Muldoon Spars With Sullivan

William Muldoon was the reigning World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion and a noted physical culturist, when Muldoon was engaged by John L. Sullivan’s backers to get their fighter in shape.  Sullivan was the reigning World Heavyweight Bare Knuckle Prizefighting Champion.  He signed an agreement to meet his toughest challenger, Jake Kilrain, in July 1889.

Sullivan admitted he was in bad shape, when Muldoon started working with him.  Their partnership worked wonders for the champ.  Sullivan stopped Kilrain in the 75th round of an 80 round contest.  However, two egos that large were bound to clash.  In 1890, the men had a public rupture in their relationship, which led Muldoon to reveal information about Sullivan’s training camp.

Muldoon released the information to make Sullivan look bad, so you have to consider his comments with a critical eye.  However, some of the information appears to be accurate and was not refuted by Sullivan.

Muldoon claims to have been taken to a New York hotel room, where Sullivan’s backers had sequestered him.  Always fond of drink during his fighting days, Sullivan had been drinking and eating heartily.  The high living wrecked his physique and condition.

Muldoon referred to Sullivan condition as that of a “bloated imbecile”.  Sullivan scarcely had a visible muscle, his skin was in poor condition and his stomach was distended.  Muldoon was disgusted by Sullivan’s shape.

Muldoon told Sullivan he was in terrible physical condition for a professional fighter.  “If there are 100 men in this hotel, 95 can whip you.”  While Muldoon may or may not have made this statement, it isn’t correct.  No matter how much alcohol he consumed, Sullivan would have beaten most any man except the most skilled professional fighter.  An average man walking the street wasn’t going to beat Sullivan.

To get him and shape and remove him from temptation, Muldoon took Sullivan to a rural health farm he was creating to conduct the champion’s training camp.  Sullivan admitted he couldn’t have beaten Kilrain without the training at the camp.  Muldoon’s biggest struggle during camp was keeping Sullivan from sneaking off the farm and heading to the town tavern.

One of the more interesting tales Muldoon told was of a sparring match between the men.  Under the bare knuckle prizefighting rules, a round ended when one of the men took a knee or the opponent was thrown to the ground.  Muldoon warned Sullivan that Kilrain was an underrated wrestler and to avoid the clinch.

Sullivan told Muldoon he wasn’t worried about Kilrain’s wrestling.  Sullivan’s confidence was understandable. He originally won the title in a match with Paddy Ryan, who was skilled at throws.  Sullivan was able to avoid Ryan’s grappling and knock him out.

In an attempt to prove his point, Muldoon told Sullivan to put on his gloves and avoid Muldoon’s wrestling.  Sullivan would find out that Muldoon wasn’t Paddy Ryan.  While Muldoon was 37 years old to Sullivan’s 30, he was a world champion in wrestling.

With both men wearing gloves in Muldoon’s padded wrestling room, Muldoon was careful to avoid Sullivan’s  powerful strikes.  One blow could lead to a knockout.  Sullivan tried to land a powerful right but Muldoon ducked the blow, pushed both arms under Sullivan’s armpits and lifted him off the ground.  Muldoon held him for a second before slamming Sullivan to his back and landing on him.

Sullivan was furious and jumped to his feet.  Muldoon waited for the right hand again, closed the distance and clinched instead of ducking. Securing a bodyhold, Muldoon backbeeled him to the floor.  The fall temporarily dazed Sullivan by knocking the wind out of him.  Soon he was back to his feet and seething.

However, Muldoon decided he had made his point.  “Go hit the bag.”  Sullivan protested but realized Muldoon was serious.  He grudgingly took out his anger on the heavy bag.  Muldoon told him to be careful of the wrestling in the future.

This story told by Muldoon is quite believable.  Muldoon would definitely be better at wrestling.  He was wise to end the session though before Sullivan landed one of his powerful right hands.  The sparring session was an early variation of mixed martial arts.

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Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 13, 1890 edition, p. 24

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