Table of Contents

Acknowledgments      vii
Preface     1

1. Understanding the System Under Which They Fought      5
2. Sullivan’s World      10
3. The Local Rise of the Boston Strongboy      13
4. The World’s Best ... but with Gloves      17
5. A “Real” Fight      34
6. Now They’ll Have to Do It My Fashion      43
7. The Game Little Englishman and the Maori      59
8. The Tour: 1883      70
9. The Tour Continues: 1884      82
10. Unfinished Business and Prelude to a Grudge Match      99
11. Accepted, but Not Quite      103
12. Mystery of the Seven-Round Decision      115
13. The Plateau and the Break      129
14. The European Tour      146
15. The Color Line      157
16. End of an Era      170
17. Retired?      199
18. Changing His Tune      209
19. The Legacy      215

Appendix: John L. Sullivan’s Record      221
Notes      231
Bibliography      241
Index      243