Evening star., 1935-01-06


prize ring after the Civil War.
John c. Heenan. unable to
find a match he considered worthy Of
the champion Of the world" had gone
out to the Wyoming Territory to seek
his fortune in a new land. There he
died in 1873. John Morrissy, a be-
nevolent, bearded old gentleman, was
spending his declining years in afflu-
ence from the profits Of the Saratoga
Race Track, of which he owned a
controlling interest after a successful
career in Congress.
The American ring supremacy was
left open to the English invaders
youngsters not quite able to make the
grade in their native land. but who
saw soft pickings" In the New World.
The first to appear was Tom Allen
from Birmingham. His first Amer
ican appearance was as second to Tom
Kelly, a Canadian. in his battle with
Philadelphia Bill Parkinson at Acquia
Creek, Va. Kelly took terrible beat
ing, but won the fight. the referee CIV
ing his decision with Aliens pistol
stuck against his ribs.
Englishmen Invade.
Thus the Englishman introduced
himself to the American sporting
world. He loudly claimed the world
championship. He was not aware at
the time that Jem Mace was on his
way across the Atlantic. Mace tried
to arrange meeting with him, but
Allen conveniently avoided the match.
Shortl yafterward his claims were
challenged, however, by another Eng
lishman, Joe Goss. They were finally
matched in Kentucky in 1876 and
Goss won in the twenty-flrst round on
a foul.
Goss then was champion Of Amer
lea and there was no native to chal-
lenge his superiority. 1t was not
until 1880 that Goss met his master
in the person Of Paddy Ryan. a COM
parative unknown from Troy, N. Y.
They fought on July Of that year
for $4,000 at Collier Station, w. Va.
Ryan, weighing 221 pounds, and, with
one exception, the biggest American
prizefighter, knocked out the Eng
lishman after q desperate battle
which lasted 81 rounds. The victory
was hailed by Americans. Ryan was
born in Ireland, but had been brought
to Troy as an infant.
John L. Enters Picture.
"HAT Summer a youth from Bos-
ton named Sullivan was build
ing up q reputation In bar-room
brawls and exhibitions with gloves
around New York. He appeared to be
a good fighter, but when the proposal
to match the Boston Strong Boy
with such a man as the new cham
pion was made it was ridiculed. But
nobody else appeared willing to tight
Ryan, and he needed money.
The two fought on February 2, 1882,
at Mississippi City, Miss, for purse
of $4,000. one of the largest offered up
to the time. Betting was heavily in
favor of Ryan. The result, was one Of
the great upsets Of ring history. The
Troy giants jaw was broken in the
second round and in the eleventh,
after 19 minutes of fighting, his Sec
onds threw in the sponge. John L.
Sullivan stepped out of the ring the
new champion Of America and de-
stined for many years to be the most
colorful figure the international prize
ring had known.
More than any fighter who had
preceded him on this side Of the
Atlantic-at least since the stirring
days Of his narnesake, Yankee Sulli-
van-the new champion possessed the
invaluable but intangible quality of
showmanship in addition to his real
merit as a scrapper. His name be-
came almost synonymous with the
prize ring. both In America and Eng
land. America gloried in truly
American champion once more. Ire
land hailed the Boston strong boy
as the true successor to the great
Sir Daniel Donnelly.
John L. Becomes Legend.
DUT with the advent of John L.
r. Sullivan the contemporary
chapter of prize ring history
begins. The man already is legend,
almost universally described as the
greatest fighter Of all time," although
in the cold light Of history his
career is not quite 50 glamorous and
It would bs extremely diMcult Il