Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-07-15
THE KNOCK OUT BLOW.
How John l.. Sullivan First Became
 Acquainted With It.

In an article on matters pugilisttc contemporary notes as a singular fact that although the average citi- zen regards fighting with naked fists as brutal, but views boxing with gloves with some degree of tolera- tion, and the latter is legalized by many legislatures, yet the records show that no prize fighter was ever knocked out, that is rendered senseless, with. the naked fist; 1t is always done with the aid of boxing gloves. John L. Sullivan, Boston's most widely known citizen, was told this physiological secret in 1882 by celebrated New York physician, who was also a fine boxer and an intimate associate of another ardent amateur boxer, Senator Conkling, the titanic rival for Blaine for the supremacy in national politics. Sul- livan had just won the worlds cham pionship with his fists and as this New York physician, greatly admir- ing the premier bruiser's mighty brawn and muscle, informed him that while the first cut and bruised. the boxing glove. no matter how heavily padded, stunned its victim, not only by covering wide area of nerves, but by its cumulative effect. repeating the shock of the blows several times. He imparted the further secret that the point of a mans jaw is the center of number of nerves leading directly to the brain. and consequently the most vulnerable part of a mans anatomy in administering a knockout blow.
 Sullivan was delighted with thu knowledge and he straightway or ganized a company of prize fighters. each the best in his class, the classes being divided according to weight. and made tour of the country. of- fering $500 to any one who could box four rounds of three minutes each with himself or any of his conn pany, at class weights. without being knocked out. At that time such a proposition seemed preposterous and numerous contestants offered them- selves in every city where the com pany showed. but none. 1t is claimed. outclassed the time limit. Sullivan especially knocked out all corners and his unprecedented performances established his reputation as the greatest pugilist ever known in the world--an opinion which many per- sons in the realms of sport firmly entertain to this day. This innova- ton with it's quick results sounded the death knell of fighting with bare fists which involved long and brutal battles in which the faces and bodies of the fighters were terribly bruised, and often cut to ribbons of skin. by the sharp, hard knuckles. Sullivan fought only one battle with his fists after his discovery of the effective ness of the boxing glove in putting an opponent down and ont. and that fight. at Richburg. Miss. in July. 1SSS. lasting seventy-six rounds, ex- cited such public indignation and disgust that the practice of prize ring fighting with bare fists was abandoned entirely in this country and virtually also in England. It h strange thing. too. that boxing either with gloves or fists. has never gained a fOothold in any country ex- eept those inhabited by the Anglo Saxon race-England. Australia and the United states. The French box a little. but mostly with their feeG. kfcki-g the opponent In any part .
 his body or limbs. while the Anglo Saxon regards t as unmanly and unfair to strike below the Lett