Paddy Ryan Wins The Title

paddy-ryan

The few people who know about the prizefighter Paddy Ryan probably know him as John L. Sullivan’s victim.  Sullivan beat Ryan for the Heavyweight Prizefighting Championship in 1882.  Ryan was  a good fighter in his own right though. Ryan was born on March 15, 1851 in Ireland.  His family emigrated to Troy, New York.  Ryan was known through out his

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John L. Sullivan Arrested

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On Tuesday, November 18, 1884, World Heavyweight Bare-Knuckle Prizefighting Champion John L. Sullivan fought Al Greenfield at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Sullivan needed to overcome more than just his opponent in this bout. The men originally agreed to fight on Monday, November 17, 1884, but New York City authorities threatened the men with arrest. The wrangling with

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Ned O’Baldwin Shot

ned-obaldwin-prizefighter

In early March 1873, bare knuckle prizefighter Ned “The Irish Giant” O’Baldwin was preparing for a potential match with Jem Mace, who claimed the World Bare Knuckle Prizefighting Championship.  However, before O’Baldwin could face Mace, he served as a second for a friend and fellow prizefighter named Hicken. Professional fighting in the 19th Century enjoyed a poor reputation outside of

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Irish Giant Bashes Wormald

ned-obaldwin-prizefighter

On October 29, 1868, “Irish Giant” Ned O’Baldwin and English prizefighter Joe Wormald met in a bare knuckle prize-fight outside of Boston in Lynnville, Massachusetts.  O’Baldwin stood 6’06” tall and weighed around 220 pounds.  Possessed of a violent disposition, O’Baldwin had the perfect attitude for the ring but poor social skills outside of it. Fans of both men arrived in

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Sullivan Beats Paddy Ryan

john-l-sullivan

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

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Sullivan Wins Fight of the 19th Century

john-l-sullivan

John L. Sullivan was the transitional heavyweight prize fighting champion.  He transitioned prize fighting from the bare knuckle era to modern boxing under the Marquis of Queensbury rules by refusing to fight in any more non-gloved bouts.  Before he made this pledge, he took part in the Fight of the 19th Century with the formidable Jake Kilrain. Jake Kilrain was

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Old Smoke Defeats Benicia Boy

john-morrissey

John Morrissey claimed the World Bare Knuckle Prizefighting Championship in a controversial bout with Yankee Sullivan in October 1853.  After beating a murder charge for his participation in the murder of Bill “The Butcher” Poole, Morrissey decided to defend his title against John C. Heenan, “the Benicia Boy”.  “Old Smoke” Morrissey defeated Heenan in the October 1858 bout held in

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