About this item
Highlights
- Essentially the last of the bare-knuckle heavyweight champions, John L. Sullivan was instrumental in the acceptance of gloved fighting.
- About the Author: Adam J. Pollack is a staff writer for Cyberboxingzone.com (CBZ), is vice chair of USA Boxing's National Board of Review, and a member of the Women's Subcommittee.
- 254 Pages
- Biography + Autobiography, Sports
Description
Book Synopsis
Essentially the last of the bare-knuckle heavyweight champions, John L. Sullivan was instrumental in the acceptance of gloved fighting. His charisma and popular appeal during this transitional period contributed greatly to making boxing a nationally popular, "legitimate" sport. Sullivan became boxing's first superstar and arguably the first of any sport.
From his first match in the late 1870s through his final championship fight in 1892, this biography contains a thoroughly researched, detailed accounting of John L. Sullivan's boxing career. With special attention to the 1880s, the decade during which Sullivan came to prominence, it follows Sullivan's skill development and discusses his opponents and fights in detail, providing various viewpoints of a single event. Beginning with a discussion of early boxing practices, the sport itself is placed within sociological, legal and historical contexts including anti-prize fighting laws and the so-called "color line." A complete record of Sullivan's career is also included.
Review Quotes
"splendid...thoroughly impressed...well researched and provides great detail...truly unique...a must read...excellent work"-Tracy Callis, International Boxing Research Organization (IBRO) and Cyber Boxing Zone; "a wealth of information...detailed...superb"-East Side Boxing; "everything you ever wanted to know about the great John L. Sullivan and early gloved boxing lies within the covers of this work...if you are a devotee of the manly art, you will enjoy this biography"-Jack McCormack, Irish Edition; "comprehensive...most welcome...a definitive story...succeeds admirably"-Evening Herald; "a must have...definitive account"-The Des Moines Register; "this book fills a much needed void...most detailed and thoroughly researched"-www.our-ireland.com; "a detailed look"-Press-Citizen (Iowa City).
About the Author
Adam J. Pollack is a staff writer for Cyberboxingzone.com (CBZ), is vice chair of USA Boxing's National Board of Review, and a member of the Women's Subcommittee. He is also a boxing coach and attorney living in Iowa City, Iowa.