The Washington herald., 1914-12-27
SULLIVAN SHOWED HE
WAS A REAL FIGHTER
Set Sporting World Asos When He
Matched Himself Against
KiIrain.

In these days the tight fans are, only
mildly excited by reports that Jack
johnson viii risk his title in combat
with Jess Willard. Sam Mcvey, Sam
LAngford or some other gladiator OF
ferent in the old red-blooded days,
when a match for the big title set
millions Of tongues TO wagging dis
putatiously all over the sporting world.
Perhaps the greatest sensation In ring
history was created just twenty-six
years ago. when John l. Sullivan came
out with q challenge to Jake Rilrain
to do battle for the worlds title.
On that historic date the mighty
John l. dropped into the office OF the
New YoIk Clipper with $4,000 in his
pantS pocket and the editor nearly died
OF heart disease when Sully declared
that he was there to post the coin for
battle with Jake. Sullivan's chal-
lenEe specified q bout under London
priEe-ring rules for $4,000 a side.
Jawn added that il Jake didn't come
across within two weeks he, Jawn.
would proceed to claim the worlds
tItleNRnd the ornate Fox belt.
At first the sporting fraternity feared
that this was only a game Of BLUM. but
IL quickly became evident that Kilrain
was ready and willing, and just
month later the match was finally
clinched at q meeting of sporting men
held in Toronto.
The light. which was the last bare
knuckIe championship battle in Ameri-
ca, was set for July s. 1889. at some
point near New Orleans. In the mean
time the excitement had reached
feverish intensity. and every sport who
could beg, borrow or steal the money
hiked out for the Crescent City early
in July. They were well repaid for
the Journey, for KiIrain put up a game
and gallant battle, and was only de-
feated after seYenty-fiye rounds OF the
hardest kind OF milling.
Sullivan's victory brings up the old
question, never settled. of Johns claim
TO the heavyweight championship of the
world. Kilrain. who was resident OF
Baltimore, but native Of Long Island,
and whose real name was John J. klllion.
claimed the words title. and held the
Fox belt embIeniatic OF that high honor
Sullivan became the recognized American
champion by whipping Paddy Ryan in
lSS2. Ryan won the title from Joe Goss.
who had defeated Tom Allen. who had
whipped Mike McCoole and Bill Davis
Kilrain repeatedly challenged Sullivan.
but John refused TO meet the Baltimore
man. and in 1881 Jake was declared the
champion and the Fox belt was formally
presented to him.
This belt was a sumptuous afair. con-
structed of solid silver and gold and
weighing 30 ounces. In December. 1887.
Kflrain defended his new honors and his
belt against Jem Smith. the champion Of
England. in a battle for the champion
ship Of the world They fought on an
Island in the Seine, near Rouen. France.
They fought lOS rounds, until darkness
ended the combat Kilrain was the bet
ter man throughout and. although he got
only a draw. he got the first fall. the
first knockdOwn. the first blood and mn
ished much stronger than Smith. Tho
British critics practically agreed that the
American was the better man, and that
he was fairly entitled to call himself the
worlds champion. As John l. whipped
Kilrain, IL would seem that he thus dem
onstrated his right to the worlds premier
pugilistic honors. There was certainly no
man better entitled to the championship
with the possible exception of Charlie
Mitchell, who in 1855 fought Sullivan
thirty-nine rounds to a draw.