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The Cyber Boxing Zone Encyclopedia -- Lineal Champion / American Bare Knuckle Champion


Book Review --
JOHN L. SULLIVAN: The Career of the First Gloved Heavyweight Champion
by Adam Pollack

John L. Sullivan
(John Lawrence Sullivan)
(the "Boston Strong Boy")

BORN     October 15 1858; Roxbury, Boston, Massachusetts
DIED     February 2 1918; Abingdon, Massachusetts
HEIGHT   5-10 1/4 (Some sources report 5-10 1/2)
WEIGHT   190-229 lbs
MANAGERS Billy Madden, Al Smith, Frank Moran, Pat Sheedy, Harry Phillips, Charles E. "Parson" Davies, Ed Holske, Jimmy Wakely, Frank Hall, and Arthur T. Lumley and possibly William Muldoon at times

Sullivan was a boxing immortal, the link between bare knuckles and glove fighting, and the first great American sports idol; He was powerful, quick, could hit with either hand but had exceptional strength in his right, and could take punishment; John L. could break a man's jaw with a single punch

Due to early day legal restraints, some competitive bouts were listed as exhibitions for legal purposes. They are listed here as exhibitions only if they were actually friendly sparring sessions, not of the kind where Sullivan was attempting a knockout

As to his 50 knockouts in his Aug-Oct 1883 tour of America, the 29 knockouts during his 1883-1884 tour of America and the 51 exhibitions during his 1887-1888 tour of England, Sullivan's numbers may have been inflated. Only confirmed bouts are included here.

He is still considered by some historians to be one of the best heavyweights ever; Sullivan was inducted into the Ring Boxing Hall of Fame in 1954 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990



Sullivan-Corbett Sparring In Street Clothes 1910 Video Clip

In This Corner - Sullivan Video Clip

http://www.youtube.com/user/oaklandstephen
(Press the  button at the top of the screen to return)

*** AMATEUR BOUTS ***

1877-1878
       Jack Scannell             Boston, Ma                          KO  1
       Ramon Guiteras            Boston, Ma                           D  4
          -This bout is mentioned by some sources but may not
          have taken place

*** PROFESSIONAL BOUTS ***

1879
Mar 14 Jack Curley               Boston, Ma                (1:14:00)  W   
Mar 14 Johnny "Cocky" Woods      Boston, Ma                          TK  5
          -This bout may have been an exhibition
           The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
       Dan Dwyer                 Boston, Ma                          TK  3
       Tommy Chandler            Boston, Ma                           W  4
       John A. "Patsy" Hogan     Boston, Ma                           W  4
          -The results for the previous 3 bouts are reported
           but are questioned

1880
Jan  5 John A. "Patsy" Hogan     Boston, Ma                         SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Feb    Mike Donovan              Boston, Ma                          EX  4
          -Reports vary - "EX 3" - "ND 3" - "ND 4"
Mar    Jerry Murphy              New York, NY                        EX   
Apr  6 Joe Goss                  Boston, Ma                          EX  3
Jun 26 -Sullivan announced he would fight anyone in America, 
          with or without gloves, for $500
Jun 28 George Rooke              Boston, Ma                          KO  3
          -Some sources report "KO 2"
       Dan Dwyer                                                     EX   
         -Sullivan and Dwyer boxed several exhibitions
Nov    Johnny Kenny              New York, NY                        EX   
Dec 11 John Donaldson            Cincinnati, Oh                      EX  4
          -Sullivan stopped Donaldson;
           Some sources report 12/20/80
Dec 24 John Donaldson            Cincinnati, Oh                      KO 10
          -Some sources report 1881
Dec 25 -Sullivan and John Donaldson were arrested
          for prizefighting but were released two 
          days later

1881  
Jan  3 Jack Stewart              Boston, Ma                          EX  3
          -Some sources report "TK 2";
           Some sources report "TK 8"
Jan  3 Joe Goss                  Boston, Ma                          EX  3
          -Gloves were used for this bout;
           The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Jan    Jack Stewart              Boston, Ma                          EX   
Mar 21 Mike Donovan              Boston, Ma                          EX  3
          -Some sources report "EX 4"
Mar 31 Steve Taylor              New York, NY                        TK  2
          -Some sources report "W 3"
May 16 John Flood                Yonkers, NY                         KO  8
          -This bout was held on a barge;
           Some sources report "W 8"
Jun 13 John Flood                New York, NY                        EX  3
Jul 11 Fred Crossley             Philadelphia, Pa                    KO  1
Jul 11 Billy Madden              Philadelphia, Pa                    EX   
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Jul 21 Dan McCarty               Philadelphia, Pa                    KO  1
Jul    Billy Madden              Trenton, NJ                         EX   
Aug 13 "Captain" James Dalton    Chicago, Il                         KO  4
          -Some sources report 8/12/81;
           Some sources report 9/14/81;
           Some sources report "Cincinnati, Oh"
Aug 13 Billy Madden              Chicago, Il                         EX   
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Sep  3 Jack Burns                Chicago, Il                         KO  1
Sep  3 "Captain" James Dalton    Chicago, Il                         EX  4
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Sep    George Godfrey            Boston, Ma                         SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but not held;
           Both men were stripped for a "fight-to-the-finish";
           Police intervened and prevented the contest; 
           Some sources report 1882
Sep    -Sullivan got into a street fight with a local bully
          at Mount Clemens, Mi and knocked the man out
Oct    Bob Farrell                                                   EX   
Oct 22 Billy Madden              Scranton, Pa                        EX  4
Oct 24 Billy Madden              Philadelphia, Pa                    EX  4
Oct 26 Billy Madden              Troy, NY                            EX  4
Oct 27 Billy Madden              New York, NY                        EX   
Oct    Steve Taylor              New York, NY                        EX  3 
Nov  5 Billy Madden              New York, NY                        EX   
          -Sullivan and Madden appeared several times during the week
Nov 16 Billy Madden              Buffalo, NY                         EX   
Nov    Pete McCoy                Buffalo, NY                         EX   
Nov 28 Billy Madden              Cincinnati, Oh                      EX   
Nov 28 Pete McCoy                Cincinnati, Oh                      EX   
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date;
           Some sources report 11/29/81
Nov 29 Billy Madden              Cincinnati, Oh                      EX   
Dec    Billy Madden              Cleveland Oh                        EX   
          -This bout was held prior to Dec 17 1881
Dec  9 Billy Madden              Chicago, Il                         
			EX   
Dec 24 Pete McCoy                New Orleans, La                     EX   
Dec 24 Billy Madden              New Orleans, La                     EX   
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date

1882
Feb  2 Joe Goss                  New Orleans, La                     EX  3
Feb  7 Paddy Ryan                Mississippi City, Ms                 W  9  
          -Heavyweight Championship of America;
          London Prize Ring Rules and bare-knuckles were used
Mar 27 Jack Douglas              New York, NY                        EX  3
Mar 27 Billy Madden              New York, NY                        EX  3
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date 
Mar 28 Steve Taylor              Jersey City, NJ                     EX  3
Apr  3 Billy Madden              Bridgeport, Ct                      EX   
Apr 15 Pete McCoy                Hoboken, NJ                         EX   
Apr 19 Pete McCoy                Hoboken, NJ                         EX   
Apr 20 Johnson                   Rochester, NY                      SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but not held;
           Johnson, who was black, did not show
Apr 20 John McDermott            Rochester, NY                       TK  3
May    Billy Madden              Lynn, Ma                            EX   
Jun  8 Billy Madden              Hartford, Ct                        EX   
Jul  4 Jimmy Elliott             Brooklyn, NY                        KO  3
Jul 17 "Tug" Wilson (Joe Collins) New York, NY                        W  4
          -Wilson went to the floor 24 times during the bout
           to avoid being knocked out
Aug 19 Joe Goss                  North Adams, Ma                     EX  2
          -A riot broke out in the crowd and police intervened
Aug 19 Joe Goss                  North Adams, Ma                     EX  3
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date 
       "Tug" Wilson (Joe Collins)                                   SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but not held; 
           Authorities prevented it
Sep  4 Billy Madden              Newark, NJ                          EX   
Sep 22 Billy Madden              Buffalo, NY                         EX   
Sep 23 Henry Higgins             Buffalo, NY                         TK  3
Oct 16 S.P. Stockton             Fort Wayne, In                      KO  2
Oct 26 Pete McCoy                Bloomington, Il                     EX  3
Oct 30 Charley O'Donnell         Chicago, Il                         KO  1
Oct 30 Pete McCoy                Chicago, Il                         EX  3
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Oct 31 Pete McCoy                Chicago, Il                         EX  3
Nov 13 Pete McCoy                Washington, DC                      EX  3
Nov 17 Mike Collins              Washington, DC                     SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but not held; Collins backed out
Nov 17 Jordan Rentzler           Washington, DC                      TK  1
          -Police intervened; Rentzler died a few days later
Nov 17 Pete McCoy                Washington, DC                      EX  3
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Nov 19 an unnamed opponent       Pittsburgh, Pa                     SCH   
Nov    an unnamed opponent       Cincinnati, Oh                     SCH   
          -The previous 2 bouts were scheduled;
           The outcomes are not known
Dec 14 Joe Goss                  New York, NY                        EX   
Dec 28 Joe Coburn                New York, NY                        EX  3

1883
Jan 20 Joe Coburn                Buffalo, NY                         EX   
Jan 23 Joe Coburn                Toronto, Ont, Can                   EX   
Jan 25 Harry Gilman              Toronto, Ont, Can                   KO  3
          -This man may have been "Harry Gilmore"
Jan 29 Joe Coburn                Troy, NY                            EX  3
Feb    Joe Coburn                Rochester, NY                       EX   
Feb 22 Pete McCoy                Boston, Ma                          EX  3
Mar  1 John Laflin               New York, NY                        EX  3
Mar  6 Pete McCoy                New York, NY                        EX  3
Mar 13 Joe Coburn                New York, NY                        EX  3
Mar 19 Steve Taylor              Boston, Ma                          EX  3
Mar 19 Joe Coburn                Boston, Ma                          EX  3
Mar 19 Mike Cleary               Boston, Ma                          EX  3
          -The previous 3 bouts were held the same date
Apr 20 Dan Foley                 Boston, Ma                          EX   
May 14 Charlie Mitchell          New York, NY                        TK  3
          -Mitchell knocked Sullivan down in the first round;
           Police intervened
May 15 Charlie Mitchell          Long Island, NY                    SCH   
          -This bout was proposed by Joe Coburn as a 
           bare-knuckle fight to the finish; Mitchell
           accepted but Sullivan did not; The bout 
           fell through
May 16 John Flood                New York, NY                        EX   
May 28 -Sullivan pitched for a semi-professional baseball team
          at the New York, NY Polo Grounds
Aug  1 Pete McCoy                Highland Lake, Ma                   EX   
          -This bout may have been held in "Highland Lake, NY"
Aug  6 Herbert Slade             New York, NY                        TK  3
Sep    -Sullivan fought some 50 minor opponents across America
          and reportedly knocked out all of them; This tour took 
          place during Aug-Oct 1883
Sep 28 Herbert Slade             Baltimore, Md                       EX   
Sep 29 Herbert Slade             Baltimore, Md                       EX   
Oct 17 James McCoy               McKeesport, Pa                      TK  1
Oct 19 Steve Taylor              Allegheny City, Pa                  EX   
Oct 19 Herbert Slade             Allegheny City, Pa                  EX   
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Oct 22 Steve Taylor              Wheeling, WV                        EX   
Oct 22 Herbert Slade             Wheeling, WV                        EX   
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Oct 29 Steve Taylor              Louisville, Ky                      EX   
Oct 29 Herbert Slade             Louisville, Ky                      EX   
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Nov  3 Jim Miles                 East St. Louis, Il                  TK  1
Nov  3 Steve Taylor              St. Louis, Mo                       EX   
Nov  3 Herbert Slade             St. Louis, Mo                       EX   
          -The previous 3 bouts were held the same date
Nov  5 Steve Taylor              St. Louis, Mo                       EX  4
Nov  5 Herbert Slade             St. Louis, Mo                       EX  2
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Nov  6 Steve Taylor              St. Louis, Mo                       EX   
Nov  6 Herbert Slade             St. Louis, Mo                       EX   
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Nov 16 Steve Taylor              Chicago, Il                         EX  4
Nov 16 Herbert Slade             Chicago, Il                         EX  4
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Nov 25 Morris Hefey              St. Paul, Mn                        KO  1
          -Some sources report 11/26/83
Nov 26 Steve Taylor              St. Paul, Mn                        EX  4
Nov 26 Herbert Slade             St. Paul. Mn                        EX  4
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Nov 27 Herbert Slade             Minneapolis, Mn                     EX   
Dec  4 Mike Sheehan              Davenport, Ia                       TK  1
Dec  4 Steve Taylor              Davenport, Ia                       EX   
Dec  4 Herbert Slade             Davenport, Ia                       EX   
          -The previous 3 bouts were held the same date
Dec  5 Herbert Slade             Davenport, Ia                       EX   
Dec 26 Steve Taylor              Denver, Co                          EX   

1883-1884
          -Sullivan continued his tour during late 1883 and 
           early 1884; He reportedly knocked out 29 men  

1884
       Jeff Tomkins              Butte, Mt                           KO  1
Jan  9 an unnamed opponent       Butte City, Mt                      EX   
Jan 10 Steve Taylor              Helena, Mt                          EX  3
Jan 10 Herbert Slade             Helena, Mt                          EX   
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Jan 11 Steve Taylor              Helena, Mt                          EX   
Jan 11 Herbert Slade             Helena, Mt                          EX   
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Jan 12 Fred Robinson             Butte City, Mt                      TK  2
          -Some sources report 1/14/84
Jan 12 Herbert Slade             Butte City, Mt                      EX   
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Jan 25 Steve Taylor              San Francisco, Ca                   EX  3
Jan 25 Herbert Slade             San Francisco, Ca                   EX  3
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Jan 26 Steve Taylor              San Francisco, Ca                   EX  3
Jan 26 Herbert Slade             San Francisco, Ca                   EX  3
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Feb  1 Sylvester Le Gouriff      Astoria, Or                         KO  1
Feb  1 Steve Taylor              Astoria, Or                         EX  3
Feb  1 Herbert Slade             Astoria, Or                         EX   
          -The previous 3 bouts were held the same date
Feb  6 James Lang                Seattle, Wa                         KO  1
Feb  6 Steve Taylor              Seattle, Wa                         EX   
Feb  6 Herbert Slade             Seattle, Wa                         EX   
          -The previous 3 bouts were held the same date
       Boiquet                   Victoria, BC, Can                   KO  1
       -Sullivan was reportedly in "Victoria" on 2/08/84
Feb  9 Steve Taylor              Seattle, Wa                         EX  3
Feb  9 Herbert Slade             Seattle, Wa                         EX   
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Feb 18 Steve Taylor              San Francisco, Ca                   EX  3
Mar  6 George M. Robinson        San Francisco, Ca                   WF  4
          -Robinson went down 28 times to avoid being knocked out
Mar 21 Pete McCoy                Tucson, Az                          EX  3
Mar 21 Steve Taylor              Tucson, Az                          EX  3
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date

          -Sullivan knocked Jack Traynor out in a barroom fight
           at Dallas, Tx

Apr  9 Pete McCoy                Galveston, Tx                       EX  3
Apr  9 Steve Taylor              Galveston, Tx                       EX   
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Apr 10 Al Marx                   Galveston, Tx                       KO  1
Apr 10 Steve Taylor              Galveston, Tx                       EX   
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Apr 12 Pete McCoy                New Orleans, La                     EX  2
Apr 13 Pete McCoy                New Orleans, La                     EX   
Apr 13 Steve Taylor              New Orleans, La                     EX   
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Apr 14 Mike Donovan              New Orleans, La                     EX   
Apr 14 Steve Taylor              New Orleans, La                     EX   
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Apr 17 -The John L. Sullivan Combination exhibited at the "Opera House"
          in Columbus, Ga
Apr 18 -The John L. Sullivan Combination exhibited at "Ralston Hall" in Macon, Ga
Apr 23 Steve Taylor              Atlanta, Ga                         EX  3
Apr 28 Mike Donovan              Memphis, Tn                         EX  3
Apr 28 Steve Taylor              Memphis, Tn                         EX   
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Apr 29 Dan Henry                 Hot Springs, Ar                     KO  1
Apr 30 Mike Donovan              Little Rock, Ar                     EX  2
Apr 30 Steve Taylor              Little Rock, Ar                     EX  3
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
May  1 William Fleming           Memphis, Tn                         KO  1
          -Some sources report 4/28/84
May  1 Mike Donovan              Memphis, Tn                         EX  3
May  1 Steve Taylor              Memphis, Tn                         EX   
          -The previous 3 bouts were held the same date
May  2 Enos Phillips             Nashville, Tn                       KO   
          -Police intervened; Reports lack some details;
           Under Queensberry rules, the verdict would be "KO 1";
           Under London rules, the verdict would be "KO 4" or "W 4"
May  2 Mike Donovan              Nashville, Tn                       EX   
May  2 Steve Taylor              Nashville, Tn                       EX   
          -The previous 3 bouts were held the same date
May  8 Florrie Barnett           St. Louis, Mo                       EX   
May  8 Steve Taylor              St. Louis, Mo                       EX   
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
May 10 Bernard                   Peoria, Il                          EX   
May 10 Casky                     Peoria, Il                          EX   
May 10 Steve Taylor              Peoria, Il                          EX   
          -The previous 3 bouts were held the same date;
           Some sources report "Bloomington, Il"
May 21 Florrie Barnett           Toledo, Oh                          EX   
Jun 30 Charlie Mitchell          New York, NY                       SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but cancelled;
           Sullivan was drunk and unable to fight;
           Some sources report 5/30/84
Aug 13 Dominick McCaffrey        Boston, Ma                          EX  3
Aug 13 Steve Taylor              Boston, Ma                          EX  3
Aug 13 Tom Denny                 Boston, Ma                          EX  3
          -The previous 3 bouts were held the same date
Aug 25 -Sullivan refereed the Dominick McCaffrey-Pete McCoy
          bout in Boston, Ma
Oct 18 an unnamed opponent       McKeesport, Pa                      EX   
          -Sullivan knocked out his opponent
Oct 19 an unnamed opponent       Alleghany, Pa                       EX   
Oct 20 an unnamed opponent       Alleghany, Pa                       EX   
Oct 20 an unnamed opponent       Alleghany, Pa                       EX   
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Oct    an unnamed opponent       Wheeling, WV                       SCH   
Oct    an unnamed opponent       Steubenville, Oh                   SCH   
Oct    an unnamed opponent       Newark, NJ                         SCH   
Oct    an unnamed opponent       Columbus, Oh                       SCH   
Oct    an unnamed opponent       Dayton, Oh                         SCH   
          -The previous 5 bouts were scheduled exhibitions;
           The outcomes are not known
Oct 28 an unnamed opponent       Cincinnati, Oh                      EX   
Oct 29 an unnamed opponent       Louisville, Ky                     SCH   
Oct 30 an unnamed opponent       Indianapolis, In                   SCH   
Oct 31 an unnamed opponent       Terre Haute, In                    SCH   
          -The previous 3 bouts were scheduled exhibitions;
           The outcomes are not known
Nov 10 John Laflin               New York, NY                        KO  2
Nov 18 Alf Greenfield            New York, NY                         W  2
          -Police intervened
Dec 31 Mike Donovan              Brooklyn, NY                        EX   
          -This bout was part of the play, The Lottery of Life

1885
Jan  1 Mike Donovan              New York, NY                        EX   
Jan  1 Mike Donovan              New York, NY                        EX   
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
           as part of the play, The Lottery of Life
Jan 12 Alf Greenfield            Boston, Ma                           W  4
Jan 19 Paddy Ryan                New York, NY                        NC  1
          -Police intervened; Some sources report "TK 1"
Apr  2 Dominick McCaffrey        Philadelphia, Pa                   SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but not held;
           Police prevented the bout
Jun 13 Jack Burke                Chicago, Il                          W  5
Aug 29 Dominick McCaffrey        Cincinnati, Oh                       W  7
Sep  9 Mike Cleary               New York, NY                        EX  3

1886
May 31 "Nonpareil" Jack Dempsey  Chicago, Il                        SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but not held;
           Chicago authorities banned sparring matches 
       Billy Madden              New York, NY                        EX   
          -Sullivan and Madden gave exhibitions for one week
Aug 28 Frank Herald              Brooklyn, NY                       SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but not held;
           Authorities prevented the bout
Sep 18 Frank Herald              Alleghany City, Pa                   W  2
          -Police intervened; Some sources report "TK 1"
Oct 13 Mike Cleary               Philadelphia, Pa                    EX  3
Oct 29 Tom Hinch                 Stillwater, Mn                      EX  3
Oct 29 Steve Taylor              Stillwater, Mn                      EX  3
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Oct 30 Tom Hinch                 St. Paul, Mn                        EX  3
Oct 30 Steve Taylor              St. Paul, Mn                        EX  3
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Oct 31 Steve Taylor              St. Paul, Mn                        EX   
Nov  2 Steve Taylor              St. Paul, Mn                        EX   
Nov  2 Tom Hinch                 St. Paul, Mn                        EX   
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Nov 10 Tom Hinch                 St. Paul, Mn                        EX   
Nov 10 Steve Taylor              St. Paul, Mn                        EX  3
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Nov 13 Paddy Ryan                San Francisco, Ca                   KO  3
Dec    Steve Taylor              Tacoma, Wa                          EX  3
Dec 18 Steve Taylor              Butte, Mt                           EX  3
Dec 27 Duncan McDonald           Colorado Springs, Co                EX   
Dec 28 Duncan McDonald           Denver, Co                          EX  4
          -Some sources report "D 4"
Dec 29 Duncan McDonald           Denver, Co                          EX   
Dec 29 Steve Taylor              Denver, Co                          EX   
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Dec 30 Duncan McDonald           Georgetown, Co                      EX   
Dec 30 Steve Taylor              Georgetown, Co                      EX   
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date

1887
Jan  1 Duncan McDonald           Denver, Co                          EX   
Jan  1 Steve Taylor              Denver, Co                          EX   
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Jan    an unnamed opponent       Fort Keogh, Mt                      EX  1
          -Sullivan knocked this man out
Jan 18 Patsy Cardiff             Minneapolis, Mn                      D  6
          -Pollack reports that Sullivan broke a bone in his left arm
Mar 28 Steve Taylor              Hoboken, NJ                         EX  4
Mar 28 Joe Lannon                Hoboken, NJ                         EX  4
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Apr  1 Steve Taylor              Baltimore, Md                       EX   
Jun  7 Joe Lannon                Boston, Ma                          EX   
Jun  7 Steve Taylor              Boston, Ma                          EX   
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Jun  9 Joe Lannon                Brockton, Ma                        EX   
Jun  9 Steve Taylor              Brockton, Ma                        EX   
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Jul  4 -Sullivan umpired a baseball game in Hartford, Ct
Jul  4 Joe Lannon                Hartford, Ct                        EX   
Aug  8 Mike Donovan              Boston, Ma                          EX  3
Aug  8 Steve Taylor              Boston, Ma                          EX   
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Aug 11 Mike Donovan              Boston, Ma                          EX  3
Aug 11 Steve Taylor              Boston, Ma                          EX   
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Nov 28 Jack Ashton               London, Eng                         EX  3
Dec  8 Jack Ashton               London, Eng                         EX   
Dec  9 Jack Ashton               London, Eng                         EX  3
          -Some sources report "EX 4"
Dec 12 Jack Ashton               Dublin, Ire                         EX  4
Dec 13 Jack Ashton               Waterford, Ire                      EX   
Dec 14 Frank Creedon             Cork, Ire                          SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but not held
Dec 14 Jack Ashton               Cork, Ire                           EX   
Dec 15 Jack Ashton               Limerick, Ire                       EX  4
Dec 16 Jack Ashton               Dublin, Ire                         EX  4
Dec 17 Jack Ashton               Belfast, Ire                        EX   

1887-1888
       -Sullivan boxed 51 exhibitions in England         

1888
Jan  5 William Samuells          Cardiff, Wales                      KO  3
Jan  5 Jack Ashton               Cardiff, Wales                      EX   
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Jan    -Sullivan gave boxing exhibitions in Portsmouth, Eng          
       George Fryer              Nottingham, Eng                     EX   
Mar 10 Charlie Mitchell          Chantilly, Fr                        D 39
          -Some sources report this as a Heavyweight
           Championship of the World contest; London
           Prize Ring Rules and bare-knuckles were
           used for this bout; Sullivan scored the
           first knockdown; Mitchell drew first blood
           in the eighth round; Weights: 200-166
May 14 -Sullivan agreed to meet George Godfrey in a bout; 
          Godfrey said he was not prepared to fight then
          but would at a later date
May 15 Jack Ashton               Boston, Ma                          EX  4
Jun  4 Mike Donovan              New York, NY                        EX  3
Jun  4 Jack Ashton               New York, NY                        EX  2
Jun  4 "Nonpareil" Jack Dempsey  New York, NY                        EX   
          -The previous 3 bouts were held the same date;
           (Some sources report that Dempsey failed to show up)

1889
Apr 24 Jack Ashton               Brooklyn, NY                        EX  3
May  6 Jack Ashton               Tarrytown, NY                       EX   
May 28 Billy Madden              Cincinnati, Oh                      EX   
May    Mike Cleary               Gloucester, NJ                      EX  3
Jun 25 Mike Cleary               Belfast, NY                         EX   
Jul  8 Jake Kilrain              Richburg, Ms                        KO 75
          -Heavyweight Championship of America;
           London Prize Ring Rules and bare-knuckles were used;
           Pollack considers this bout to be a Heavyweight 
          Championship of the World contest
Aug  2 Bill Muldoon              New York, NY                       SCH   
          -This bout was a scheduled wrestling match
Aug  2 Mike Cleary               New York, NY                       SCH   
          -The previous 2 bouts were scheduled as part
           of a Benefit for Sullivan on the same date;
           The outcomes are not known
Sep  9 Mike Cleary               New York, NY                        EX  3
Sep 23 Liney Tracy               Brooklyn, NY                       SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known

1890
Feb  7 Joe Lannon                Newark, NJ                          EX  3
Feb 12 Joe Lannon                Hoboken, NJ                         EX  3
May 19 Joe Lannon                                                   SCH   
May 21 Joe Lannon                                                   SCH   
May 23 Joe Lannon                                                   SCH   
          -The previous 3 bouts were scheduled as part of the play,
          The Paymaster; The outcomes are not known
Jun 16 Joe Lannon                New York, NY                       SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Nov 24 Joe Lannon                Boston, Ma                          EX   
Dec 16 Joe Lannon                New York, NY                        EX  3
Dec 16 Joe Lannon                New York, NY                        EX  3
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date

1891
Jun 26 Jim Corbett               San Francisco, Ca                   EX  4
          -Some sources report "EX 3" on 6/24/91

Jul    -Sullivan toured Hawaii and Australia but did not               
          have any official bouts; He possibly had some 
          exhibitions with Jack Ashton

Nov 25 Paddy Ryan                San Francisco, Ca                   EX   
Dec 20 Joe Choynski              San Francisco, Ca                   EX  3
Dec 22 Jack Ashton               Oakland, Ca                        SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled to occur between acts of the play, Broderick Agra.
           The outcome is not known
Dec 23 Jack Ashton               Oakland, Ca                        SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled to occur between acts of the play, Honest Hearts and Willing Hands
           The outcome is not known
Dec 24 Jack Ashton               Stockton, Ca                       SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled to occur between acts of the play, Broderick Agra.
           The outcome is not known
Dec 25 Jack Ashton               Sacramento, Ca                     SCH   
          -This bout was to occur between acts of the matinee performance of the play, Honest Hearts and Willing Hands
           The outcome is not known
Dec 25 Jack Ashton               Sacramento, Ca                     SCH   
          -This bout was to occur between acts of the evening performance of the play, Honest Hearts and Willing Hands
           The outcome is not known
Dec 26 Jack Ashton               Sacramento, Ca                     SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled to occur between acts of the play, Broderick Agra.
           The outcome is not known
Dec 28 Jack Ashton               Marysville, Ca                     SCH   
          -This bout was to occur between acts of the evening performance of the play, Honest Hearts and Willing Hands
           The outcome is not known

1892
May 29 Jack Ashton               New York, NY                        EX  3
Aug 29 Jack Ashton               Brooklyn, NY                        EX  3
Aug 29 Leonard Tracy             Brooklyn, NY                       SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known;
           The previous 2 bouts were scheduled the same date
Aug 29 Joe Lannon                Brooklyn, NY                       SCH   
          -This bout was later scheduled for this date;
           It probably replaced the Sullivan-Tracy bout;
           The outcome is not known
Sep  7 Jim Corbett               New Orleans, La                     LK 21
          -Heavyweight Championship of the World
Sep 10 Jack Ashton               New York, NY                       SCH   
Sep 10 Joe Lannon                New York, NY                       SCH   
          -The previous 2 bouts were scheduled the same date;
           The outcomes are not known
Sep 17 Jack Ashton               New York, NY                       SCH   
Sep 17 Leonard Tracy             New York, NY                       SCH   
          -The previous 2 bouts were scheduled the same date;
           The outcomes are not known but they were probably
           cancelled since Sullivan boxed Corbett on this date
Sep 17 Jim Corbett               New York, NY                        EX  3

1894
May 21 Paddy Ryan                Boston, Ma                          EX  3
Jun 26 Paddy Ryan                Boston, Ma                          EX  3

1895
Jun  8 "Nonpareil" Jack Dempsey  New York, NY                        EX   
Jun 27 Jim Corbett               New York, NY                        EX  3
Jul 23 Paddy Ryan                Bangor, Me                          EX  3
Jul 25 Paddy Ryan                Bar Harbor, Me                      EX   
Oct  3 Paddy Ryan                Philadelphia, Pa                   SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Oct  5 Paddy Ryan                Cleveland, Oh                      SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but cancelled;
           Mayor McKisson, of Cleveland, refused
           to allow the bout
Oct 14 Paddy Ryan                Jersey City, NJ                     EX  3
Nov 18 Paddy Ryan                Buffalo, NY                         EX  3

1896
Aug 31 Tom Sharkey               New York, NY                        EX  3
          -One minute rounds were boxed

1897
Feb 17 Paddy Ryan                Philadelphia, Pa                    EX  3
Mar 16 -Denny Kelliher accompanied Sullivan on a train to Carson City, NM 
           for the Jim Corbett-Bob Fitzsimmons heavyweight championship bout
Jul  5 Bob Fitzsimmons           Brooklyn, NY                       SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but not held;
           The men were present and ready to spar;
           Police intervened and prevented it

1900
Feb 22 Tom Sharkey               New York, NY                       SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
Apr 29 Jim Jeffries              New York, NY                        EX  3
Aug 28 Jim Jeffries              New York, NY                        EX  3
Aug 29 Geoff Thorne              New York, NY                        EX  3

1905
Mar  1 Jim McCormick             Grand Rapids, Mi                    EX  2
          -Sullivan knocked McCormick out

1909
May 18 Jake Kilrain              Phoenix, Az                         EX   
May 19 Jake Kilrain              Phoenix, Az                         EX   
May 24 Jake Kilrain              Prescott, Az                        EX   
May 25 Jake Kilrain              Prescott, Az                        EX   

*** The Following Bouts Are Reported But Not Confirmed ***

Undated
       Tom Gleason                                                   EX   
       Frank "Clipper" Donohue                                        D  4

1882
Apr 28 Pete McCoy                Boston, Ma                          EX   

*** NCR ALL-TIME HEAVYWEIGHT COMPUTER TOURNAMENT ***
1968
       Jim Braddock                                                   W 15
       Jack Dempsey                                                  LT  7

*** Much Data Was Provided By Adam Pollack and Mike DeLisa ***

*** Assistance Was Provided By Sergei Yurchenko ***

*** Assistance Was Provided By Christopher Shelton ***

Review courtesy of Tracy Callis, Historian, International Boxing Research Organization

The Cyber Boxing Zone WAIL ! Article on John L. Sullivan (March 1999)

Tracy Callis All-Time Rankings