Boxing Trophy Belt, given to John L. Sullivan
date: label: date made
content: 1887
name: label: associated person
content: Sullivan, John L.
notes: label: Description (Brief)
content: In 1887 a gold belt was given to John L. Sullivan, heavyweight boxing champion from 1882 to 1892. At the peak of his career, supporters of the "Boston Strong-Boy" made him a diamond-encrusted belt.
label: Description (Brief)
content: "The Great John L." lost only one of his nearly 50 career fights, falling to jim Corbett in 1892. Later, as Sullivan's income dwindled, he chipped out the diamonds and pawned his belt again and again. In 1901, a jeweler created a replica to display at the Buffalo World's Fair. It is not known whether the Smithsonian's belt is the original or the replica.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
topic: label: name of sport
content: Boxing
label: level of sport
content: Professional
label: web subject
content: Sports
setName: label: See more items in
content: Culture and the Arts: Sport and Leisure
label: See more items in
content: Highlights from the Culture and the Arts Collection
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of Mary A. Delaurier
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 1983.0401.01
label: accession number
content: 1983.0401
label: catalog number
content: 1983.0401.01
objectType: label: Object Name
content: trophy belt, boxing
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: metal (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: paint; glass; brass; paper (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 11 3/4 in x 49 1/2 in x 1 in; 29.845 cm x 125.73 cm x 2.54 cm
label: Measurements
content: overall: 10 3/4 in x 49 1/2 in x 1 in; 27.305 cm x 125.73 cm x 2.54 cm