William Muldoon Promotes Health System

In a testament to his foresight and vision, the World Wrestling Champion William Muldoon was preparing to be a fitness trainer even while at the height of his powers as a wrestler. Muldoon held the championship from 1880 until he retired in 1890. During his reign, he often gave exhibitions to attract attention to his way of training.

The Saturday, Лютий 3, 1883 видання Arizona Silver Belt from Globe, AZ carried a story from the New York Sun about an exhibition Muldoon put on in New York City. Muldoon invited 50 select men to a brownstone at 5th Avenue and 13th Street. The men were treated to three amateur boxing bouts. Muldoon concluded the event with a demonstration of wrestling and physical strength.

The night was a success because the boxers put on a good show for the invitees. Professor Austin sparred John Cash for three spirited rounds. The Professor was more of a boxer. He had to use all of his skill to defeat the rushes from the brawler John Cash. They fought three fairly even rounds. A couple of spectators’ silk hats were crushed when a wild swing from Cash caused him to fall among the men sitting on the floor. The makeshift rings were primarily made up of old mattresses.

George Fulljames and Patrick Jordan fought the next bout. Fulljames was a lightweight and Jordan a heavyweight but they fought for two rounds. Both men decided to shake hands and concede a draw at the end of the second round. Fulljames buzzed Jordan like a hornet. Jordan landed the heavier blows but got winded trying to catch Fulljames.

The last bout featured Henry McDermott and Michael Mullery, “two good sized” fellows. They brawled for an unreported number of rounds before shaking hands and giving way to William Muldoon.

William Muldoon and John Cash took part in a demonstration of catch-as-catch can wrestling. Г-н. Cash was no match for the World Heavyweight Champion. Muldoon toyed with Cash before they stopped sparring. Muldoon had gathered the men to introduce them to his system of training. The paper quoted Muldoon as saying of his system, “fat and corpulent men can be reduced to normal weight and size, and perfect training quarters furnished to all professional athletes.”

William Muldoon spent the remainder of the evening demonstrating his strength for the invitees. It did not say how many men signed up for his training but it must have been a worthwhile promotional tactic. In the mid 1880s, he would organize a tour around the country using the same format.

William Muldoon is a rare athlete. At the top of his game in one profession, he began to create a second profession at the same time. It was due to Muldoon’s foresight that he did not end up like so many other professional athletes, broke and without a post-athletic career.

What impresses you most about William Muldoon? What did you know about him before?

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