I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch in the House: John Sullivan, his autobiography

In the barrooms of American and Europe during the 1880s that arrogant boast could announce only one man: Irish-American John L. Sulllivan, the World's Heavyweight Boxing Champion. A legendary fighter, he won the title in the last bare-knuckle championship, then travelled the world like no sportsman before him, defending it against allcomers; a legendary drinker, he turned up for many of his most important contests scarcely able to defend himself! Known as the Boston Strong Boy, he was a hero of the ring in the days when prizefighting was illegal though avidly followed by every social class. The law gave him more trouble than many of his ring opponents. He fought and beat all the great boxers of his generation, Paddy Ryan, Charley Mitchell, Jake Kilrain-with the notable exception of the negro Peter Jackson, against whom Sullivan drew the color bar. For more than a decade John L. was invincible. The championship seemed to belong to him. To have met him was a rare honor and people stood in line to 'shake the hand that shook the hand of John L. Sullivan,' as a popular catchphrase of the time ran. In London he was lauded by the Prince of Wales; Teddy Roosevelt considered him an outstanding American; Baron Rothschild staged one of the champion's fights on his private estate in Franc.e Eventually, in 1892, a brash young boxer named James Corbett toppled the legendary fighter.