The great John L. Sullivan had more fights in bars and back alleys than he ever had in the ring.
It is said he fought bareknuckle daily in and around the streets of Boston.
In 1879, he challenged anyone in America to fight him for $500.
In 1883 - 1884 Sullivan went on a coast-to-coast tour by train with five other boxers. It was scheduled to comprise 195 performances in 136 different cities and towns over 238 days. To help promote the tour, Sullivan announced that he would box anyone at any time during the tour under the Queensberry Rules for $250.
It has been claimed he knocked out about 30 men during the tour, but there is no proof to back this claim.
Fought to a 75 round win over Jake Kilrain, when Kilrains manager finally threw in the towel after the 75th round.
Sullivan looked like he was going to lose, especially after he vomited during the 44th round of the Kilrain fight.
Sullivan did not defend his title for four years befor losing to Gentleman Jim Corbett in a 21 round battle in 1892.
The Corbett contest occurred under the Marquess of Queensberry rules, but it was neither the first title fight under those rules nor was it the first title fight using boxing gloves.
Sullivan is considered the last bare-knuckle champion because no champion after him fought bare-knuckled.
However, Sullivan had fought with gloves under the Marquess of Queensberry rules as early as 1880 and he only fought bare knuckle three times in his entire career (Ryan 1882, Mitchell 1888, and Kilrain 1889).
His bare-knuckle image was created because both his infrequent fights from 1888 up to the Corbett fight in 1892 had been bare-knuckle.
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