The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-02-04
Sullivan Champion Of
 Champions, Says Madden
"Dscoverer" and First Man. ager of Noted Fighter Feels Big Fellows Death As a Personal Loss.

Billy Madden, first manager of John l.. Sullivan, was shocked to hear of the passing of the greatest of Ameri- can fighters.
 "To me it is personal 1oss," says Madden, flor not withstanding the many claimants, it was my privilege to discover his wonderful powers and to undertake his pugilistic education.
 John l.. first attracted my atten- tion in 1881 when met him in Bos- ton at Jim Keenans sporting cafe. where I was manager and gave box ing entertainments with Pete Mccoy and others.
 At that time he was known as the Boston Strong Boy and had gained local reputation as a good, strong, rough novice, always ready for a fight no matter who the opponent, and had had bouts with Cockney Woods Dan Dwyer, Mike Donovan, Tommy Chandler, Jack Hogan, Joe Goss and George Rooke.
 'Sullivan's first match with boxing gloves in Cincinnati, O., where the de- feated Prof. John Donaldson in 10 rounds. On his return to Boston after
 this match Sullivan asked me to take
 him to New York.
 At that time had been foIlew- ing boxing for a living about 10 years and had gained the reputation of one Of the best lightweights in America. ana we made an agreement as to di-
 Vlslon Of gate money in our New
 York exhibitions. Of course Sullivan
 left all details of arranging these af- fairs to me and the newspapers dubbed me Manager a title now in
 such common use, but which had never been heard of before that time in connection with prize fighting. SULLIVAN-2 u1,r,
 At this time Sullivan was without Knowledge of the science of boxing but was a mighty clever rough fighter. and 1t was my task to give him his finishing school work and he went at boxing with the same doggedness that made him a world champion fighter.
 f'We had very little money, in fact he had none, but so well did I think Of his ability that We advertised to give $50 to any man whom he could not stop in four rounds. In those days $1O was big money for a fight, and $50 looked like small fortune, and all the big scrappers went after it, thinking it was easy money.
 His first victim was Steve Taylor, a big clever heavyweight whom he knocked out inside the four rounds with eight-ounce gloves. This made Sullivan and the tDxing game popu- lar. The contest was held at Harry Hills Houston street place.
 He then beat John Flood in the famous barge fight with skin gloves. We travelled about from one city to another, meeting all corners, and John L. beat them all with ease, never once being in trouble.
 "We used to give sparring matches in the theatres and put on amateur bouts for silver cups, just managing to make a living, until finally we in duced Paddy Ryan to meet him for the worlds heavyweight champion ship The fight with bare knuckles took place in Mississippi City, Miss, on Feb ', 1882, and Sullivan won in nine rounds.
 Tn just Il months Sullivan rose from comparative obscurity to the po- sition of worlds champion heavy weight, feat that no other fighter has ever equalled. Richard K. Fox 2 backed Ryan. Dave Blanchard. Jim Keenan and myself backed Sullivan. I also trained and seconded him.
 q knew John L. when he was at his best, and in my opinion there never was a man then or since who could beat him at that time He was very quick, built like an Apollo and a game fighter and hard hitter. He could run a 100 yards in F seconds and was a veritable Hercules in strength.
 He was then p years old and at his best for the next three years, after which he commenced to get fat and gradually went back. John Barley corn was his worst enemy, but I man aged to keep him away from thee up until he had won the championship. He was a big eater and a great Fover of salt. He would drink a pail of wa ter a day when he was on the water wagon, and you can imagine how much booze he would get away with when he fell off. He had a most kind:y disposition and would do any thing For friend, but like many greet men in any line of endeavor could not bear to be crossed. As a fighter he was a champion of cham pions, all right, and think I am a judge"