OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post

DJgreen_72 · 06-20-2013, 02:58 PM

By the late 19th century, boxing had become a popular but illegal sport in the United States. Heavyweight World Champions like Jake Kilrain and of course the great John L Sullivan were some of the first sports heroes in American culture.

However, beyond the Heavyweight champion and a few other stars, pro boxing was still a "second class" sport in the US. Exhibitions were held from town to town carrying an almost carnival side show feel, but thanks to the violent (and illegal) nature of the sport, boxing would never rise to the level held by legitimate sports like baseball and horse racing...

or would it?

Wealthy investor JR Lewis was the first to gamble on boxings future...

After a chance meeting in Nome, Alaska with boxing enthusiat Wyatt Earp (yes THE Wyatt Earp), young entreprenuer Tex Rickard signed on next...

And finally, boxing promoter JD Green, the nephew of an influential United States Senator became the third founder of the World Boxing Union.

Thanks to Green's influence (well his uncle's anyway) Congress passed the Sullivan Act in 1900. (Much to the dismay of reigning Heavyweight champ James J. Jeffries, the Sullivan Act is named for former champion John L. Sullivan). The Sullivan Act legalized and regulated the sport of boxing in all 45 states plus the territories. From there, with little competiton, the WBU was born...

The WBU employs the standard Marquess of Queensbury rules along with such inovations as a 15 round maximum for all fights (mandated by the Sullivan Act)...ringside doctors...certified judges to score fights rather than "newspaper finishes" and "fights to a knock out"...uniformed ring sizes and the use of standard sized boxing gloves. While clearly a huge leap forward for the sport, not everyone was impressed...

Next up...result from the 1-6-1901 card from Duquesne Gardens in Pittsburgh, Pa. featuring the WBU Middleweight and Featherweight title bouts plus two more Heavyweight tournament fights...Charles "Kid" McCoy vs Dale Byrd & Gus Ruhlin vs Hank Griffin

06-20-2013, 02:58 PM	#6
DJgreen_72 Minors (Double A) Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 176	By the late 19th century, boxing had become a popular but illegal sport in the United States. Heavyweight World Champions like Jake Kilrain and of course the great John L Sullivan were some of the first sports heroes in American culture. However, beyond the Heavyweight champion and a few other stars, pro boxing was still a "second class" sport in the US. Exhibitions were held from town to town carrying an almost carnival side show feel, but thanks to the violent (and illegal) nature of the sport, boxing would never rise to the level held by legitimate sports like baseball and horse racing... or would it? Wealthy investor JR Lewis was the first to gamble on boxings future... After a chance meeting in Nome, Alaska with boxing enthusiat Wyatt Earp (yes THE Wyatt Earp), young entreprenuer Tex Rickard signed on next... And finally, boxing promoter JD Green, the nephew of an influential United States Senator became the third founder of the World Boxing Union. Thanks to Green's influence (well his uncle's anyway) Congress passed the Sullivan Act in 1900. (Much to the dismay of reigning Heavyweight champ James J. Jeffries, the Sullivan Act is named for former champion John L. Sullivan). The Sullivan Act legalized and regulated the sport of boxing in all 45 states plus the territories. From there, with little competiton, the WBU was born... The WBU employs the standard Marquess of Queensbury rules along with such inovations as a 15 round maximum for all fights (mandated by the Sullivan Act)...ringside doctors...certified judges to score fights rather than "newspaper finishes" and "fights to a knock out"...uniformed ring sizes and the use of standard sized boxing gloves. While clearly a huge leap forward for the sport, not everyone was impressed... Next up...result from the 1-6-1901 card from Duquesne Gardens in Pittsburgh, Pa. featuring the WBU Middleweight and Featherweight title bouts plus two more Heavyweight tournament fights...Charles "Kid" McCoy vs Dale Byrd & Gus Ruhlin vs Hank Griffin Last edited by DJgreen_72; 06-20-2013 at 03:01 PM.