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Boxing History

On this day: John L. Sullivan and Jake Kilrain fight 75 rounds in the last ever title fight at Bareknuckle

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Recalling The Longest Fight In Boxing History – 110 Rounds, Fought Over 7 Hours And 19 Minutes

When we fight, fans discuss and/or think about what might be the greatest fight in boxing history, there is a tendency on our part to “go state-of-the-art” because we discuss/start thinking about fights we have seen, fights we can watch today. You know the great fights you love so much, whether from the 1920s or this decade. Fights fought according to state-of-the-art rules and regulations; with padded gloves and three-minute rounds – Marquees of Queensbury took over the aged days of bare-knuckle play.

However, when we look back into the abyss of time, we can find or read about amazing prize fights. We can’t put a DVD in the machine and watch a John L. Sullivan fight, a Jem Mace fight, a Tom Molineaux fight, or a Jem Belcher fight. Even later fighters who boxed according to state-of-the-art rules were often not filmed; for example the great Harry Greb.

But we can read the reports of the day when it comes to these simply epic fights. We can also read some of the great works that current writers have worked so challenging on, and their works pay tribute to the struggles of many years, even centuries ago.

It was on this day, July 8, 1889, that the final bare-knuckle title fight took place before the Marquis’s “more civilized” rules were implemented.

John L. Sullivan, to most people the heavyweight champion of the world – the man who said he would “lick every son of a bitch in the house” and did – was challenged by Jake Kilrain. Kilrain himself had a claim to the heavyweight title (gifted to him by the publisher of the then influential newspaper The Police Gazette), and the two met at an undisclosed location to settle their dispute.

Bare-knuckle fighting was illegal in 38 states at the time, and if you wanted to see a Sullivan-Kilrain fight, you had to rely on word of mouth. About 3,000 fans made it to the field in Richburg, Mississippi, where the fight was to take place. The first round was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m., with the fight to determine the winner who would take home $10,000 per side, with the winner taking it all. The temperature at that time in the shade was 100 degrees.

Sullivan’s reputation brought him great results. Sullivan, an extremely weighty drinker, fought both drunk and sober, mostly with the former. Regularly drinking specific amounts of bourbon from a beer mug, Sullivan boasted, rightly so, that no man could drink four rounds with him. Traveling all over the country, taking on everyone, John L. defeated 59 opponents with one bounce. None lasted beyond the fourth round, and most were dealt with in the first round.

However, the prevailing view in Kilrain’s camp was that Sullivan’s legs were only functional for about 20 minutes and that after that time his legs, like the legs of all drunkards, would fail him. Kilrain was highly prepared and his plan was to take Sullivan into the later rounds and then take control and win. And Kilrain was a clever boxer who knew how to move.

In the first rounds of that historic day, Kilrain took the lead (a round only ended when a man went down and could therefore last minutes or mere seconds) as he refrained from fighting Sullivan, focusing instead on avoiding the large one…hitting John’s throws L. Furious, Sullivan roared at his rival, “Why don’t you fight! You’re supposed to be a champion, right?”

In round seven, Kilrain landed a weighty shot to the head that drew blood from Sullivan’s ear. In the next session, Sullivan scored his first knockdown of the fight. Both men were already suffering, the heat and intensity of the battle was punishing. But the fight was just beginning. The fight lasted 30 rounds, the blood of both men flowed, and the fierce heat harmed the naked backs of both fighters.

After the 30th round, it was Kilrain who was getting tired and slowing down, not Sullivan. It turned out that Sullivan was able to fight for long periods of time after drinking immense amounts of alcohol. Sullivan was now in command, earning more knockdowns and falls. But there was no end to Kilrain and he kept raising the level again and again. It’s amazing that we still have over 40 rounds of battle ahead of us! Finally, in the 75th round, the doctor informed the Kilrain supporter that if they allowed their man to go out for more, “he would die”. That was the end. The last title fight in the history of bare-knuckle fighting lasted an exhausting, almost unimaginable, 2 hours and 16 minutes.

John L. Sullivan was the king of kings. There was no doubt about it.

Sullivan lost his next fight over three years later, this time fighting Jim Corbett in the first world heavyweight title fight fought under Marquees rules. The great man died in February 1918 at the age of only 59. One of the pallbearers was Jake Kilrain, who lived to be 78 years aged.

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Boxing History

Bunny Sterling’s great legacy in British boxing

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St Pancras’ BUNNY STERLING will always be remembered as the first black non-British-born player to win a British title. He was the first to benefit from rule changes introduced by the Board in 1968 and defeated one of the golden boys of British boxing, winning the title.

Mark Rowe had a very successful amateur career, culminating in winning a gold medal at the 1966 Commonwealth Games held in Perth, Australia. Representing England, Rowe overtook Scotsman Tom Imrie to win welterweight gold, sweet revenge for the Londoner after being knocked out by Imrie in the ABA final at the same weight just over three months earlier. When Rowe turned around two months later, it was in a blaze of publicity at the Royal Albert Hall.

Meanwhile, Bunny made his professional debut at the less austere Shoreditch Town Hall. Losing points over six rounds to Islington’s Joe Devitt BN stated that Sterling “was willing, threw one or two punches and always resisted. A boy from St Pancras given the chance to learn a trade would do well.”

Sterling came to the UK aged seven from Jamaica in 1955 and attended Fortescue boarding school in Twickenham, where he played rugby, football and cricket. He was also involved in boxing, and as an amateur at the BC Polytechnic University he came under the tutelage of the slow, great George Francis. Knowing a good player when he saw one, George encouraged Bunny to turn professional and stayed with him as his coach. A loss to Devitt was quickly followed by two more, but Bunny learned from those losses and quickly turned things around, winning the next seven.

By 1969, he was mixing it with artists such as Johnny Kramer, Wally Swift, Harry Scott and Dick Duffy. Despite losing to all four fighters, Sterling was selected by the management to fight in a British middleweight title eliminator against Denny Pleace and defeated him over nine rounds at the Anglo-American Sporting Club. Then came the final eliminator against Harry Scott and Sterling got his revenge by beating the Liverpool veteran of twelve years in Nottingham.

Sterling Bunny

Rowe won the British title at Wembley in May 1970, defeating fellow Liverpudlian Les McAteer in 14 rounds, and when he faced Sterling four months later in his first defense, most thought he would be able to finally defeat Sterling . BN was no exception and predicted Rowe to win after the break. The two fighters could not have had more contrasting careers, with Rowe winning his last 15 fights, mostly on major London events, and Bunny, who found it arduous to get fights, losing regularly and campaigning on the continent to find work.

Rowe’s trainer, Bill Chevalley, was already talking about pairing his boy with world champion Nino Benvenuti after he defeated Sterling, but those plans were thwarted by in-ring events at Wembley in September 1970. The Commonwealth title was also at stake, and Bunny, what was at stake BN called the “shock of the year” had nothing to do with it. He boxed on the back foot for the first two rounds, trying to avoid the powerful punches of the stalking Rowe, and then after catching Rowe’s head and causing a cut, Rowe charged at him, looking for an early stoppage.

This brought out the best in Sterling, who boxed better than ever before and managed to avoid Rowe’s desperate attacks. Rowe was then cut on the other side of his face, with blood pouring from two solemn cuts, and referee Wally Thom stopped the fight after four rounds, much to the annoyance of Rowe and his camp.

Bunny remained champion for four years, winning the Lonsdale belt outright before losing to Kevin Finnegan in February 1974. He was the first immigrant to win a British title and his place in British boxing history is assured.

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Boxing History

Leotis Martin has beaten the fearsome heavyweight beast

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Name and surname: Leotis Martin

Born: March 10, 1939 Helena, Arkansas, USA

Died: November 20, 1995

Career: 1962–1969

Record: 36 fights, 31 wins (19 by KO/TKO), 5 defeats (2 by KO/TKO).

Division: heavyweight

Attitude: orthodox

Titles: NABF Heavyweight Champion


Major competitions

Goals scored over: Allan Harmon, Sonny Banks, Von Clay, Amos Johnson, Roberto Davila, Mariano Echevarria, Billy Daniels, Karl Mildenberger*, Thad Spencer, Alvin Lewis (twice), Roger Russell, Sonny Liston **

Lost to: Floyd McCoy, Jimmy Ellis**, Roger Russell, Henry Clark, Oscar Bonavena*

**Former/future world title version holder

*Unsuccessful challenger to the world title version


The boxing story of Leotis Martin

As an amateur, Martin had an outstanding record. In March 1960 at the Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions, he defeated future foe Jimmy Ellis in the 160-pound final and a month later. At the Intercity Golden Gloves (the predecessor of the National Golden Gloves), he won the 160-pound title. He also won the U.S. title in April 1960 again at 160 pounds (newborn Cassius Clay was the 178-pound champion that year), but lost in the semifinals of the U.S. Olympic trials in May. In 1961, he repeated his victory in the Intercity Golden Gloves, but lost in the semi-final of the 1961 national finals.

He moved to Philadelphia and was trained by Yank Durham, who also trained Joe Frazier. Martin had his first professional fight in Canada on January 26, 1962, against American Bobby Warthen, whom he defeated in the final of the Intercity Golden Gloves in 1960. He then crossed the border and scored three wins in Pennsylvania in 1962. In 1963, he won 9 -1 in ten fights and lost by upset KO to 14-14-1 Floyd McCoy.

He won five in a row, but one victory went to Sonny Banks. Banks, a ponderous puncher, knocked down Cassius Clay in the first round of their 1962 fight, only to be stopped in the fourth. On May 10, 1965, Banks was winning against Martin, who was badly shaken in the ninth throw, but delivered a counter right that sent Banks down, hitting his head on the canvas. Banks was taken from the ring on a stretcher. He never recovered and died three days later.

Martin returned to the ring with a victory in October 1965 and scored victories over Von Clay, Amos Johnson, Roberto Davila and Spaniard Mariano Echevarria. Victories over several underdogs pushed his record to 23-1 by June 1967. When Muhammad Ali refused to enlist in the U.S. Army, the WBA stripped him of his title and held a tournament to determine a novel champion. Martin was selected to compete in the qualifiers, and in the quarterfinals he drew with Jimmy Ellis, his rival from his amateur days, when they lost 1-1 in two fights. It wouldn’t be a heavyweight fight at this point.

They both climbed on the weights. Martin weighed 160 pounds in his first fight and weighed 192 pounds in this fight. Ellis weighed just 157 pounds and was 194 ¼. Ellis won easily. He was too swift for Martin from the start and Martin staggered repeatedly before the fight was stopped in the ninth throw as blood poured from a cut in Martin’s mouth. Ellis defeated Oscar Bonavena in the semifinals to win the vacant WBA title by majority decision over Jerry Quarry.

Martin came close to disappearing from the heavyweight scene when he lost a split decision to Roger Russell in November 1967. The year 1968 was a period of ups and downs for Martin. In April he went to Germany, where he defeated Karl Mildenberger three times and knocked him out in the seventh round.

The rollercoaster went down when he lost a majority decision to Henry Clark just twenty-two days after the Mildenberger fight, and then it went up again in May when he stopped Thad Spencer in nine rounds in one of the greatest heavyweight fights ever seen at the British ring. It was surprising to see two Americans on top of the Albert Hall show, but the fight will forever be remembered by those who saw it. Down went down the rollercoaster again when Martin was easily beaten on points by Oscar Bonavena in Buenos Aires in September.

Martin was dismissed as unpredictable and once again on the verge of being the favorite in the heavyweight division. But it was another uptick from the rollercoaster of 1968, when he faced Alvin “Blue” Lewis 19-1 in November and stopped Lewis in the ninth round in front of Lewis’ home fans. Lewis demanded a return and in February 1969, again in Detroit, Martin won by split decision. Martin retained Wendell Newton in October and made up for his 1967 loss to Roger Russell in November.

Martin’s fate was about to change. Since losing his second fight to Ali in 1965, Sonny Liston had won 14 straight fights, 13 by KO/TKO, and Martin was selected as winner number 15. They were to meet in Las Vegas on December 6, 1969. twelve rounds, and the inaugural title of the North American Boxing Federation is at stake. Liston had a 20-pound advantage over Martin and was three inches taller. The downside for Liston is that he’s a week away from his thirty-ninth birthday.

Yet Liston was still feared. Martin helped Liston prepare for fights with Floyd Patterson and Muhammad Ali, so he knew Liston well. He decided that if he could survive the early rounds, he would face the weakening Liston and have a chance to win. It didn’t look like Martin’s plan was going to work when Liston dropped him with a left hook overdue in the fourth round.

Martin survived the remaining 30 seconds and boxed in retreat, partly as part of his plan but also because of Liston’s hammer jab. Even on the retreat, Martin was finding the mark with his own jab and using his younger legs to set a faster pace than Liston wanted. After eight rounds of chasing the retreating Martin, Liston was ahead with three points on two cards and two points on the third, but Liston was tiring.

In the eighth round, Martin shook off a huge left hook and began to push Liston away with more punches. In the ninth, Martin missed Liston and then delivered a demanding cross to the head that stunned Liston. Martin landed lefts and rights and Liston fell face first onto the canvas, not moving for the 10 second count. This rollercoaster reached novel heights, with Martin earning the best win of his career and a shot at the world title.

But this is Leotis Martin and the roller coaster has taken one last cruel turn. Martin was diagnosed with retinal detachment and forced to retire. The injury was said to be from the Liston fights, but there was a mention that he was battling an injury from before the Liston fight. Eye surgery has advanced and a detached retina would not automatically be a reason for retirement today, but for Martin in 1969 it meant the end of his career.

During his boxing career from 1964, Martin worked full-time as a mechanic for a manufacturing company and continued this work until his retirement in 1995. In November of that year, he suffered a stroke caused by high blood pressure and complications of diabetes and died at the age of only 56.

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Boxing History

Leotis Martin has beaten the fearsome heavyweight beast

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Name and surname: Leotis Martin

Born: March 10, 1939 Helena, Arkansas, USA

Died: November 20, 1995

Career: 1962–1969

Record: 36 fights, 31 wins (19 by KO/TKO), 5 defeats (2 by KO/TKO).

Division: heavyweight

Attitude: orthodox

Titles: NABF Heavyweight Champion


Major competitions

Goals scored over: Allan Harmon, Sonny Banks, Von Clay, Amos Johnson, Roberto Davila, Mariano Echevarria, Billy Daniels, Karl Mildenberger*, Thad Spencer, Alvin Lewis (twice), Roger Russell, Sonny Liston **

Lost to: Floyd McCoy, Jimmy Ellis**, Roger Russell, Henry Clark, Oscar Bonavena*

**Former/future world title version holder

*Unsuccessful challenger to the world title version


The boxing story of Leotis Martin

As an amateur, Martin had an outstanding record. In March 1960 at the Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions, he defeated future foe Jimmy Ellis in the 160-pound final and a month later. At the Intercity Golden Gloves (the predecessor of the National Golden Gloves), he won the 160-pound title. He also won the U.S. title in April 1960 again at 160 pounds (youthful Cassius Clay was the 178-pound champion that year), but lost in the semifinals of the U.S. Olympic trials in May. In 1961, he repeated his victory in the Intercity Golden Gloves, but lost in the semi-final of the 1961 national finals.

He moved to Philadelphia and was trained by Yank Durham, who also trained Joe Frazier. Martin had his first professional fight in Canada on January 26, 1962, against American Bobby Warthen, whom he defeated in the final of the Intercity Golden Gloves in 1960. He then crossed the border and scored three wins in Pennsylvania in 1962. In 1963, he won 9 -1 in ten fights and lost by upset KO to 14-14-1 Floyd McCoy.

He won five in a row, but one victory went to Sonny Banks. Banks, a ponderous puncher, knocked down Cassius Clay in the first round of their 1962 fight, only to be stopped in the fourth. On May 10, 1965, Banks was winning against Martin, who was badly shaken in the ninth throw, but delivered a counter right that sent Banks down, hitting his head on the canvas. Banks was taken from the ring on a stretcher. He never recovered and died three days later.

Martin returned to the ring with a victory in October 1965 and scored victories over Von Clay, Amos Johnson, Roberto Davila and Spaniard Mariano Echevarria. Victories over several underdogs pushed his record to 23-1 by June 1967. When Muhammad Ali refused to enlist in the U.S. Army, the WBA stripped him of his title and held a tournament to determine a fresh champion. Martin was selected to compete in the qualifiers, and in the quarterfinals he drew with Jimmy Ellis, his rival from his amateur days, when they lost 1-1 in two fights. It wouldn’t be a heavyweight fight at this point.

They both climbed on the weights. Martin weighed 160 pounds in his first fight and weighed 192 pounds in this fight. Ellis weighed just 157 pounds and was 194 ¼. Ellis won easily. He was too speedy for Martin from the start and Martin staggered repeatedly before the fight was stopped in the ninth throw as blood poured from a cut in Martin’s mouth. Ellis defeated Oscar Bonavena in the semifinals to win the vacant WBA title by majority decision over Jerry Quarry.

Martin came close to disappearing from the heavyweight scene when he lost a split decision to Roger Russell in November 1967. The year 1968 was a period of ups and downs for Martin. In April he went to Germany, where he defeated Karl Mildenberger three times and knocked him out in the seventh round.

The rollercoaster went down when he lost a majority decision to Henry Clark just twenty-two days after the Mildenberger fight, and then it went up again in May when he stopped Thad Spencer in nine rounds in one of the greatest heavyweight fights ever seen at the British ring. It was surprising to see two Americans on top of the Albert Hall show, but the fight will forever be remembered by those who saw it. Down went down the rollercoaster again when Martin was easily beaten on points by Oscar Bonavena in Buenos Aires in September.

Martin was dismissed as unpredictable and once again on the verge of being the favorite in the heavyweight division. But it was another uptick from the rollercoaster of 1968, when he faced Alvin “Blue” Lewis 19-1 in November and stopped Lewis in the ninth round in front of Lewis’ home fans. Lewis demanded a return and in February 1969, again in Detroit, Martin won by split decision. Martin retained Wendell Newton in October and made up for his 1967 loss to Roger Russell in November.

Martin’s fate was about to change. Since losing his second fight to Ali in 1965, Sonny Liston had won 14 straight fights, 13 by KO/TKO, and Martin was selected as winner number 15. They were to meet in Las Vegas on December 6, 1969. twelve rounds, and the inaugural title of the North American Boxing Federation is at stake. Liston had a 20-pound advantage over Martin and was three inches taller. The downside for Liston is that he’s a week away from his thirty-ninth birthday.

Yet Liston was still feared. Martin helped Liston prepare for fights with Floyd Patterson and Muhammad Ali, so he knew Liston well. He decided that if he could survive the early rounds, he would face the weakening Liston and have a chance to win. It didn’t look like Martin’s plan was going to work when Liston dropped him with a left hook slow in the fourth round.

Martin survived the remaining 30 seconds and boxed in retreat, partly as part of his plan but also because of Liston’s hammer jab. Even on the retreat, Martin was finding the mark with his own jab and using his younger legs to set a faster pace than Liston wanted. After eight rounds of chasing the retreating Martin, Liston was ahead with three points on two cards and two points on the third, but Liston was tiring.

In the eighth round, Martin shook off a huge left hook and began to push Liston away with more punches. In the ninth, Martin missed Liston and then delivered a demanding cross to the head that stunned Liston. Martin landed lefts and rights and Liston fell face first onto the canvas, not moving for the 10 second count. This rollercoaster reached fresh heights, with Martin earning the best win of his career and a shot at the world title.

But this is Leotis Martin and the roller coaster has taken one last cruel turn. Martin was diagnosed with retinal detachment and forced to retire. The injury was said to be from the Liston fights, but there was a mention that he was battling an injury from before the Liston fight. Eye surgery has advanced and a detached retina would not automatically be a reason for retirement today, but for Martin in 1969 it meant the end of his career.

During his boxing career from 1964, Martin worked full-time as a mechanic for a manufacturing company and continued this work until his retirement in 1995. In November of that year, he suffered a stroke caused by high blood pressure and complications of diabetes and died at the age of only 56.

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