Sullivan, John Lawrence (Boston Strong Boy)

US boxer

1858 - Born- October 15- Roxbury, now in Boston MA.

1879 - He began his amateur career boxing around New England and became known as the Boston Strong Boy.

1880-1892 - His record - won 38 (KO 32) + lost 1 (KO 1) + drawn 1 = 41 total fights.

1882-1892 - Heavyweight boxing champion.

        -He is widely recognized, as boxing's first modern world heavyweight champion.

1892 - The last bare-knuckle world heavyweight champion, he held the title in for 10 years, when he lost his crown to James J. Corbett by a knockout under the newly adopted Queensbury rules, requiring padded gloves.

1892-1904 -  Sullivan retired, but appeared in several exhibitions over the next 12 years, including a three rounder against Tom Sharkey. He became a stage actor, speaker, celebrity baseball umpire, bar owner, and sports reporter.

In his later years Sullivan became a teetotaler and often supported the temperance movement.

1990 - He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.