John L Sullivan
By: Jason Pratt John L. Sullivan Sullivan was a boxing immortal, the link between bare knuckles and glove fighting, and the first great American sports idol. ... John L. Sullivan was a boxer who was nicknamed The Boston Strongboy. Sullivan was arrested several times for participating in boxing fights in places where the sport was outlawed, and he used to go on tours offering people money to fight him, and for exhibition bouts. Sullivan in 1879 said hed offer anyone in America who wanted to fight him 500 dollars, and from 1883 to 1884, he went on a circus tour, offering any circus goer who would last one round with him 500 dollars also. ... Sullivan became the worlds Heavyweight champion in 1889, when he knocked out Jake Kilrain on July 8 in round 75 of the scheduled 80 round bout. ... Sullivan, undefeated up to that point, did not defend his title for the next four years, and he enjoyed the sweet life many champions take after winning the title, becoming a alcoholic, feeling invincible, and getting out of boxing shape.