ABSTRACT
John L. Sullivan began his reign as World Heavyweight Champion by knocking out Paddy Ryan in the ninth round at Mississippi City on February 7, 1882. While a succession of victories over foreign challengers during the next couple of years added considerably to his appeal, what finally raised Sullivan to the pinnacle of popularity was a tour of the United States, during which he offered one thousand dollars to anyone who could remain standing in the ring with him for four rounds. His prescribing of gloves for these matches popularized their use throughout the nation.
