Gloved Prizefighters Association

[Ian Lord]

January, 1900.

Following the introduction of the gloved code, the Gloved Prizefighters Association [GPA] was formed to oversee pro boxing. Many prizefighters on the circuit have elected to carry on bareknuckling, and the best of luck to them. The GPA however is not concerned about that side of things. It put out a call for sixteen fighters to contest in a knockout tournament, the winner to be crowned world champion.
Here are the sixteen entrants;

1. Tommy Burns [Canada]
2. Jim Corbett [California]
3. Jack Finnegan [Pennsylvania]
4. 'Fireman' Jim Flynn [New Jersey]
5. Marvin Hart [Kentucky]
6. James J.Jeffries [Ohio]
7. Jack Johnson [Texas]
8. Bill Lang [Australia]
9. Gunner Moir [England]
10.Jack Munroe [Canada]
11.Jem Roche [Ireland]
12.Gus Ruhlin [Ohio]
13.Tom Sharkey [Ireland]
14.Jewey Smith [England]
15.Bill Squires [Australia]
16.John L.Sullivan [Massachussetts]

The sixteen fighters, with there managers, trainers, valets etc converged on the GPA's Brooklyn headquartersto witness the draw for the first round.
All matches to be fought over eight rounds.

Tommy Burns v John L. Sullivan
Jim Corbett v Bill Squires
Jack Finnegan v Jewey Smith
Fireman Jim Flynn v Tom Sharkey
Marvin Hart v Gus Ruhlin
James J.Jeffries v Jem Roche
Jack Johnson v Jack Munroe
Bill Lang v Gunner Moir

[Ian Lord]

January Dates

1st - Coney Island Athletic Club
Brooklyn, New York

Tommy Burns v John L. Sullivan
Jim Corbett v Bill Squires
Bill Lang v Gunner Moir
Jack Johnson v Jack Munroe

15th - Coney Island Athletic Club
Brooklyn, New York

Jack Finnegan v Jewey Smith
'Fireman' Jim Flynn v Tom Sharkey
Marvin Hart v Gus Ruhlin
James J. Jeffries v Jem Roche

[CONN CHRIS]

Hey Ian! Good to see you about.

This looks interesting.

[mh2365]

Nice to see you back at it Ian

[SAL]

Looking forward to it Ian.

Question........When you say knockout tournament, does a fighter actually have to KO his opponent to garner the win?

[Ian Lord]

Thanks guys. It's good to be doing it again and having the time to do it.

[Ian Lord]

Originally Posted by SAL

Looking forward to it Ian.

Question........When you say knockout tournament, does a fighter actually have to KO his opponent to garner the win?

They don't need to get the KO to win. It's a knockout elimination tournament that will be spread out over a few months. Any predictions?

[Ian Lord]

January, 1900.

1st - New York

The Coney Island Athletic Club was packed to the rafters for the first fight card of the gloved era. All fights were scheduled for eight rounds and were first round match-ups in the elimination tournament to crown the first world champion.

Top of the bill was also fight of the night which pitted Canadian Tommy Burns, probably the shortest man in the tourny, against the 'Boston Strong Boy' John L. Sullivan, who bought a lot of vociferous support with him from Massachussetts.
Burns got of to a good start, keeping Sullivan at bay with his jab. Sullivan was loading up on his punches all round, but Burns was a bit too cagey and took the opener.
Sullivan came out for the second stanza with murderous intent, and rocked Burns on numerous occassions, but Burns settled down again in the third and again worked behind the jab, frustrating Sullivan.
By the fourth round, the pure brute strength of Sullivan was beginning to tell as he began to get on top. He sent Burns to the canvas in the fifth, following a punishing combination of blows to the head. Burns shakily regained his feet at the count of seven.
A disastrous start to the sixth for Burns saw him crashing to the canvas again after the opening bell. A solid blow to the jaw doing the damage. He was up at six but sent crashing again following another series of shots to the head. He regained his feet at five and finished the round with both eyes beginning to swell.
It was now obvious that Burns needed a knockout to win the fight, but with him looking spent most in attendance felt this beyond him. They were right and Sullivan took the last two rounds to take the unanimous decision with scores of 79-70 [x2], and 78-71. His fans in attendance erupted in cheers and the 'Boston Strong Boy' soaked it up whilst shouting down to the other nights previous winners, who were now sat ringside, "Who's next?"

In a scrappy but close affair, Australian Bill Lang won a close split decision over Englishman Gunner Moir. Scores were 77-76 [x2], and 76-78. There was more clinching than actual boxing most of the time, leading many in the crowd to beleive they were watching a wrestling match. Lang advances to the quarter final stage but isn't expected to go any further unless he shows a dramatic improvement.

The only knockout of the night came in the match-up between California's Jim Corbett and Australia's Bill Squires. Corbett, who before the bout had predicted he would beat his opponent by standing off and boxing him over the distance, jumped on his foe at the opening bell and didn't let him off the hook, putting Squires out for the count at the 2.10 mark following a pulverising shot to the liver.

Rumours abounded before the opening bell that giant Texan, Jack Johnson had been partying hard since arriving in the 'Big Apple', and many wondered whether this would affect his performance against Canada's Jack Munroe. They needn't have feared, as Johnson was in control form the opening bell, showing excellent ring generalship and defensive techniques against the limited Munroe. Johnson won by scores of 79-73 [x2], and 80-72, without having a meaningful punch land on him. Munroe finished the bout with a swollen right orb.

[Ian Lord]

January, 1900.

15th - New York

Second card of the month at the Coney Island Athletic Club saw Englands Jewey Smith making short work of the hapless Jack Finnegan [Pennsylvania], knocking him out at the end of the second round with Finnegan not landing a decent punch while it lasted. Smith comfortably took the opener, then finished his opponent of in the next round following a barrage of punches. He now advances to the quarter-finals, where he's guaranteed to meet a better class of fighter.

Ohio's Gus Ruhlin won a close, but unanimous decision over 'The Fighting Kentuckian' Marvin Hart. Hart was down in the sixth. Scores were 76-75 [x2], and 77-75.

It was the fireman against the sailor when New Jerseys Jim Flynn squared of against Irishman Tom Sharkey. The sailor won...convincingly! Flynn was down in the opener following a hook to the chin. He was up at six. He tasted the canvas again in the second stanza, again following a hook. He only just beat thye count. Flynn stayed on his feet in the third and took the round, but was then finished of in the fourth. He was sent crashing to tghe canvas at the beginning of the fourth and groggily regained his feet at the eight count. Sharkey didn't let his prey of the hook though and put Flynn away at the 2.36 mark.

California's James J.Jeffries put away Ireland's Jem Roche at 2.43 of the third. Roche had already been down earlier in the round.

[Ian Lord]

January 1900 Results

John L. Sullivan W8 Tommy Burns
Jim Corbett KO1 Bill Squires
Jewey Smith KO2 Jack Finnegan
Tom Sharkey KO4 'Fireman' Jim Flynn
Gus Ruhlin W8 Marvin Hart
James J. Jeffries KO3 Jem Roche
Jack Johnson W8 Jack Munroe
Bill Lang W8 Gunner Moir

Quarter-final match-ups

John L. Sullivan v Jim Corbett
Jewey Smith v Tom Sharkey
Gus Ruhlin v James J. Jeffries
Jack Johnson v Bill Lang

[Ian Lord]

February Dates

16th - Coney Island Athletic Club
Brooklyn, New York

Quarter-finals, 10 Rounds

John L. Sullivan v Jim Corbett
Jewey Smith v Tom Sharkey
Gus Ruhlin v James J. Jeffries
Jack Johnson v Bill Lang

Other Match-ups - 8 Rounds

Tommy Burns v Gunner Moir
Jack Munroe v Marvin Hart

[CONN CHRIS]

I hope one underdog can slip through the quarters. I'd guess that Jewey Smith has the best chance but even that isn't too likely.

[Ian Lord]

Originally Posted by CONN CHRIS

I hope one underdog can slip through the quarters. I'd guess that Jewey Smith has the best chance but even that isn't too likely.

It's always nice to see an underdog do well and root for him but I'm with you here Chris. I can't see it happening. The Sullivan v Corbett fight should be interesting.

[Ian Lord]

February, 1900

16th - New York

A packed house at the Coney Island Athletic Club witnessed the quarter-final match-ups of the world champion elimination tournament.

Top of the bill saw rough-house brawler John L. Sullivan square up to 'Gentleman' Jim Corbett. For some strange reason this bout was cut from ten rounds to eight. Sullivan edged the opener, before Corbett got on his toes in the secdond and began to box rings around his foe, opening a cut above John L.'s left eye. Sullivan came roaring back in the third, putting his foe down, albeit briefly. John L. decked Corbett again in the fourth following a hook. Corbett bounced up at the count of one and the bell rang. Corbett regained his composure in the fifth and edged the round, with the sixth being even. John L. took the last two stanza's, bllodying Corbett's left eye in the process, and took the unanimous decision with scores of 78-72 on all three cards.

'Sailor' Tom Sharkey was too much for Jewey Smith and dominated him from the opening bell befoore putting him away at 1.32 of the fourth round, a hook doing the damage. Smith's mouth was bloodied in the process. Sharkey is developing a reputation as a knockout merchant.

Another man developing a reputation as a knockout merchant is 'The Boilermaker' James J. Jeffries. He put away the outgunned Gus Ruhlin at 1.38 of the third. Ruhlin, who had been badly cut above the left eye in the openener had his cut inspected by the ringside physician and was allowed to continue. However, immediately following the restart, Jeffries walked across the ring, landed an uppercut, and it was goodnight Irene.

Jack Johnson scored a unanimous points win over Bill Lang, who only came into the fight occassionally to show the crowd he was still there. Scores were 99-91 [x2], and 98-92. Lang's right eye looked like a balloon at the final bell.

Other Bouts

Tommy Burns scored an eight round unanimous points win over Gunner Moir by scores of 78-70, and 77-71 n[x2]. Moir was floored in the final stanza.

Marvin Hart scored an eight round unanimous decision win over Jack Munroe in a bout that threatened to stink the joint out. Scores were 78-76, 78-75, and 77-76.

[Ian Lord]

February, 1900 Results

John L. Sullivan W8 Jim Corbett
Tom Sharkey KO4 Jewey Smith
James J. Jeffries KO3 Gus Ruhlin
Jack Johnson W10 Bill Lang
Tommy Burns W8 Gunner Moir
Marvin Hart W8 Jack Munroe

Sem-Final Match-ups to be fought in April over 12 rounds.

John L. Sullivan v Tom Sharkey
James J. Jeffries v Jack Johnson

[Ian Lord]

Diary

March 16th - Coney Island Athletic Club, Brooklyn, New York

Jim Corbett v Gunner Moir [8x3]
Marvin Hart v Jem Roche [8x3]
Tommy Burns v Jack Finnegan [8x3]
Tony Ross v Jack Munroe [4x3]

[Ian Lord]

March 16th - New York

Many in attendance at the Coney Island Athletic Club were shocked when a draw was announced in the bout between 'Gentleman' Jim Corbett and Gunner Moir. Many felt that Corbett had done enough, in a tepid affair. Corbett pecked away throughout, seeming to win six of the 8 rounds, but not exerting himself in the process. There was no real action to speak of and the scores were 76-76 on all three cards.

Unfortunately for those in attendance, the chief support was also a bit of lame affair, with Marvin Hart winning a unanimous decision over Jem Roche by scores of 78-74 twice, and 78-75.

Tommy Burns took control from the opening bell in his fight against Jack Finnegan, before really opening up in the fourth. Roche came out for the fifth looking ripe for the picking and was put away at 1.40 with a hook to the chin.

Tony Ross, making his debut, had to settle for a draw over four rounds against Jack Munroe. Scores were 39-38 Munroe, and 38-38 twice.

[Ian Lord]

March, 1900 Results

Jim Corbett D8 Gunner Moir
Marvin Hart W8 Jem Roche
Tommy Burns KO5 Jack Finnegan
Tony Ross D4 Jack Munroe

[Ian Lord]

April Dates

1st New York, NY
Coney Island Athletic Club

World Title Tournament, Semi-Finals - 12 Rounds

John L. Sullivan v Tom Sharkey
James Jeffries v Jack Johnson

Other Bouts;
Marvin Hart v Gus Ruhlin [8x3]
Tony Ross v 'Fireman' Jim Flynn [4x3]

17th - London, England
National Sporting Club

Jewey Smith v Jem Roche [8x3]
Gunner Moir v Bill Squires [8x3]
Tommy Burns v Bill Lang [8x3]
Jim Corbett v Jack Munroe [8x3]

[Ian Lord]

April 1st - New York

Much excitement surrounded the top of the bill, semi-final match-up between John L. Sullivan and 'Sailor' Tom Sharkey, scheduled for twelve rounds. 'The Boston Strong Boy', John L. Sullivan, bought his amry of rowdy supporters from nearby Massachussetts, whilst a lot of the Irish New Yorkers were rooted for Irelands Sharkey. The fight lived up to all expectations.
Sharkey came out for the first, and looked as though he could finish procedings there and then, pounding away unmercifully on Sullivan. Sullivan however is a tough son of a gun, and survived the round. The second was close, with Sullivan edging it. Sharkey edged the third and took the fourth round, and looked to be taking the fifth until getting cold-coked at the 2.49 mark, whilst leading on all cards at the time with scores of 39-37. Sullivan advances to the final.

The other semi-final match-up featured James J. Jeffries and Jack Johnson. Johnson ran up an early lead, winning the first three stanza's behind his jab, although he suffered a cut under his right eye in the process. Jeffries took the fourth and fifth rounds, but after that it was all Johnson, who outboxed and outfoxed his foe for the remainder of the bout to take a unanimous decision. Scores were 117-111 on all three cards and Johnson will now meet John L. Sullivan in July over fifteen rounds for the vacant world title.

Other Bouts;

Marvin Hart ran into his boogeyman Gus Ruhlin, literally, when walking onto a hook at the end of the sixth which he failed to get up from. Hart had also been down in the previous round. Hart, who now drops to 2-2, lost to Ruhlin back in January [PTS8], and Ruhlin is the only man to have beaten him. Ruhlin improved to 2-1 [1], both wins coming against Hart. Harts management will probably want to steer clear of Ruhlin in the future. He seems to have there mans number.

In the show opener 'Fireman' Jim Flynn scored a four round majority decision over Tony Ross with scores of 39-37 [x2], and 38-38. Ross was down in the opener.