344:, perhaps America's best known and most revered featherweight, in a fifteenth-round technical knockout in Louisville, Kentucky. For the first ten rounds the fighting was close. It was described by one reporter as "one of the most terrific and dogged battles ever seen in the roped arena." Sullivan was down in the eleventh round, and tired in round twelve, making a late rally in the fourteenth. He was down in the fifteenth, and took a count before the bout ended. Sullivan was at his best in the fourth round, Though the fighting was fairly close, one reporter noted that McGovern was the aggressor in most rounds, with Sullivan mounting an effective defense. In the fifteenth, Sullivan went down from a storm of rights and lefts from McGovern.
364:, in an eleventh-round TKO at the Mechanic's Pavilion in San Francisco. At the time he was managed by Tom Sharkey. At least one source noted that Sullivan lost the match badly, describing him as "going to the floor again and again beneath under the hailstorm of blows that reached him from all sides." Considering the fight one sided, one reporter wrote, "At no period of the battle was the issue in doubt, although in some of the earlier rounds Sullivan rallied fiercely and appeared for a few moments to be holding his own." The fight was described as "seven rounds of slaughter." Summing up the outcome of the match, one reporter wrote, "Corbett left the ring without a mark, while on the other hand, Sullivan received a terrific beating."
313:, a three time contender for the World Featherweight Title. Bernstein was a favorite of many fans from New York's lower East side. The bout took place at the Greenwood Athletic Club in New York, and the two would fight two more twenty-five round draws in New York at the Broadway Athletic Club. Of their October 1, 1899 New York match, the fighting was fierce and even, and only a draw decision would be considered fair. Of their November 10, 1899 bout in Brooklyn, though a close fight, one source wrote "Sullivan outfought Bernstein. He led, forced, and landed, while the other man blocked and remained on the defensive during the majority of the rounds."
301:
counted out for a fight before this match. The bout was a significant milestone in his career, for as many as 6000 attended the bout, which was described as "ending disastrously" for
Sullivan. After a clinch in the last round, both boxers' legs became entangled and Sullivan fell to the floor. On rising, Gardner landed three solid blows to Sullivan's head, the last a wild left jab to the mouth that resulted in the knockout.
333:
292:
Dixon had the advantage. In the final round, Sullivan's brother Jack walked into the ring twice to speak to Jimmy
Coville the referee about the time remaining in the round, eventually causing Coville to end the fight, in frustration over Jack's infraction. Sullivan could have fought on, though he would have almost certainly lost the fight.
300:
Beginning a slight decline, he was knocked out in the seventeenth round by Oscar
Gardner on January 9, 1899 at New York's Lenox Athletic Club. Gardner was the aggressor throughout the fight before the knockout came in the seventeenth. Gardner was a very worthy opponent, and Sullivan had never been
291:
in a tenth round disqualification at New York City's Lenox Club. Dan
Donnelly was in his corner. Sullivan had held the title only forty-six days. At the time of the fight the betting favored Dixon, but was close, and briefly went to even odds. For nine rounds in front of eight thousand spectators,
227:
a total of four times, with the first bout coming on
September 15, 1896, in a ten-round draw in Queens, New York. Sullivan was actually knocked down twice in their September 15 bout was back on his feet very quickly. He had traveled from Boston for the bout to substitute for another boxer. Rice was
351:
On
November 7, 1902, he defeated Jimmy Briggs on an eighth round foul, at the Criterion Athletic Club in Boston. In the eighth, a blow to the stomach, had Sullivan crying foul to the referee who agreed and called the fight. Prior to the eighth, Briggs had the better of the match, forcing Sullivan
236:
wrote "Haley at one time looked like a sure winner, but it was only for a brief interval as
Sullivan fought like a bull and was a glutton for punishment." Haley was down twice in the thirteenth round, being counted out when he went down for the second time near his corner. Two months later at the
261:
On March 4, 1898, he fought Patsy
Broderick in what was billed as the 118 pound American title at the Waverly Athletic club in Yonkers, New York, before an impressive crowd of 2000, winning by technical knockout in the ninth round. In a fairly well publicized bout Broderick was said to have grown
231:
On
February 17, 1897, he knocked out Patsy Haley in front of a crowd of 2000, in the thirteenth round, at the New Polo Athletic Club in New York City. Haley would become one of New York's most important referees in the 1920s and 1930s, judging many world competitions. Describing the exciting bout
265:
On May 16, 1898, he defeated Sam Kelly in a twenty-round points decision by referee Jimmy Dime in front of a crowd of around three to four thousand at the Lenox Club in New York. One source wrote the fight might have been ruled a draw, except for Kelly grabbing the arms of
Sullivan in the final
219:
Dave Sullivan was born in Knocknanaff, County Cork, Ireland on May 10, 1877. His brother "Spike", accomplished as a lightweight, was also a successful boxer, and his brother Jack sometimes acted as one of his corner men. Like many Irish immigrants, he ended up in Boston, where he began boxing
323:
On November 30, 1900, persistent fouls caused him to lose his bout with Ole Olson in Chicago at the Illinois Athletic Club. Sullivan was choking and elbowing in clinches, despite the constant warning of the referee to stop. Finally in the third round, Referee Siler stopped the fight due to
316:
After his defeat by Gardner, his best known, closest matched, and most frequent opponent would be Kid Broad, who he first met on November 28, 1899, losing in a twenty-round points decision in Brooklyn, New York. Broad would contend for the World Featherweight Title unsuccessfully on several
278:
in a fifth-round technical knockout in Brooklyn, New York on September 26, 1898. Smith had the misfortune to break his left arm near the wrist in the second round, ending his chances to give a good showing in the match, and he was compelled to retire in the fifth. Sullivan was said to have a
257:
in London on October 18, 1897 in what was billed as a World 116 pound Title Match, a World Bantamweight Championship. The purse was $ 3,500. It would become his first loss according to most sources. Palmer was reported to have injured his hands in the eleventh round, with his right being
262:
too groggy to continue in the ninth round. His opponent made his strongest play in the fifth round using a series of left jabs. According to one source, by the ninth Broderick was "almost out" when a police Captain jumped into the ring and the referee gave the decision to Sullivan.
347:
On October 17, 1902, he prevented an armed man and two accomplices from robbing him in New York, using a few swift well placed blows. On the arrival of two policemen, Sullivan recommended his assailants be allowed to go and the police let them.
246:
279:
consistent lead in the first four rounds, Smith unable to use his left at all in the fourth and fifth rounds. Smith did not fight again for four months after the injury, when he was defeated by Oscar Gardner.
367:
One of is last fights was with Mississippi at the Consolidated Athletic Club in New York in a winning three round newspaper decision. Mississippi's boxing had been on a considerable downhill slide, however.
207:, in Brooklyn, New York on a fifth-round technical knockout, three rounds after Smith had broken his arm. He would hold the title only forty-six days before losing it to the legendary Black champion
320:
On October 8, 1900, in an important late career win, he defeated Oscar Gardner in a fourteenth-round technical knockout in Louisville, Kentucky, though Gardner claimed a foul.
258:
particularly affected. He failed to receive the twenty round points decision, but established himself as the primary contender for the World Featherweight Title.
873:
853:
352:
to clinch often. After the foul ended the fight, Sullivan looked as though he would rush Briggs and begin a more personal scuffle, though order was maintained.
223:
One of his first professional fights was a second-round knockout against Barty McGriel on July 27, 1895 in Boston. Sullivan fought New London featherweight
63:
266:
rounds. Dan Donnelly was in Sullivan's corner, but his corner men had not prevented him from being over the agreed upon weight for the bout.
59:
376:
He would quit the ring in 1905, and for a while make a living as a referee at boxing clubs in the New York area. He died in 1929.
878:
33:
848:
858:
838:
843:
833:
341:
310:
287:
Less than two months later on November 11, 1898, he decisively lost the title to Black Canadian boxer
868:
863:
815:
288:
208:
203:
who took the World Featherweight Title on September 26, 1898 in a controversial bout against
361:
553:
White, Charley, "Inside the Ring With the Great Fighters, Smith Fought Many Good Battles",
197:
122:
200:
253:
On the strength of his showing against leading contenders, Sullivan met British boxer
827:
784:
748:
360:
On February 29, 1904, in an important match, he lost to World Featherweight claimant
309:
On March 27, 1899, he would fight a twenty-five round draw with New York Jewish boxer
254:
104:
540:
237:
Polo Club, on April 28, he would knock out Haley again in the twenty-second round.
800:
275:
224:
204:
54:
317:
occasions, and would fight Sullivan five more times in well attended matches.
332:
32:
245:
228:
eight pounds heavier, in addition to having a slight advantage in height.
513:
Crowd of 2000, "Dave Sullivan Was Too Clever for the Providence Boy",
776:
772:
331:
244:
211:. Dan Donelly was a corner man and may have acted as his trainer.
340:
On February 22, 1902, after a three-month rest, he would lose to
409:
456:"Haley Put Out By Dave Sullivan in Thirteen Rounds",
283:
Losing the World Featherweight Title two months later
270:
Taking the World Featherweight Title from Solly Smith
241:
Losing to British bantamweight champion Pedlar Palmer
274:
Sullivan took the World Featherweight Title against
609:, San Francisco, California, pg. 4, 10 January 1899
596:, San Francisco, California, pg. 4, 10 January 1899
487:Palmer injured his hands in "Peddler Palmer Wins",
179:
171:
163:
155:
147:
139:
118:
110:
98:
83:
71:
39:
23:
570:, Sacramento, California, pg. 1, 12 November 1898
648:, Altoona, Pennsylvania, pg.1, 1 December 1900
635:, Kansas City, Missouri,pg. 5, 11 November 1899
541:"Dave Sullivan - Lineal Featherweight Champion"
517:, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pg. 9, 5 March 1898
447:, Brooklyn, New York, pg. 10, 16 September 1896
661:, Brooklyn, New York, pg. 32, 23 February 1902
583:, Rochester, New York, pg. 14, 10 January 1899
491:, Kansas, City, Kansas, pg. 1, 19 October 1897
460:, St. Paul, Minnesota, pg. 7, 18 February 1897
622:, Rochester, New York, pg. 12, 2 October 1899
8:
674:, Boise City, Idaho, pg. 2, 23 February 1902
296:Boxing after loss of the Featherweight Title
725:, Chicago, Illinois, , pg. 17, 6 March 1904
712:, Marshaltown, Iowa, pg 2, 30 November 1901
557:, New York, New York, pg. 7, 22 August 1911
504:, Rochester, New York, pg. 18, 5 March 1898
789:
785:Cyber Boxing Zone Record for Dave Sullivan
738:, Maysville, Kentucky, pg. 4, 1 March 1904
700:, Butte, Montana, pg. 8, 11 November 1902
20:
434:, St. Paul, Minnesota, pg. 5, 17 May 1898
687:, Topeka, Kansas, pg. 2, 18 October 1902
810:September 26, 1898 – November 11, 1898
478:, Atlanta, Georgia, pg. 13, 10 May 1919
384:
605:"Sullivan Defeated by Oscar Gardner",
592:"Sullivan Defeated by Oscar Gardner",
470:
468:
466:
328:Losing to the legendary Terry McGovern
543:. The Cyber Boxing Zone Encyclopedia.
7:
874:Irish emigrants to the United States
854:World featherweight boxing champions
657:"McGovern Wins in Fifteenth Round",
631:"Dave Sullivan and Bernstein Draw",
530:, Houston, Texas, pg. 3, 17 May 1898
404:
402:
400:
398:
396:
394:
392:
390:
388:
721:"Lou Houseman's Roped Arena Chat",
696:"General Fight is Almost Started",
579:"Gardner Won in Seventeen Rounds",
500:"Dave Sullivan, the Boston Boxer",
114:5 ft 4.5 in (1.64 m)
305:Boxing Joe Bernstein and Kid Broad
14:
670:"McGovern Knocks Down Sullivan",
644:"Dave Sullivan Fouled Too Much",
443:"Bohemian Sporting Club Bouts",
31:
773:Boxing record for Dave Sullivan
324:persistent fouls by Sullivan.
1:
807:World Featherweight Champion
474:"Birthday of Dave Sullivan",
196:(May 9, 1877 – 1929) was an
566:"George Dixon the Winner",
895:
356:Losing to Young Corbett II
812:
805:
797:
792:
683:"Tackled Dave Sullivan",
526:"In the Field of Sport",
430:"Sullivan Wins a Fight",
187:
132:
128:
91:
30:
710:Evening-Times Republican
685:The Topeka State Journal
659:The Brooklyn Daily Eagle
476:The Atlanta Constitution
445:The Brooklyn Daily Eagle
879:Boxers from County Cork
780:(registration required)
734:"Retains His Laurels",
618:"Drew With Bernstein",
489:The Kansas City Gazette
849:World boxing champions
620:Democrat and Chronicle
594:The San Francisco Call
581:Democrat and Chronicle
502:Democrat and Chronicle
337:
250:
335:
248:
215:Early life and career
859:Featherweight boxers
839:American male boxers
736:The Evening Bulletin
698:The Butte Daily Post
515:The Pittsburgh Press
751:. Cyber Boxing Zone
672:The Idaho Statesman
633:Kansas City Journal
232:with Sullivan, the
844:Boxers from Boston
607:San Francisco Call
432:The St. Paul Globe
338:
251:
834:Irish male boxers
822:
821:
813:Succeeded by
555:The Evening World
372:Life after boxing
191:
190:
886:
798:Preceded by
790:
781:
761:
760:
758:
756:
745:
739:
732:
726:
719:
713:
707:
701:
694:
688:
681:
675:
668:
662:
655:
649:
642:
636:
629:
623:
616:
610:
603:
597:
590:
584:
577:
571:
568:The Record Union
564:
558:
551:
545:
544:
537:
531:
528:The Houston Post
524:
518:
511:
505:
498:
492:
485:
479:
472:
461:
454:
448:
441:
435:
428:
422:
421:
419:
417:
406:
362:Young Corbett II
234:Saint Paul Globe
101:
66:
49:
47:
35:
21:
894:
893:
889:
888:
887:
885:
884:
883:
824:
823:
818:
809:
803:
779:
769:
764:
754:
752:
749:"Dave Sullivan"
747:
746:
742:
733:
729:
723:The Inter Ocean
720:
716:
708:
704:
695:
691:
682:
678:
669:
665:
656:
652:
646:Altoona Tribune
643:
639:
630:
626:
617:
613:
604:
600:
591:
587:
578:
574:
565:
561:
552:
548:
539:
538:
534:
525:
521:
512:
508:
499:
495:
486:
482:
473:
464:
455:
451:
442:
438:
429:
425:
415:
413:
410:"Dave Sullivan"
408:
407:
386:
382:
374:
358:
330:
307:
298:
285:
272:
243:
217:
99:
79:
76:
67:
58:
51:
45:
43:
26:
17:
12:
11:
5:
892:
890:
882:
881:
876:
871:
866:
861:
856:
851:
846:
841:
836:
826:
825:
820:
819:
814:
811:
804:
799:
795:
794:
788:
787:
782:
768:
767:External links
765:
763:
762:
740:
727:
714:
702:
689:
676:
663:
650:
637:
624:
611:
598:
585:
572:
559:
546:
532:
519:
506:
493:
480:
462:
458:St. Paul Globe
449:
436:
423:
383:
381:
378:
373:
370:
357:
354:
342:Terry McGovern
336:Terry McGovern
329:
326:
306:
303:
297:
294:
284:
281:
271:
268:
242:
239:
216:
213:
198:Irish-American
189:
188:
185:
184:
181:
177:
176:
173:
169:
168:
165:
161:
160:
157:
153:
152:
149:
145:
144:
141:
137:
136:
130:
129:
126:
125:
120:
116:
115:
112:
108:
107:
102:
96:
95:
89:
88:
85:
81:
80:
78:New York, U.S.
77:
73:
69:
68:
52:
41:
37:
36:
28:
27:
24:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
891:
880:
877:
875:
872:
870:
867:
865:
862:
860:
857:
855:
852:
850:
847:
845:
842:
840:
837:
835:
832:
831:
829:
817:
808:
802:
796:
793:Achievements
791:
786:
783:
778:
774:
771:
770:
766:
750:
744:
741:
737:
731:
728:
724:
718:
715:
711:
706:
703:
699:
693:
690:
686:
680:
677:
673:
667:
664:
660:
654:
651:
647:
641:
638:
634:
628:
625:
621:
615:
612:
608:
602:
599:
595:
589:
586:
582:
576:
573:
569:
563:
560:
556:
550:
547:
542:
536:
533:
529:
523:
520:
516:
510:
507:
503:
497:
494:
490:
484:
481:
477:
471:
469:
467:
463:
459:
453:
450:
446:
440:
437:
433:
427:
424:
411:
405:
403:
401:
399:
397:
395:
393:
391:
389:
385:
379:
377:
371:
369:
365:
363:
355:
353:
349:
345:
343:
334:
327:
325:
321:
318:
314:
312:
311:Joe Bernstein
304:
302:
295:
293:
290:
282:
280:
277:
269:
267:
263:
259:
256:
255:Pedlar Palmer
249:Pedlar Palmer
247:
240:
238:
235:
229:
226:
221:
220:around 1894.
214:
212:
210:
206:
202:
199:
195:
194:Dave Sullivan
186:
182:
178:
174:
170:
166:
162:
158:
154:
150:
146:
142:
138:
135:
134:Boxing record
131:
127:
124:
121:
117:
113:
109:
106:
105:Featherweight
103:
97:
94:
90:
86:
82:
74:
70:
65:
61:
56:
42:
38:
34:
29:
25:Dave Sullivan
22:
19:
816:George Dixon
806:
753:. Retrieved
743:
735:
730:
722:
717:
709:
705:
697:
692:
684:
679:
671:
666:
658:
653:
645:
640:
632:
627:
619:
614:
606:
601:
593:
588:
580:
575:
567:
562:
554:
549:
535:
527:
522:
514:
509:
501:
496:
488:
483:
475:
457:
452:
444:
439:
431:
426:
414:. Retrieved
375:
366:
359:
350:
346:
339:
322:
319:
315:
308:
299:
289:George Dixon
286:
273:
264:
260:
252:
233:
230:
222:
218:
209:George Dixon
193:
192:
140:Total fights
133:
92:
53:Knocknanav,
18:
869:1929 deaths
864:1877 births
801:Solly Smith
276:Solly Smith
225:Austin Rice
205:Solly Smith
180:No contests
84:Nationality
55:County Cork
50:May 9, 1877
16:Irish boxer
828:Categories
380:References
156:Wins by KO
93:Statistics
46:1877-05-09
100:Weight(s)
412:. BoxRec
123:Orthodox
87:American
755:11 July
416:11 July
60:Ireland
777:BoxRec
164:Losses
119:Stance
111:Height
775:from
201:boxer
172:Draws
757:2016
418:2016
148:Wins
75:1929
72:Died
64:U.K.
40:Born
830::
465:^
387:^
175:17
167:12
159:18
151:29
143:58
62:,
57:,
759:.
420:.
183:1
48:)
44:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
