John L Sullivan: The son of Kerry who became America's first sporting icon

John L. Sullivan, a son of Kerry, was the first American sports icon. Tom Hunt takes a look back at the prizefight that made him a star

Paddy Ryan and John L Sullivan engaged in a clandestine prize-fight with the title of Champion of America at stake. 

This is a weekend to take a step back in time, back to the town of Mississippi City in Harrison County, Mississippi where on February 7 1882, Paddy Ryan and John L Sullivan engaged in a clandestine prize-fight, an activity outlawed in all states of the USA, with the title of Champion of America at stake.

A prize-fighter in the eyes of the law was a professional criminal and practitioners occupied a place on the social spectrum occupied by labourers, saloon keepers, gamblers, criminals and prostitutes.