JOHN L. SULLIVAN

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 139, 1 March 1918, Page 8

JOHN L. SULLIVAN

SKETCH OF NOTED BOXER'S CAREER

John L. Sullivan, the ex-heavy-weight champion of, the world, who died at Abiugdon, Mass., U.S.A., on Sunday week, was one of the greatest natural fighters the world has ever known, and as long as tho sport of boxing holds, his name will be remembered. On one occasion, when big matches were slow in coming along, John L. toured the States, offering 1000 dollars to anyone who would stand up to him for foiir rounds. '

"A Frenchman tried to get tho 1000 dollars I hung up on my grand tour in 1883, in Victoria, British Columbia (related John L. afterwards). This was the funniest fight I ever had. When we struck Victoria, first came the Mayor of the city, asking if it was a reai 1000 dollar bill I put up to any man who could stay four rounds. He was" convinced by giving him the money to hold. This gave me official standing. The Frenchman was a boxer with considerable local reputation, and he needed that 1000 dollars badly. At the theatre that night, when I was undressing to enter the ring, we got a whiff from the dressing-room where the Frenchman was making ready. One of my company made an excuse to get into "the Frenchman's dressing-room, and he reported that the aspirant for the prize was being rubbed down with fish oil. The oil idea was a new one for me, and I asked my pal to explain it. " 'Why,'.said he, 'the Frenchman's seconds say they have oiled hira so your clouts will just slide off sasy, so as not to hurt, and that is how ho is going to stay the four rounds and get the money.' '"When , the* French champion came on the stage he got me going rteht away. He looked like a sardine. Nob only was his body dripping with oil, but around his stomach and waist were yards of red cloth. Whether the red cloth was intended to represent the British flag or to keep him from getting hurt I didn't ask. I suppose that every man in the home with a. few exceptions outside of my own party expected that my . opponent would surely stay the four rounds. I knocked my man down thwo times in the first found. The thirf time he went down ho stayed down for half an hour. He sent for me when ho came to, and in the course of our conversation I asked him how it fett to go to sleep so suddenly. " 'When you hit me one times, I fc'ink I see one French soldier. When you hit me tree time, I t'ink I lee one whole Frency army , he said.

/ A Reckless Spendthrift; "Sullivan in two years cleared £22,000," says a biographer, "but I doubt if he tad the. price of a bottle of wine two weeks after the season closed. The big fighters of these days light for larger purses than John L. ever got, but they never draw the money to 'the box office in their road tours that was pelted over the sheet by the legions that nocked to witness John L. I have often been asked it Sullivan, taken in the zenith of his powers, would conquer the latter-day boxer. Could he, for example, whip Jim Jeffries-that is, if Nature would summon back all the physical abilities of John L. Sullivan, combined with Ins style of fighting, would he defeat Jetfries? I doubt it. The boxers who are in their prime to-day are more clever of hand and foot'than the fighters who were m their flower when Sullivan flourished. Sullivan was of the rough-and-ready type, and charged oil his victim, in a way that the boxer of to-day, would avoid by side-stepping and slipping out of harm's way. There was more or the stand-up, give-and-take fighting in those days. But later on the boxer began to realise that there is as much science in avoiding a blow as delivering one. The rough-and-ready style of Sullivan was shown up to disadvantage by Corbett in his fight with' John L. I will admit Sullivan was far from being.in fine physical .condition when he met, Corbett. But there was enough of him left to distinguish the old school from the new. The oldfashioned left jab, the left swing.for the body and right cross for, the ja«, ,wero the main, and, in fact. the onlp blows that I ever saw Sullivan use Then what business would he naio against a man of Junes' science? It 'would be unjust to expect that Sullivan with his old style could compete W SmSs S, bi g gest.fi ? hts included Paddy Ryan, at Mississippi City, February 7, 1882, London prac ring rules, bare knuckles, 5000 dollars aside and championship of America, Grounds. Charlie Mitchell, at Chanilj, France, March 10, 18S8, bare knuckles, 2500 dollars asido and championship, 39 rounds, called a draw. Mitchell looked a sure winner. Jake Kilrain, at Ricliburg, Miss., July 8, 18S9 , 10,000 dollars aside and championship of America, bare knuckles, 75 rounds. Sullivan won. James J; Corbett, at New Orleans, September 7, 1892, 25,000rdollar purse and 10,000 dollars a-side, Marquis ot Queensberry rules, soz. gloves, tor championship of American. Sullivan lost, 21 rounds. , At Boston in 1878-9 he boxed Cockey Woods, Dan Dwyer, Tommy Chandler, alike Donovan, and Patsy Hogau.