Sullivan Beats Paddy Ryan

On February 7, 1882, John L. Sullivan fought Paddy Ryan for a title, which was certainly the American Heavyweight Prizefighting Championship but probably not the World Title it was billed as.  In 1880, Paddy Ryan won the title in his first and only prize fight before facing the ferocious power puncher Sullivan.

The men met in Mississippi City, Mississippi around noon for what would be a short but hard-fought bout.  John L. Sullivan threw his hat into the ring at 11:45 am.  Ryan’s would follow at 11:47 am.  Haggling over referees slightly delayed the start of the match.

The first two referees refused to officiate the bout.  The men agreed on two referees, Alexander Brewster of New Orleans and Back Handy of Vicksburg, Mississippi.  Ryan offered a $1,000 bet on the bout, which Sullivan accepted.  Both men shook hands and prepared to fight.

The bout was contested under the old London Rules of Prizefighting.  A round continued until someone was knocked down or thrown.  Sullivan had to be concerned about the wrestling because Ryan was considered a better wrestler than boxer.

The men toed the scratch to start the first round.  Ryan threw a right hand, which came up short and was struck by a powerful left from Sullivan.  Ryan was dazed and a flurry of power punches followed.  With a might right hand to the jaw, Sullivan dropped Ryan to end the first round at the 30 second mark.

Sullivan again struck home with a left hand.  Ryan quickly tied Sullivan up and used his wrestling to end the second round.  Ryan fell heavily on Sullivan at 25 seconds.

The third round only lasted four seconds as a Sullivan right hand to Ryan’s chest dropped Ryan.  In the fourth round, Sullivan drove Ryan through the ropes with a series of blows at the 20 second mark.

Ryan did his best work in the fifth round, when he knocked Sullivan down after a fierce exchange.  Sullivan charged Ryan to start the sixth round but was again dropped by Ryan.  These rounds were the last gasp for Ryan.

To start the seventh round, Sullivan swarmed the tiring Ryan.  The 23-year-old Sullivan threw one powerful blow after another until Ryan crumpled to the grass in terrible condition.  Ryan toughed out two more rounds though.

Sullivan moved in for the kill in the eighth round but both men fell to the ground causing the round to end.  Sullivan could see Ryan was groggy and decided to go for broke.

Sullivan threw several powerful blows at Ryan but he evaded the blows.  Ryan drove Sullivan back to the center of the ring, a rare retreat for the great John L.  However, this tactic allowed Sullivan to get his range.  A powerful right hand under the left ear dropped Ryan for good.  Sullivan was carried from the ring by his supporters.

Paddy Ryan presented a frightening spectacle.  The beating left him with a busted lip, smashed nose, welt on his neck and several contusions on his body.  The doctors examined him more thoroughly the next day, when they discovered he had a broken jaw and a hernia suffered before the bout.  Ryan would later use the hernia as the reason he lost but no one really believe it was the reason he lost.

The 28-year-old Ryan was born in Ireland in 1853.  He would fight Sullivan several more times but could never beat him.  Sullivan would have a long title reign but his taste for strong drink would haunt some of his defenses.  In 1882, Sullivan was on top of the world.

Do you consider the title Sullivan won to be the world title?  Why or why not? You can leave a comment or ask a question about this or any post on my Facebook page, Twitter profile and Google+ page.

Source: Sacramento Daily Record-Union, February 8, 1882 edition, p. 1

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