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Paddy Ryan
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Paddy Ryan
Patrick Ryan (15 March 1853 – 14 December 1900) was an Irish American boxer, and became the bare-knuckle American heavyweight champion on 30 May 1880, after he won the title from Joe Goss. He retained the title until losing it to the exceptional John L. Sullivan on 7 February 1882.
Ryan fought only ten major bouts, but as many as twenty-five exhibitions including many against Sullivan in his late career. Exhibitions brought him income, but with fewer rounds and less risk.
Ryan was born in Thurles, County Tipperary, Ireland on 14 March 1853. After moving to America, he lived in the Troy, New York area. Consequently, he was nicknamed the "Trojan Giant". He may have been apprenticed to a blacksmith. Ryan was working as a blacksmith by the time he lived in Troy. As a stout youth, Ryan worked on the construction of the Erie Canal before pursuing his boxing career. After opening a Troy saloon in 1874, he caught the attention of the athletic director of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Jim Killoran. Killoran saw Ryan dealing with troublemakers and drunks at the saloon and decided to train him as a prizefighter.
Ryan's first match was in 1877. He was as much an all-around fighter, grappler or wrestler as he was a boxer. Under the London Prize Ring rules of that era, several of his wrestling moves could be used in the ring. Some boxing historians believe he was a better wrestler than boxer, and would have benefited from more specialized boxing training.
Former heavyweight champion Jem Mace had been inactive for many years, and was believed to have vacated the title, making it open for contention. According to several sources, the fight with Goss was Ryan's first real prize fight, though he had done combat before to decide disputes, sometimes with established boxers. On their arrival to the working capital of Pennsylvania, the Mayor of Pittsburgh made it clear to both parties that the illegal fight would not take place in his city, so the combatants moved to a more remote spot in West Virginia.
In the most significant win of his career, Ryan defeated bare-knuckle heavyweight championship Joe Goss on 30 May 1880, in Collier's Station, West Virginia. In the 87th round, Goss was unable to continue and the contest was stopped after 90 minutes. Ryan's final blow was a right that knocked out Goss. Up until that time, the fight was tight and well-contested. Goss's seconds claimed a foul in the 87th, and with him being unable to continue, the judges awarded the bout to Ryan. His opponent appeared winded, but Ryan was terribly battered around the face and body. Ryan was nearly twenty pounds heavier and nearly six inches taller than Goss, a discrepancy which would have never been allowed in today's boxing, and may have made the difference in the match.
In 1881, Ryan fought eight exhibition bouts primarily in the New York area, in which he fought Goss again on 18 May, and then fought John Dwyer on 2 July. He later faced Captain James Dalton on 1 October, a well-known regional opponent.
John L. Sullivan and Ryan arrived in New Orleans on 6 February 1882, to determine who would hold the American heavyweight championship. Louisiana Governor Samuel D. McEnery had declared the fight illegal, so Sullivan, Ryan and their respective parties moved the fight to Mississippi.
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Paddy Ryan
Patrick Ryan (15 March 1853 – 14 December 1900) was an Irish American boxer, and became the bare-knuckle American heavyweight champion on 30 May 1880, after he won the title from Joe Goss. He retained the title until losing it to the exceptional John L. Sullivan on 7 February 1882.
Ryan fought only ten major bouts, but as many as twenty-five exhibitions including many against Sullivan in his late career. Exhibitions brought him income, but with fewer rounds and less risk.
Ryan was born in Thurles, County Tipperary, Ireland on 14 March 1853. After moving to America, he lived in the Troy, New York area. Consequently, he was nicknamed the "Trojan Giant". He may have been apprenticed to a blacksmith. Ryan was working as a blacksmith by the time he lived in Troy. As a stout youth, Ryan worked on the construction of the Erie Canal before pursuing his boxing career. After opening a Troy saloon in 1874, he caught the attention of the athletic director of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Jim Killoran. Killoran saw Ryan dealing with troublemakers and drunks at the saloon and decided to train him as a prizefighter.
Ryan's first match was in 1877. He was as much an all-around fighter, grappler or wrestler as he was a boxer. Under the London Prize Ring rules of that era, several of his wrestling moves could be used in the ring. Some boxing historians believe he was a better wrestler than boxer, and would have benefited from more specialized boxing training.
Former heavyweight champion Jem Mace had been inactive for many years, and was believed to have vacated the title, making it open for contention. According to several sources, the fight with Goss was Ryan's first real prize fight, though he had done combat before to decide disputes, sometimes with established boxers. On their arrival to the working capital of Pennsylvania, the Mayor of Pittsburgh made it clear to both parties that the illegal fight would not take place in his city, so the combatants moved to a more remote spot in West Virginia.
In the most significant win of his career, Ryan defeated bare-knuckle heavyweight championship Joe Goss on 30 May 1880, in Collier's Station, West Virginia. In the 87th round, Goss was unable to continue and the contest was stopped after 90 minutes. Ryan's final blow was a right that knocked out Goss. Up until that time, the fight was tight and well-contested. Goss's seconds claimed a foul in the 87th, and with him being unable to continue, the judges awarded the bout to Ryan. His opponent appeared winded, but Ryan was terribly battered around the face and body. Ryan was nearly twenty pounds heavier and nearly six inches taller than Goss, a discrepancy which would have never been allowed in today's boxing, and may have made the difference in the match.
In 1881, Ryan fought eight exhibition bouts primarily in the New York area, in which he fought Goss again on 18 May, and then fought John Dwyer on 2 July. He later faced Captain James Dalton on 1 October, a well-known regional opponent.
John L. Sullivan and Ryan arrived in New Orleans on 6 February 1882, to determine who would hold the American heavyweight championship. Louisiana Governor Samuel D. McEnery had declared the fight illegal, so Sullivan, Ryan and their respective parties moved the fight to Mississippi.
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