and stopped the fight.
The contestants went to their corners and sat down, expecting to be called up to resume the fight. The Inspector was inexorable, and told Captain Williams to take the gloves away. This was done, and the crowd howled with disappointment. The referee said he considered it no fight, but the popular verdict was that Ryan had the call. No arrests were made. The total time of fighting was 30 1/4 seconds.


1885-01-20 The New-York Times (New York, NY) (page 5)
There was a sudden cessation of the applause when Bob Smith held up his hand for quiet, and there was complete silence as he introduced the two fighters. The roar broke out again at the mention of Sullivan's name, but was again succeeded by a holy calm as the men shook hands and backed away from each other. Sullivan led with a little gentle sparring and Ryan backed up toward his corner. The champion had taken a lesson from his last experience in Madison-Square Garden, and evidently intended to do no heavy hitting. Ryan had been taught no such lesson, and he suddenly made a rush for the Bostonian, while the throng set up a delirious yell. Sullivan was taken somewhat by surprise, and Ryan got in two heavy blows upon his face. An ugly light came into the champion's eyes, and he threw discretion to the wind. In a second he had broken down Ryan's guard, and in another second it would have been all up with the Trojan. But Inspector Thorne had carefully watched the fight, and he crawled under the ropes when the first heavy blow was struck. Capt. Williams bounded over after him. Inspector Thorne seized Ryan by the feet from the rear, and vainly tugged to pull him away from the champion until Capt. Williams got between the two men and separated them.
...
The amount of money taken in at the ticket office exceeded $11,000, for which the intelligent populace had the exhilaration of seeing the men in the ring exactly one minute and eight seconds.


1885-01-24 New York Clipper (New York, NY) (page 717)
As soon as they faced, Sullivan sent an easy one at the stomach, barely touching, and caught a light return in the same place. The champion followed with the right on the side of the head and was countered on the chest. Blows were then exchanged at the head, a clinch followed, and each put in some heavy shots at close range, in the midst of which cannonade Inspector Thorne and Captain Williams, seeing that the blood of the boxers was up, stepped into the ring and separated the combatants, whom they forbade continuing a struggle which did not conform to the officials' ideas of what constituted a scientific display. ... The encounter was too brief to be regarded as having the slightest bearing on the question as to the present relative merits of the men. So far as it progressed neither had a whit the better of the other.

 

Associated Press
In Madison Square Garden to-night John L. Sullivan and Paddy Ryan, old-time antagonists, again met. They went to work in good style, but were stopped by Police Captain Williams before they had had their hands up a minute. Nobody was arrested and no decision was given.
...
Sullivan led off with his left for Ryan's bread basket, but the latter neatly dodged the blow. Ryan made a feint and tapped Sullivan heavily on the right jaw. The champion grew redder and angrier, and Ryan noticing this fought close to his opponent, evidently with a view to prevent Sullivan from getting in the terrific blows for which he is celebrated. Both men fought fiercely at short range, showering blows thick and fast upon each other, the enthusiasm of the crowd increasing with the severity of the blows. The pugilists had not been at work over a minute when Inspector Thorne jumped over the ropes, followed by Captain Williams, and the two with uplifted clubs separated the combatants.


Macon McCormick's report and post-fight observations:
1885-01-20 The Cincinnati Enquirer (Cincinnati, OH) (page 2)
Both threw themselves into easy attitudes, and Paddy, though only a couple of inches taller than Boston's pride, seemed to tower over him. He had not the physical beauty of the latter, who was fat and weighed 213 pounds to Paddy's 204. In an instant Sullivan shot out his left at Paddy's stomach, but Paddy was too wary, and the blow fell short. Both gathered themselves together, and then Paddy darted his left at Sullivan's victualing department. It barely reached it, but it was a hit nevertheless. In an instant they were at it hammer and tongs at short range, and in this rally Paddy surprised even his friends by the excellence of his fighting. It was evident that he had made up his mind to do or die, and he actually had a shade the best of the hitting. One time he landed on Sullivan's neck and tried to get the champion in chancery, but Sullivan wouldn't have it. Then the fire flashed from Sullivan's eyes, and he gave Paddy one in the breast with his right that drove him back a pace. The ex-Trojan was undaunted, however, and returned the charge. The audience was wild, and Paddy's partisans screamed and yelled with joy. "He'll do the big fellow," they chorused almost in unison. Just as the men were renewing hostilities Inspector Thorne, backed by Captain Williams and a squad of "the finest," ran between them and forced them to their corners.


1885-01-25 The Cincinnati Enquirer (Cincinnati, OH) (page 10)
So far, so good. My private opinion is that Paddy deserves credit for going at Sullivan as he did whether he knew that it would bring on police intervention or not. Paddy's forte is half-arm fighting, and no man that ever faced the champion has been able to do any thing with him at long range. Sullivan was fat and beefy, and he wore a silk undershirt to conceal his want of condition. His wind was not good, and had Paddy got him "bellows to mend" he would have fallen an easy victim.
But while Paddy certainly had a shade the best of the onslaught, it by no means follows that he would have had the best of the round. Sullivan caught him on the breast with his right, and the force of the blow knocked Paddy back fully three feet. It was the last and hardest blow of the bout, and Sullivan was going right at him with his right aimed at his neck, when the police rushed between them. Roscoe Conkling's alleged remark, "From what I have seen I can't for the life of me tell which is the best fighter," tells the story.
From the time the men threw themselves into position until they were separated was only thirty-nine seconds by a dozen watches. They fiddled ten seconds before Sullivan led. Paddy jumped back, and it was five seconds more before he let his left go at Sullivan's bread basket. Then there was a ten seconds' half-arm rally, then a breakaway, and as they came together again Sullivan knocked his man back and the police rushed over.
The whole fight was so quick and rapid that none could say that either had any decisive advantage. The fact of the matter was that two-thirds of those present confidently expected that Sullivan would annihilate Paddy with the first punch. He didn't do it. Paddy went at him gamely and his conduct was such a surprise and so wholly unlooked for that the most of those present rushed pell mell to the other conclusion and straightway Paddy is the hero of the hour.
These people forget that it took Sullivan, when in far better condition than he was in on Monday night and Ryan in far worse, eleven minutes and nine rounds to defeat Ryan with the bare knuckles. This, too, after he had received a blow on the neck that would have been a settler for nine men out of ten, and with his truss down, besides. I don't think Paddy can cope with Sullivan in a fight to a finish, and I don't think any one can knock him out in a four-round bout with the gloves on, unless by a "fluke."
That the champion felt this was evident by his attempt to punch the wind out of him. By the way, Sullivan's lead was a very unscientific one. He tried to give Paddy a Mitchell "belly gofuster," but it was very awkward, and had Paddy been at all quick he could have crossed Sullivan with his right, and if he had it would have toppled him over for he was momentarily off his balance. Sully evidently hoped to loosen Paddy's truss again, but if such was his intention it failed utterly.

 

My posts were intended to point out that while we need to look up as many (different) reports as we can, but the round-by-round write-ups are mostly of little use. Can you combine all those reports, of a very short bout, into accurate description of what had happened in the ring, with each punch listed accurately in order they were thrown, whether it had landed or not, where was it aimed at, whether it was hard or light? To me, Macon's observations were more useful, for example, than all those punch-by-punch and clinch-by-clinch descriptions.