Sullivan was the first ever heavyweight champion in boxing history.
Born to Irish immigrant parents in the town of Roxbury, near Boston, Sullivan inherited from his father, physicist 1.79 cm 85 kg, while his mother forced him to attend Seminary in Boston to become a priest. Sullivan was not quite agree, and began working as a plumber and tinsmith, he played semi-professional baseball, but rejected the contract offered by the Cincinnati Red Stockings, because that has always been fascinated by the “noble art”.
At the time of the meetings between heavyweights generated a strong round of betting and, thousands of people attended the meetings in specially designed arenas; They fought without time limits and shooting with hands and chest naked wearing only a pair of shorts.
Sullivan Despite impressive tonnage not heard well defend landing bigger boxers than him. In 1878, he removed to Boston in Cockey Woods his debut as a pro. In 1880, he staged two spectacular match with Mike Donovan and former Champion Joe Goss, both surclassandoli. In 1882 he fought against John Flood beat them in shooting, 8.
To 24 years was regarded as the heavyweight champion, although still did not exist any organization that assigned belts, the respect and the consideration of insiders gave that title to the Boston boy.
Between the years 1883 and 1884 he fought 238 matches 195 days in 136 different cities; Sullivan crossed by train all the us defying anyone for $ 500, both bare hands, according to the rules of modern boxing of the Marquis of Queensbury, went so far to fight on a barge on the Hudson River to escape the police.
Charlie Mitchell was the first who managed to knock him down with the first shot, but the bout was stopped by the police, the same happened in the re-match in 1888 even then the police suspended the race in 39 rounds and led Sullivan to jail because in France the boxing matches were banned, only the intervention of Baron Rothschild allowed him to regain his freedom and return to America.
In 1889, Sullivan has fought one of his most famous match with Jake Kilrain in last meeting with his bare hands in boxing.
Lasted more than 2 hours, and the risk of losing Sullivan for a bout of vomiting in the 44th for recovery because of a frozen whiskey, ended at 75ma resumed with the retirement of Kilrain. Exhausted and battered, Sullivan continued his career fighting exhibition matches to keep those vices that had become daily pastimes: prostitutes and alcohol.
The last meeting was held in 1892 in New Orleans during the Carnival of Champions against James j. Corbett, a former bank clerk who managed to inflict on Sullivan the second knockout of his story to the 21st shot, losing the world title.
He retired to a farm in Massachusetts, now free of the million dollars earned in his entire life and attempted the political adventure but without success. He died in Boston in 1918 for a heart attack.
