On September 7, 1892, World Heavyweight Champion John L. Sullivan met challenger "Gentleman Jim" Corbett at the Olympic Club, in New Orleans, Louisiana for the World Heavyweight Crown. Presented is a full ticket to that historic contest. Sullivan was a bare-knuckled fighter who had held the Heavyweight Championship since 1882. Sullivan represented "old-school" boxing in which participants slugged it out without boxing gloves in fights that were scheduled to last up to 75 rounds. Sullivan weighed 212 pounds for the fight, 25 more pounds than the challenger. Boxing had been banned in many states because of the sport's brutality. The challenger, Corbett, was Sullivan's opposite. Unlike Sullivan, Corbett had been to some college, worked in a bank, and been an actor. Because of the foregoing and because of his good manners, proper diction, and natty dressing, Corbett earned the nickname of "Gentleman Jim." The bout marked a watershed moment in boxing as the sport moved into a modern era of gloved, more scientific boxing under the Marquis of Queensberry Rules.
The fight was attended by over 10,000 persons, almost all men. The contest was fought under the Marquis of Queensberry rules, which required gloves and regulated the fight with rules of conduct and safety, much more so than the loosely regulated bare-knuckles fights before the adoption of the Marquis of Queensberry Rules. In the epic Sullivan-Corbett fight, Corbett disdained a slug-it-out approach, one that Sullivan favored, and Corbett fought a very mobile bout, tiring out Sullivan. Finally, in the 21st round, Corbett's right knocked Sullivan down to his knees. Sullivan arose, but a Corbett left-right combination sent the bloody and battered Sullivan flat on his face and chest, and the referee, Professor John Duffy, counted Sullivan out. The knockout occurred at 1:30 on the 21st round. It was Sullivan's final official fight. Corbett held the Heavyweight Crown until 1894, when he was knocked by Bob Fitzsimmons.
The offered ticket measures 3.2x4.25". On front, it reads, "John L Sullivan and Jas. J. Corbett/Grand Glove Contest for the Heavyweight Championship of the World/OLYMPIC CLUB, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7th 1892/NINE O'CLOCK P. M./Purse $25[,]000/Entrance Chartres St./Tickets $15." The back of the ticket has a machine printed refund policy. The full ticket exhibits some slight darkening a a few very small, light stains. The ticket has been encapsulated and PSA Certified (102807303) VG 3.
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