The Indianapolis leader. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890, 1882-02-11
John L. Sullivan.


John L. Sullivan was matched to fight J. /,
Donaldson with hard gloves for purse. Cincin
uati, O., was the battle ground
The fight was decided December 23 1880, and II
was a one sided affair. Donaldson no match
for Sullivan The Boston champion knocked Dom
aldson all to pieces In eleven minutes.
Sullivan then went to New York and gave an
exhibition at Harry Hills. Sullivan offered sny
pugilist in America $50 who would spar four
rounds-Queensbury rules John Mahan, OF
jersey City, better known as Steve Taylor agreed
to face the Boston pugilist, and Harry Hill was
referee.
Sullivan knocked Taylor out of time in two
rounds. Sullivan was then matched to fight John
Flood. with gloves, for a purse of $3.50. The
battle was fought on a barge on the Hudson River
on May 10, 1881 Sullivan proved that he had
greatly improved: He outfought Flood In eight
rounds, lasting sixteen minutes. Sullivan quit
the ring without receiving any punishment worth
mentioning. Since that he has fought in numer-
GUS sparring exhibitions in Philadelphia, Chicago
The following are the pngilists who have fallen
victims to Sullivan's sledge-hammer mswleys:
Roe Co.'S ss Ssw Dan q
Mass. Steve Taylor. of Jersey City: Fred Crossley
of Philadelphia; John Flood of New York
Byrne. the Michigan Giant. and Jack Stewart. of
Canada.
The above battles were not fought with London
prize ring rules.
John L. Sullivan was born in Ireland, October
In his stockings and weighs LIS pounds trained
in condition. He was brought up in Boston, and
was age mas
ercise his muscles were greatly developed, and
his many admirers Styled him "Strong Boy'' Sui
livan. He first gained notorieIy the pugilistic
world by knocking Joe Goss out of time in a box
ing bout at Boston.
Sullivan's terrific hitting on this occasion Great
who had gained considerable reputation in the
prize ring, invited to Boston to spar with Sui
livan, and the Boston Hercules served Rookie, the
auctioneer, in just the same manner as he did
England's great champion. Sullivan accom- panied
the crowd to the Ryan and Goss fzzle at Erie, Pa,
in June, $780, and offered TO fight John Donald
terror with his mawleys Donaldson refused to
meet the Boston champson however.
Paddy Ryan.
Patrick Ryan was born in the town of Thurlis,
County Tipperary. Ireland, March Is, 1853. He is
one-haf an inch more than "six- -footer''
without shoes, and ordinary his weight Is 221
pounds.
During the early part of April, 1878, John
Dwyer and Joe Goss were fulfilling an engage
ment at Harry Martins Grand Concert Theater
Troy. and while they were there, Ryan and his
friends indulged in considerable fight talk. On
the 10th of said month Johnnie and Pat happened
to his feelings and the upshot was that Ryan s
backer put up $40 against like sum In support of
a BET that Dywer wouldn't make a match for
of Buffalo. The principals and their packers met
at the appointed time, and before seParst-
ing a match for $1,000 and the champion
~,
1875 was ratified. On June % Ryan, accompa-
MED by his trainers, Joe GOss and Jim Turner,
came down from his training quarters at Sand
Lake, n. Y, the two former having been engaged
to spar at an entertainment gotten up in Brook
lyn by Kenney, the billposter. The attendance
at the affair. which took place at the Prospect
Park Fair Grounds that afternoon, rather
light, and as the promoter wouldn't live up to his
agreement as regards remuneration for services,
Paddy and Joe declined to appear. That evening"
when on their way to and within a few blocks of
the ferry to New York, the trio were assaulted by
eight or nine persons. Ryan being knocked down,
stabbed I'm the left side near the kidneys, kicked
in the face. cutting his lip and knocking out two
sound front teeth. His companions were but
slightly hurt
RYAN was conveyed to the house of Charley
Johnson, then Dryers principal backer, where
his wounds were dressed, the stab bt lug found to
be of little consequence, although narrowly es-
Gaping vital part.
Next day Paddy left for Troy, not wishing to be
detained witness against the half dozen whites
and negroes who were arrested for the assault,
some of whom were tried, convicted and impris-
oned for the offense.
The injuries received threw Ryan out of train
ing for some time. and although Dwyer offered to
put the day of fighting off reasonable length of
time, Paddys hackers, seemingly anxious to get
rid of the business, which was giving them dis
trustful notoriety. allowed the match to fall
through, the failure to choose a final stakeholder
affording them the opportunity they sought.
Ryan's only battle in the prize ring was with Joe
GOss They fought for e.. 900 side and the cham
ponship, at Golfers Station W. Va. June 2, 1880
Ryan won In eighty seven rounds, fought In one
hour and twenty minutes.