John L. Sullivan

John Lawrence Sullivan, nicknamed the Boston Strong Boy, was an American professional boxer, born in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston on 15 October 1858 to Irish immigrant parents and died on 2 February 1918. After only a few months at Boston College he left to play baseball professionally and then drifted into boxing. He is recognized as the first heavyweight champion of gloved boxing, reigning de facto from 7 February 1882 to 7 September 1892, and as the last heavyweight champion of bare-knuckle boxing under the London Prize Ring Rules. One of the highest-paid athletes of his era, his fights and their newspaper coverage helped create sports journalism in the United States.