The Governor Of Louisiana Forbids Fight The challenger was England's Charley Mitchell, who weighed only about 160 pounds to John L. Sullivan's 210. But the champion only just escaped with a draw, raising doubts about his ability and his physical condition. In 1889, John L. Sullivan finally accepted Kilrain's challenge. For the first time in boxing history, boxing became headline news in the national tabloids extensive pre fight coverage, reporting on the fighters training. The centre of activity was New Orleans, but the governor of Louisiana forbids the fight. On 7th July 1889 an estimated 3,000 spectators boarded trains for the secret location. A location which turned out to be Richburg, Mississippi. The fight began the following morning, and it looked as if John L. Sullivan was going to lose, especially after he had thrown up during the fight. But the champion got his second wind after that and Kilrain's manager finally threw in the towel after the 75th round. John L. Sullivan's victory made him a true America's national hero. John L. Sullivan returned to America late in 1891, and offered to fight any challenger under the Marquis of Queensberry rules for a purse of $25,000 and side bets of $10,000. James J. Corbett was the man who accept Sullivan's challenge James J. Corbett and John L Sullivan Signed For The Big FightWith Sullivan and Corbett officially signed for the fight, The Olympic Club in New Orleans built a new arena wired up with electricity. The promoters promised three days of championship boxing, that became known as the Carnival of Champions. The 5th September 1892, lightweight champion Jack MacAuliffe retained his title winning in the 5th round by knocking out Billy Myer. The 6th September featherweight champion George Dixon knocked out Jack Skelly in eight rounds and thus, retain his title. The Main event between John L Sullivan and James J Corbett for the 7th September, tickets for the big fight ranged from $5.00 to $15.00 and the 10,000 fans who packed the arena accounted for the largest crowd to witness a fight at that time. John L. Sullivan, was a 4-1 favourite and weighed in at 212 pounds. while James J. Corbett scaled just 187. The champion Sullivan was 33 years old, the challenger Corbett had turned 26 just six days before the fight. The bout was the first fight to be fought under the Marquis of Queensbury Rules Jim Corbett showed that innovative footwork and boxing skills could overcome the raw power and strength of Sullivan when he knocked out the defending champion in the 21st round and thus, began the beginning of the end of bare knuckled boxing in the ring. Jim Corbett Showed the American Boxing Fans the Art of the Sweet Science of BoxingGentleman Jim Corbett became the first heavyweight world boxing champion under the new Marquis of Queensbury Rules. The boxing fans saw a new breed of boxer in James J. Corbett as he brought with the art of the sweet science of boxing that boxing spectators had never before, witnessed in boxing before. Gentleman Jim Corbett boxing skills was like something out of a story book as he portrayed this new science to the boxing arena against the mesmerised John L. Sullivan. He made mince meat out of the big bad bull dog type brawling fighter John L Sullivan. The brawling bull dog type brute strength of Sullivan was made to look quite tame. James Corbett was the son of Patrick J Corbett who was born in Ballycusheen, Kilmaine parish in Ireland, James father Patrick was a livery stable owner of Ballenrobe, Mayo, and Patrick J. Corbett was married to Katherine McDonald. Gentleman Jim Corbett was born on the 1st of September 1866 in the city of San Francisco. James J. Corbett was brought up and raised in a middle class home of a well to do refine family, they had the money to send him to a good college and when he had completed his college education he took on a job as bank clerk. Jim Corbett: The First World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Under Queensbury RuleThe awaited fight took place on the 7th September 1892 in New Orleans: John L. Sullivan in defense of his world heavyweight title against Gentleman Jim Corbett. weighed in at 212 lbs compared to Gentleman Jim Corbett weight of 178 lbs. In the early rounds of the fight Gentleman Jim jabbed and easily avoided the lunges of the telegraph roundhouse swings of John L. Sullivan. As the fight wore on, Gentleman Jim Corbett stepped up the pace and became more aggressive fighting toe to toe with John L. Sullivan who look like a snail in ring compared to Corbett ring craft and boxing science. Jim Corbett was beating the much slower man to the punch and doing it easily with excellent foot work and speed of punch. In the 20th round Gentleman Jim Corbett staggered John L. Sullivan who almost went down from a flurry of punches to the head and body. Jim Corbett knew that he had his man. In the very next round, the 21st of the fight Corbett knocked out John Sullivan to become the new world heavyweight boxing champion. After that match, John L. Sullivan was never seen in a boxing ring again. He took up a new profession as a lecturer appearing on stage throughout United States of America preaching about the virtues of prohibition. |
