SULLIVAN, JOHN L.-PADDY RYAN ADVERTISING CABINET CARDS (3 FROM 1884)

On February 7, 1882 at Mississippi City John L. Sullivan and Paddy Ryan battled for the American version of the heavyweight title. In Sullivan's era, no formal boxing titles existed. He became a champion after defeating Paddy Ryan in Mississippi City, near Gulfport, Mississippi on February 7, 1882. Modern authorities have retroactively labelled Ryan the "Heavyweight Champion of America", but he could certainly not be considered as much a "world champion" as Sullivan, having never contended internationally. Depending on the modern authority, Sullivan was first considered world heavyweight champion either in 1888 when he fought Charley Mitchell in France, or the following year when he knocked out Jake Kilrain in round 75 of a scheduled 80-round bout. Offered here are three advertising original cabinet cards for John L. Sullivan versus Paddy Ryan.
These are three postfight cabinet card photos depicting two babies fighting in a ring with the names Sullivan & Ryan printed below them Copyrighted in 1884 by Heald & Giles. Each cabinet is 4 1/4" x 6 1/2." No creases or tears. Minor soiling. Professioinally framed. Seldom seen advertisements for this early Sullivan championship fight.