Sullivan, John L. (1858-1918), was a famous American heavyweight boxing champion. He was the last boxer to win the heavyweight championship fighting with bare knuckles. Sullivan won the heavyweight title by knocking out Paddy Ryan in 1882. He successfully defended his crown against Charley Mitchell in 1888 and Jake Kilrain in 1889. The Sullivan-Kilrain fight lasted 75 rounds and was the last bare-knuckle championship bout. Thereafter, all championship bouts were fought under the Queensberry Rules, which require the use of boxing gloves. Sullivan popularized the use of gloves during exhibition tours of the United States. He lost the heavyweight title to James J. Corbett in 1892, his only defeat.
John Lawrence Sullivan was born in Roxbury, Mass. He began his boxing career in 1878.
