New Britain herald., 1915-02-09
SbOytOgTaphy
BY GRAVY"

Jake Kilrain, who was defeated by John l.. Sullivan at Richburg, Miss, in 1889 in the last great classic bare knuckle battle of the American prize ring, entertains the opinion that mod crn boxers are a sorry lot compared with the old time fighters of his hey day. A few months ago old Jake. while on @ visit to North Dakota to look after his land interests told reporter that there isn't a boxer alive now who could stand up under tEc gruelling fighting of the old regime. Admittirc that Jack Johnson is wonderful boxer and a steady, cauti- ous fighter, the veteran added: But put Jack into the game as it was when we fought under the old London prize ring rules and he would be mur- dered."
 Jake was born at Greenpoint. Long Island, fifty-six years ago today. Feh. 9, 1859, but he has spent most of his mature life in Baltimore. which city he still calls home. Jake's real name is John J. Killion, but the newspapers mangled it to Kilrain, and he let it go at that. Jake began his career as an oarsm en, and made quite reputation as a sculler before be took to the ring in 1880 His first professional bout was with Dangerous Jack" a col ored boy in Boston. Throughout his ring career he never drew the color line. When you go over the ropes you are equals, and color doesn't count" Jake always said.
 Jake's first big fight was with George Godfrey, known as "Old Choc- olate," a native of Prince Edward Is- land and a famous black fighter at that time. They fought a draw ,n Boston, and in 1884 Jake held Charley Mitchell, the English boxer, to a draw. After that he met a number of good men, and became a serious contender for the title held by John l.. Sullivan. Jem Smith was then champion of England. and challenged Sullivan to fight for the worlds championship, but the match fell through. Kilrain then offered to meet Smith, and they were matched to fight in France in 1887. Charley Mitchell trained Kilrain for the bout, which was held on an island in the Seine near Rouen. Tho men fought 106 rounds. when dark ness ended the battle. which was called a draw. Jake had all the best of 1t, however, and in England he was recognized as the worlds champion. Before going to France to fight Smith kilrain had been presented with T . belt declared to be emblematic of the premiere pugilistic honors of the ; world. The presentation of the trophy was made in Baltimore, and a big : crowd of sports acclaimed Jake as the 1 new champion. The belt was a
  and eight inches wide, and was made of 200 ounces of solid gold and silver
 After whipping Smith, Kilrain was cock of the walk, and Sullivan, who had sdestepped a meeting with Jake realized he would have to come across or be classed with the has-beens Early in 1899 a meeting of sports was held in Toronto and the match be- tween Kilrain and Sullivan was def initely made.
 Richburg, village in Mississippi, was chosen as the scene if the distur- bance, and there about 5000 sports from all over America congregated on July day in 1889. The fight was fer s10,000 a side and the chnmplonship bare knuckles, London prize ring rules. Charley Mitchell and Pony Moore accompanied kilrain to the ring, and Muldoon, the wrestler, and Mike Donovan ex-middleweight cham pion, were John L.'s packers. Kilrain was far from well, but he fought gamely for seventy-five rounds, last ing two hours and sixteen minutes, before Sullivan finally triumphed Bat Mastorson, now sporting editor of the New York Morning Telegraph, was the timekeeper. Kilrain's last bout was with Frank Slavin, by whom