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A Closer Look at John L. Sullivan and James J. Corbett and their ‘Watershed’ Fight
We are approaching the 130th anniversary of the Sullivan-Corbett fight, a watershed event in the annals of pugilism. Their match at New Orleans on Wednesday, Sept 7, 1892, the grand finale of a three-day fistic carnival, riveted the nation and has been called the most important fight in the history of boxing.
In 1892, the rules governing prizefighting were still in flux. More than 20 years had passed since the Queensberry rules were introduced at an amateur boxing club in London, but the universal adoption of the rules was a slow and fitful process. The key features – padded gloves and three-minute rounds with a one-minute interval between each stanza – had come into vogue but important prizefights, by and large, were still “fights to a finish” with no ceiling on the number of rounds.
John Lawrence Sullivan had built his reputation as a bareknuckle fighter. His signature win came against Jake Kilrain whose corner tossed in the sponge after 75 rounds spread across two hours and 18 minutes. The longest round lasted perhaps 15 minutes, but many of the rounds, which had 30-second intervals, lasted mere seconds as Kilrain fell of his own volition to regain his wind.
Sullivan and Kilrain fought on the outskirts of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, on the estate of a lumber baron. At stake was the world heavyweight title by edict of the Police Gazette which was effectively the sport’s sanctioning body. The fight, which flouted the anti-prizefighting law of Mississippi – Sullivan and Kilrain had bounties on their heads, courtesy of the Governor — would be remembered as the last major bare-knuckle fight contested on American soil.
James J. Corbett’s signature fight was a 61-round, four-hour marathon with Peter Jackson in the boxing theater of San Francisco’s California Athletic club. The bout ended inconclusively. The stakes were drawn after both men became too arm-weary to land a meaningful punch. But Jackson, the “Black Prince” from Australia by way of the Virgin Islands, was so highly regarded that fighting him on even terms stamped Corbett as Sullivan’s most worthy opponent. (Jackson was ruled out as Sullivan had drawn the color line.)
John L. Sullivan, the Boston Strong Boy, was the first American athlete who could fairly be called a superstar. Abetted by a steady stream of stories about his ring exploits and his extracurricular escapades in an era in which newspapers of all stripes were expanding their coverage of sports, John L. had become larger than life. “Shake the hand of the hand that shook the hand of John L. Sullivan,” was an oft-heard expression.
The fight had a ceiling of 25 rounds. The rules under which Sullivan fought Jake Kilrain – the old rules of the London Prize Ring – allowed above-the-waist wrestling holds. Most of the best bare-knuckle boxers developed a mean cross-buttocks throw. But for Sullivan, the outlawing of wrestling under the new Queensberry code, wasn’t considered an impediment. John L. was a puncher. (Were he competing in MMA today, he would be known as a striker rather than someone with a strong ground game.)
Sullivan ruled the favorite, the odds of which would be inflated in the re-tellings. But there were many large bets on Jim Corbett. Sullivan, who was approaching his 34th birthday, was getting a little long in the tooth whereas Corbett, at age 26, was theoretically in his prime. Moreover, although Sullivan undeniably packed a bigger punch, Corbett was plainly the better athlete, faster of foot and more cat-like in his movements.
Beyond the compelling style match-up, Sullivan vs. Corbett was a big deal because of the personas of the two combatants. The Police Gazette portrayed Sullivan as a quick-tempered, beer-soaked lout. James J. Corbett, who acquired the nickname Gentleman Jim, was portrayed as a man of refinement.
These characterizations, compatible with their fighting styles, said more about the sportswriters of the era who cultivated these images than about the two fighters. Beneath the surface, they had a great deal in common.
John L. Sullivan and James J. Corbett were both sons of working class Irish Catholic immigrants. Both had about the same amount of public schooling. As teenagers, both were hot-tempered; Corbett was kicked out of two schools for fighting. After they became famous, both had extra-marital affairs with vaudeville stars. John L. was unquestionably the bigger drinker, but Corbett may have spent more time in saloons. He came to own some; Sullivan merely patronized them.
Sullivan’s first employment was that of a plumber’s helper; Corbett briefly worked as a bank clerk, a job at which he interacted with people from the higher social classes and therein lay the biggest difference between the two. To call Jim Corbett a man of refinement was a bit of a stretch, but Corbett was certainly more comfortable in his own skin.
On those occasions where protocol dictated a tuxedo, Sullivan felt out of place and it showed in his body language. Corbett, who went on to become a prominent stage actor, was quite comfortable in formal evening attire. But this dissimilarity redounded well to Sullivan who was seen as more authentic, a man who stayed true to his roots.
The Sullivan-Corbett fight was hardly a classic. Sullivan was the aggressor throughout but Corbett, a lithe 178 pounds, had no trouble dodging his punches. In Round 21, a straight right hand put Sullivan down for the count. When he regained his senses, John L. made a short speech in which he said that if he had to lose his title, he was thankful that it came at the hands of a fellow American. Many of the old-timers in the audience were misty-eyed. They could sense it was the end of an era.
Corbett and Sullivan in retirement
It would be written that the Sullivan-Corbett fight, by virtue of the “science” displayed by Corbett, made prizefighting respectable among the middle classes which had previously looked upon the sport as a remnant of a less civilized age. But that supposition is at odds with the fact that the anti-prizefighting movement actually picked up steam over the next ten years and prizefighting would recede into the shadows in many places where it had made gains.
There was another factor at work here. As noted by several scholars, notably Denver historian Meg Frisbee, campaigns to abolish prizefighting circa 1900 were directed less at the sport itself than at the sport’s most influential enablers, Irish Catholic politicians who had seized control of the political machinery in many of America’s industrial cities.
Perhaps the Sullivan-Corbett fight wasn’t quite the watershed event that it has been cracked up to be. However, it certainly illustrated that the sport wasn’t all about slugging, that there was a cerebral component to it and that brains can trump brawn. The aficionados of the sport already knew this, but never before had it been demonstrated in such a stark fashion on such a big stage.
Arne K. Lang’s latest book, titled “George Dixon, Terry McGovern and the Culture of Boxing in America, 1890-1910,” will shortly roll off the press. The book, published by McFarland, can be pre-ordered directly from the publisher https:(https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/clashoof-the-little-giants/) or via Amazon.
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Jorge Garcia has a lot in common with Mexican countrymen Emanuel Navarrete and Rafael Espinoza. In common with those two, both reigning world title-holders, Garcia is big for his weight class and bubbled out of obscurity with a triumph forged as a heavy underdog in a match contested on American soil.
Garcia had his “coming of age party” on April 19 in the first boxing event at the new Frontwave Arena in Oceanside, California (roughly 35 miles north of San Diego), a 7,500-seat facility whose primary tenant is an indoor soccer team. It was a Golden Boy Promotions event and in the opposite corner was a Golden Boy fighter, Charles Conwell.
A former U.S. Olympian, Conwell was undefeated (21-0, 16 KOs) and had won three straight inside the distance since hooking up with Golden Boy whose PR department ballyhooed him as the most avoided fighter in the super welterweight division. At prominent betting sites, Conwell was as high as a 12/1 favorite.
The lanky Garcia was 32-4 (26 KOs) heading in, but it was easy to underestimate him as he had fought extensively in Tijuana where the boxing commission is notoriously docile and in his home state of Sinaloa. This would be only his second fight in the U.S. However, it was noteworthy in hindsight that three of his four losses were by split decision.
Garcia vs. Conwell was a robust affair. He and Conwell were credited with throwing 1451 punches combined. In terms of punches landed, there was little to choose between them but the CompuBox operator saw Garcia landing more power punches in eight of the 12 rounds. At the end, the verdict was split but there was no controversy.
An interested observer was Sebastian Fundora who was there to see his sister Gabriela defend her world flyweight titles. Sebastian owns two pieces of the 154-pound world title where the #1 contender per the WBO is Xander Zayas who keeps winning, but not with the verve of his earlier triumphs.
With his upset of Charles Conwell, Jorge Garcia has been bumped into the WBO’s #2 slot. Regardless of who he fights next, Garcia will earn the biggest payday of his career.
Honorable mention: Aaron McKenna
McKenna was favored to beat veteran campaigner Liam Smith in the co-feature to the Eubank-Benn battle this past Saturday in London, but he was stepping up in class against a former world title-holder who had competed against some of the top dogs in the middleweight division and who had famously stopped Chris Eubank Jr in the first of their two encounters. Moreover, the venue, Tottenham Hotspur, the third-largest soccer stadium in England, favored the 36-year-old Liverpudlian who was accustomed to a big fight atmosphere having fought Canelo Alvarez before 50,000-plus at Arlington Stadium in Texas.
McKenna, from the small town of Monaghan, Ireland, wasn’t overwhelmed by the occasion. With his dad Feargal in his corner and his fighting brother Stephen McKenna cheering him on from ringside, Aaron won a wide decision in his first 12-round fight, punctuating his victory by knocking Smith to his knees with a body punch in the 12th round. In fact, if he hadn’t had a point deducted for using his elbow, the Irishman would have pitched a shutout on one of the scorecards.
“There might not be a more impressive example of a fighter moving up in class,” wrote Tris Dixon of the 25-year-old “Silencer” who improved his ledger to 20-0 (10).
Photo credits: Garcia/Conwell photo compliments of Cris Esqueda/Golden Boy; McKenna-Smith provided by Mark Robinson/Matchroom
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Feudal bragging rights belong to Chris Eubank Jr. who out-lasted Conor Benn to
emerge victorious by unanimous decision in a non-title middleweight match held in
London on Saturday.
Fighting for their family heritage Eubank (35-3, 26 KOs) and Benn (23-1, 14 KOs)
continued the battle between families started 35 years ago by their fathers at Tottenham
Hotspur Stadium.
More than 65,000 fans attended.
Though Eubank Jr. had a weight and height advantage and a record of smashing his
way to victory via knockout, he had problems hurting the quicker and more agile Benn.
And though Benn had the advantage of moving up two weight divisions and forcing
Eubank to fight under a catch weight, the move did not weaken him much.
Instead, British fans and boxing fans across the world saw the two family rivals pummel
each other for all 12 rounds. Neither was able to gain separation.
Eubank looked physically bigger and used a ramming left jab to connect early in the
fight. Benn immediately showed off his speed advantage and surprised many with his
ability to absorb a big blow.Chris Eubank Jr Outlasts Conor Benn at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Benn scrambled around with his quickness and agility and scored often with bigcounters.
It took him a few rounds to stop overextending himself while delivering power shots.
In the third round Benn staggered Eubank with a left hook but was unable to follow up
against the dangerous middleweight who roared back with flurries of blows.
Eubank was methodic in his approach always moving forward, always using his weight
advantage via the shoulder to force Benn backward. The smaller Benn rocketed
overhand rights and was partly successful but not enough to force Eubank to retreat.
In the seventh round a right uppercut snapped Benn’s head violently but he was
undeterred from firing back. Benn’s chin stood firm despite Eubank’s vaunted power and
size advantage.
“I didn’t know he had that in him,” Eubank said.
Benn opened strong in the eighth round with furious blows. And though he connected
he was unable to seriously hurt Eubank. And despite being drained by the weight loss,
the middleweight fighter remained strong all 12 rounds.
There were surprises from both fighters.
Benn was effective targeting the body. Perhaps if he had worked the body earlier he
would have found a better result.
With only two rounds remaining Eubank snapped off a right uppercut again and followed
up with body shots. In the final stanza Eubank pressed forward and exchanged with the
smaller Benn until the final bell. He simply out-landed the fighter and impressed all three
judges who scored it 116-112 for Eubank.
Eubank admitted he expected a knockout win but was satisfied with the victory.
“I under-estimated him,” Eubank said.
Benn was upset by the loss but recognized the reasons.
“He worked harder toward the end,” said Benn.
McKenna Wins
In his first test in the elite level Aaron McKenna (20-0, 10 KOs) showed his ability to fight
inside or out in soundly defeating former world champion Liam Smith (33-5-1, 20 KOs)
by unanimous decision to win a regional WBA middleweight title.
Smith has made a career out of upsetting young upstarts but discovered the Irish fighter
more than capable of mixing it up with the veteran. It was a rough fight throughout the
12 rounds but McKenna showed off his abilities to fight as a southpaw or right-hander
with nary a hiccup.
McKenna had trained in Southern California early in his career and since that time he’s
accrued a variety of ways to fight. He was smooth and relentless in using his longer
arms and agility against Smith on the outside or in close.
In the 12 th round, McKenna landed a perfectly timed left hook to the ribs and down went
Smith. The former champion got up and attempted to knock out the tall
Irish fighter but could not.
All three judges scored in favor of McKenna 119-108, 117-109, 118-108.
Other Bouts
Anthony Yarde (27-3) defeated Lyndon Arthur (24-3) by unanimous decision after 12 rounds. in a light heavyweight match. It was the third time they met. Yarde won the last two fights.
Chris Billam-Smith (21-2) defeated Brandon Glanton (20-3) by decision. It was his first
fight since losing the WBO cruiserweight world title to Gilberto Ramirez last November.
Viddal Riley (13-0) out-worked Cheavon Clarke (10-2) in a 12-round back-and-forth-contest to win a unanimous decision.
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Next generation rivals Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr. carry on the family legacy of feudal warring in the prize ring on Saturday.
This is huge in British boxing.
Eubank (34-3, 25 KOs) holds the fringe IBO middleweight title but won’t be defending it against the smaller welterweight Benn (23-0, 14 KOs) on Saturday, April 26, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. DAZN will stream the Matchroom Boxing card.
This is about family pride.
The parents of Eubank and Benn actually began the feud in the 1990s.
Papa Nigel Benn fought Papa Chris Eubank twice. Losing as a middleweight in November 1990 at Birmingham, England, then fighting to a draw as a super middleweight in October 1993 in Manchester. Both were world title fights.
Eubank was undefeated and won the WBO middleweight world title in 1990 against Nigel Benn by knockout. He defended it three times before moving up and winning the vacant WBO super middleweight title in September 1991. He defended the super middleweight title 14 times before suffering his first pro defeat in March 1995 against Steve Collins.
Benn won the WBO middleweight title in April 1990 against Doug DeWitt and defended it once before losing to Eubank in November 1990. He moved up in weight and took the WBC super middleweight title from Mauro Galvano in Italy by technical knockout in October 1992. He defended the title nine times until losing in March 1996. His last fight was in November 1996, a loss to Steve Collins.
Animosity between the two families continues this weekend in the boxing ring.
Conor Benn, the son of Nigel, has fought mostly as a welterweight but lately has participated in the super welterweight division. He is several inches shorter in height than Eubank but has power and speed. Kind of a British version of Gervonta “Tank” Davis.
“It’s always personal, every opponent I fight is personal. People want to say it’s strictly business, but it’s never business. If someone is trying to put their hands on me, trying to render me unconscious, it’s never business,” said Benn.
This fight was scheduled twice before and cut short twice due to failed PED tests by Benn. The weight limit agreed upon is 160 pounds.
Eubank, a natural middleweight, has exchanged taunts with Benn for years. He recently avenged a loss to Liam Smith with a knockout victory in September 2023.
“This fight isn’t about size or weight. It’s about skill. It’s about dedication. It’s about expertise and all those areas in which I excel in,” said Eubank. “I have many, many more years of experience over Conor Benn, and that will be the deciding factor of the night.”
Because this fight was postponed twice, the animosity between the two feuding fighters has increased the attention of their fans. Both fighters are anxious to flatten each other.
“He’s another opponent in my way trying to crush my dreams. trying to take food off my plate and trying to render me unconscious. That’s how I look at him,” said Benn.
Eubank smiles.
“Whether it’s boxing, whether it’s a gun fight. Defense, offense, foot movement, speed, power. I am the superior boxer in each of those departments and so many more – which is why I’m so confident,” he said.
Supporting Bout
Former world champion Liam Smith (33-4-1, 20 KOs) tangles with Ireland’s Aaron McKenna (19-0, 10 KOs) in a middleweight fight set for 12 rounds on the Benn-Eubank undercard in London.
“Beefy” Smith has long been known as one of the fighting Smith brothers and recently lost to Eubank a year and a half ago. It was only the second time in 38 bouts he had been stopped. Saul “Canelo” Alvarez did it several years ago.
McKenna is a familiar name in Southern California. The Irish fighter fought numerous times on Golden Boy Promotion cards between 2017 and 2019 before returning to the United Kingdom and his assault on continuing the middleweight division. This is a big step for the tall Irish fighter.
It’s youth versus experience.
“I’ve been calling for big fights like this for the last two or three years, and it’s a fight I’m really excited for. I plan to make the most of it and make a statement win on Saturday night,” said McKenna, one of two fighting brothers.
Monster in L.A.
Japan’s super star Naoya “Monster” Inoue arrived in Los Angeles for last day workouts before his Las Vegas showdown against Ramon Cardenas on Sunday May 4, at T-Mobile Arena. ESPN will televise and stream the Top Rank card.
It’s been four years since the super bantamweight world champion performed in the US and during that time Naoya (29-0, 26 KOs) gathered world titles in different weight divisions. The Japanese slugger has also gained fame as perhaps the best fighter on the planet. Cardenas is 26-1 with 14 KOs.
Pomona Fights
Super featherweights Mathias Radcliffe (9-0-1) and Ezequiel Flores (6-4) lead a boxing card called “DMG Night of Champions” on Saturday April 26, at the historic Fox Theater in downtown Pomona, Calif.
Michaela Bracamontes (11-2-1) and Jesus Torres Beltran (8-4-1) will be fighting for a regional WBC super featherweight title. More than eight bouts are scheduled.
Doors open at 6 p.m. For ticket information go to: www.tix.com/dmgnightofchampions
Fights to Watch
Sat. DAZN 9 a.m. Conor Benn (23-0) vs Chris Eubank Jr. (34-3); Liam Smith (33-4-1) vs Aaron McKenna (19-0).
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