Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1889-07-26

anu hoy III tue country uhu DeJ on tue
result That was Tom Hyer's last battle;
for after his victory over the pluckiest
fighter that ever stood inside the ropes, no
one dared to challenge him. This Is
John l.. Sullivan's last battle, also; for
he has declared that he will never again
enter the prize ring
John l.. Sullivan, who has held cham
pionship honors longer than any other
pugilist, was born OF Irish parents at the
"Highlands," Boston, Mass. October Is,
1858. He measures around the chest forty
four inches. biceps sixteen aud n quarter
inches. He first began to spar In music
halls in Boston. in 1879 At that time he
WAS an ironworker and he used to take n
keen delight in witnessing the bouts be.
tween the amateurs on the variety stage.
II had been goiu' TO these halls for n
good while, and had tried to got up
bout with some OF the sparrers; but they
wouldn't have it. Try as l might, WIS
blutfed off by the story that was nobody,
and that before they would spar with me
| must get out aud do something. Now,
was willin' but couldn't get n show.
But my time came. One night, when was
in the hall there was fellow who was to
have spared with somebody forget
i
master of ceremonies came OH the stage
aud said the other fellow, rather than dis
appoint the audience. was willin' to spar
any gentlman who liked TO stepup.
"You can just bet didn't need no
second invitation Jumped on the stage
and went to work. easy like, bit. Pretty
soon felt had my man, and let out
aud wound him mp In good shape After
| TINT N ant tulk nhnnf M
not being good enough for any of them to
spar with then, yod see, and didn't have
no trouble. Shortly after that Billy Mad
den came to Boston and went with him to
New York. That was just before fought
Flood, which was my first real fight"
The brawny Boston Boy" evidently
made light of his encounters with Joe
Goss, George Rookie, Jack Donaldson and
Steve Taylor, all OF whom he met and
vanquished before his fight with Flood.
The latter battle was fought on u barge
on the Hudson River May 10, 1881, and
Sullivan defeated his opponent in eight
rounds. lasting just sixteen minutes. lie
was then pltted by Richard X. Fox
against Paddy Ryan, OF Troy, to fight no.
cording to London Ring rules for 5000
n side. The match seemed likely to fall
| through because of the lack
OF hackers Of Sullivan. As
yet he WAS "A stranger TO the bigger sports
men. Finally, some of the leading spirits
OF the Boston Crib Club took an interest
| in their townsman and James keenan,. the
well known sporting man who died lately,
put up Sullivan's share OF the stakes.
The fight came of Mt Mississippi City, Miss,
on February 7. 1882. aud Sullivan won In
nine rounds. Ryan who had won the CHI am
pionship by fiuke some time previous
went out of the ring for good.
Then followed long train Of ohal-
lenges, few of which meant real bust
ness. Snllivan's fight with Jimmy Elliot
on July 4. 1882. four-round, glove
contest. was little better than a farce. for
Elliott was sick man when he entered
tho ring. Since that time he has held
his own and captured the honors In
encounters with "rug Wilson," the
famous English boxer in New York,
Charley Mitchell, another Engllshmnn,
and one of the ceverest sparrers who ever
entered ring, Herbert Slade, the big
Maori, whom he knocked out in three
rounds, Dominick McCaffrOy and Patsy
Cardiff. In fighting the latter Mt Mime.
apolis, Sullivan struck him so hard oil
the head that he broke his own wrist aud
the contest was declared u draw His
encounter with Charley Mitchell,
was fought In "a foot ring with
bare knuckes near Chantilly, France.
After 80 rounds a draw was declared