John L. Sullivan

Adam J. Pollack is a staff writer for Cyberboxingzone.com (CBZ), is vice chair of USA Boxing's National Board of Review, and a member of the Women's Subcommittee. He is also a boxing coach and attorney living in Iowa City, Iowa.

Essentially the last of the bare-knuckle heavyweight champions, John L. Sullivan was instrumental in the acceptance of gloved fighting. His charisma and popular appeal during this transitional period contributed greatly to making boxing a nationally popular, legitimate sport. Sullivan became boxing's first superstar and arguably the first of any sport. From his first match in the late 1870s through his final championship fight in 1892, this biography contains a thoroughly researched, detailed accounting of John L. Sullivan's boxing career. With special attention to the 1880s, the decade during which Sullivan came to prominence, it follows Sullivan's skill development and discusses his opponents and fights in detail, providing various viewpoints of a single event. Beginning with a discussion of early boxing practices, the sport itself is placed within sociological, legal and historical contexts including anti-prize fighting laws and the so-called color line. A complete record of Sullivan's career is also included.

Table of ContentsAcknowledgmentsPreface1. Understanding the System Under Which They Fought2. Sullivan's World3. The Local Rise of the Boston Strongboy4. The World's Best ... but with Gloves5. A "Real" Fight6. Now They'll Have to Do It My Fashion7. The Game Little Englishman and the Maori8. The Tour: 18839. The Tour Continues: 188410. Unfinished Business and Prelude to a Grudge Match11. Accepted, but Not Quite12. Mystery of the Seven-Round Decision13. The Plateau and the Break14. The European Tour15. The Color Line16. End of an Era17. Retired?18. Changing His Tune19. The LegacyAppendix: John L. Sullivan's RecordNotesBibliographyIndex