The trial of John L Sullivan

I went with Pioneer, even though he might very well have been a drunk and a racist as well... But we shouldn't judge fighters for who they were outside the ring.. This is boxing, not political science, and Sullivan was a true all time great.

 

hard to call him an ATG when he didnt fight a substantial chunk of the fighters available. Thats the equivalent of being a single title champions today who ducks like his second name is Otkke.

In addition, he rarely fought world fighters, merely in america. Hes realistically a North American Champ, not a World Champ. But given that he was a good one!

 

Is there any footage?

Of him singing, I mean.

 

Technically, no. According to the newspaper accounts, he was like combination of Luciano Pavarotti and Aretha Franklin, only better.

 

His racism was a sign of the times. I don't hold it against him.

He legitimised the sport at a time when it was seen as bestial and savage, and embraced the Queensberry rules, which are still applied today. He was every bit the superstar for his time as Ali was for his.
It helped that he could fight a bit, too.

 

Hope this is of interest J.

http://www.keepandshare.com/doc/3213464/...-676k?da=y

 

Doesn't matter if he was a drunk or a racist.

That's not what he's famous for.
He's famous for being a boxing champion.

 

I clicked the 'pioneer' poll option.

Would have been greater if he had better training an living habits,and if he had fought Jackson. But even at that he was a hell of a fighter, a great popularizer of the sport of boxing and perhaps contributing to the prestigeof sporting in general, and a great proponent of Queensbury rules and 'getting down to business'.

 

I am sorry if I wrong about that, Wiki seemed to indicate different.


OK he gets a further rung up my ladder now, thanks for informing me.

 

correct answer, but so was every other white american.

 

Sullivan's prime was short due to drinking and injuries. He avoided the two best men of his time, Jackson, and Slavin. He was great for the sport because he brought attention to it.