John L. Sullivan: Boston's Knockout King - US History - Extra History

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Step into the ring of history with our latest episode on John L. Sullivan, Boston's legendary knockout king! Born into a world of adversity, Sullivan's rise to fame as America's first superstar athlete revolutionized sports celebrity culture forever. From bare-knuckle brawls to international acclaim, join us as we uncover the triumphs and tragedies of this iconic figure whose legacy still resonates today.
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Artist: Nick DeWitt I Writer: Robert Rath I Showrunner & Narrator: Matthew Krol I Video Editor: Devon House Creative I Audio Editor: Clean Waves I Studio Director: Geoffry Zatkin I Social Media: Kat Rider I ♪ Music by Demetori: bit.ly/1EQA5N7 I ♪ "Extra Extra History Theme" by Sean & Dean Kiner
#ExtraHistory #Boxing #History

[@extrahistory]

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[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

You guys are the Best! Thanks For this 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@also_arles]

Nothing like a video from you guys to start off a great day! Here's to another great video ❤

[@Sup01]

Cat

[@user-ct4qx6go4m]

You're the greatest

[@tjg750]

Cat

[@blaster915]

What a punch! To start your career being pulled from the crowd to volunteer to try a fight!! 👀

[@extrahistory]

No kidding!!!! 💥

[@qdHazen]

Happened (in kayfabe) to Santino Marella…

[@alkimia1791]

That was so cool to hear to

[@Leandro-Ferreira.]

​@@extrahistoryThe story of emperor Majorian

[@comettamer]

I see what ya did there.

[@troperhghar9898]

"CAN YOU SMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLL WHAT SULLIVAN IS COOKIN'"

[@WoodFloor-VERYREAL]

Smells like toast

[@jamesbrooks2179]

What The HEEELLL IS THAT SMEEEELL?

[@jamiebray8532]

Smells like Sullivan needs a shower with an industrial cleaner. 😂😂😂😂

[@jackthedragon612]

"I once went nine rounds with John L. Sullivan." "You never met John L. Sullivan in your life!" - Gus and Reginald - Night at the Museum.

[@BirdoHermes]

So the first celebrity athlete was an Irishman known for his incredible ability in a combat sport? History really DOES repeat itself!

[@dixen9116]

First celebrity athlete???? Mohammed Ali? Mike Tyson? Tiger Woods?

[@qdHazen]

The operative word was “first,” not “only.”

[@Br3adSt1ck]

Can't be the first, there was also Gaius Appuleius Diocles from the second century AD. Dude was the Micheal Jordan of Rome!

[@Darkblender5]

@@dixen9116 Sullivan was the first ever World Heavyweight Champion of Boxing back in the late 1800's. He predates those guys by quite a bit.

[@HerrCron]

@@dixen9116Linear time is a tricky concept for you, isn't it.

[@crash.override]

TIL "Milkshake Duck". No, you didn't hallucinate that line in the script. Cripes, I'm missing internet references now.

[@fireline4765]

I don't get it, and I probably don't want to.

[@ferretyluv]

I had never heard of that either. We always just called them “victims of cancel culture.”

[@crash.override]

@@ferretyluv Well, more like an utter failure to vet / background-check someone before publicly elevating them.

[@ItsMe-fs4df]

I had to google that too 😂

[@Roycesraphim1]

Milkshake Duck refers to someone getting hyped by internet and their darker aspects coming to light after the fame. As others said, tied to a lack of research

[@TheMightySceptile]

I think this also an important lesson on how addiction can destroy an otherwise wonderful person/legacy

[@the_guy_from_the_voults]

i just finished John brown's story what a legend

[@michaelcastellano588]

one of the GOATs

[@the_guy_from_the_voults]

@@michaelcastellano588 man fought for the liberty and slaves freedom a true legend his story should be in schools books the people can learn from him a thing or two

[@SSRT_JubyDuby8742]

🙌👏🔥

[@KiiXii]

I swear extra history could make a video talking about the history of soap and I’d still watch it

[@erraticonteuse]

Goddamn, now I want this.

[@alexdillahunt6908]

To be fair, it would probably be fascinating.

[@VeryGemmy]

Fight club reference

[@abthedragon4921]

Great message in the video. We have this thing where we put celebrities on pedestals for various reasons and some treat them like infallible symbols and we end up forgetting that celebrities are human. I.e. they can be greedy, they can have skeletons in the closet, their morals may not align with ours and they can be manipulated by things that make them do awful things. I think we all are familiar with the phrase "never meet your heroes." It's cool to have icons but we always have to remember to keep plenty of important context in mind when idealizing them.

[@Darkblender5]

It's not mentioned in this video but John L. Sullivan was the first ever World Heavyweight Champion of boxing and is considered to be the beginner of the Lineal Heavyweight Championship, which is basically the "Man who beat the Man." The Bostron Strongboy was the original *The Man.*

[@caroldumond7001]

If you're interested in superstars of history, you might look at Louis Moreau Gottschalk, the New Orleans-born pianist and composer who was America's first international superstar. When he died, three continents went into mourning (North and South America, plus Europe). Lots of interesting story: inherited slaves, whom he freed, supporting an elderly one until her death; supported his whole family by constant touring, suffered the devastating loss of all his compositions in a train accident (but sprang back, because he had to), composed the Cuban national anthem (pre-Castro, of course), went into self-exile after an incident involving a young Mills College student, etc. Go thou and look him up.

[@FionaLacey-pn1me]

I'm sorry, "Got chalk?"

[@TheIvoal]

Foreshadowing man striking as hard as that man's punch and swagger!

[@user-ft9xf2ux6c]

As a Filipino I would love it for you to feature some of our mythical creatures Like the 1.Bakunawa 2.Sigbin 3.Mananangal I would love to see these on your channel

[@TopDegenerate]

The MJF appearance was unexpected but greatly appreciated

[@justinbryant2361]

I must have missed it.

[@Iceykitsune]

@@justinbryant23611:01

[@xiahoupaul19]

@@justinbryant2361 1:01 Here you go.

[@SpookyLadd]

Indeed epic

[@DeeJamBee]

@@justinbryant23611:05

[@tylers1996]

Sullivan's fight with Kilrain is a pretty big deal since apparently it was the very last Heavyweight fight to be fought with the London Prizefight rules.

[@IndomitableCormorant]

I wanna say I really appreciate you covering sports history, between Sullivan and Thorpe. I play varsity quizbowl at school and sports trivia is really unknown, so this helps me out a lot.

[@AndrewJohnson-oy8oj]

That's very supportive from Sullivan's point of view. He got his start by being invited from the audience to fight a boxer, so he extended the same invitation to others at his own matches.

[@xaviersaavedra7442]

2:24 GASP! the foreshadow! the foreshadow knows! Right walpole!?

[@holyarchangelmichael]

Sullivan was the first heavyweight champion of gloved boxing, which also makes him the first lineal heavyweight champion, as well. The lineal title isn't officially recognized by any boxing organization, but heavyweight champions take great pride in it. Tyson Fury is the current lineal heavyweight champion. Good video on a great athlete and flawed man who played a pivotal role in the history of boxing.

[@DarthDread-oh2ne]

I love John l Sullivan.

[@AliKatt0]

0:18 idk why but this was extremely funny to me. Love your work!!

[@officialxverzusz]

Hearing a "Bitch" coming from Matt not once but TWICE in this episode made me laugh the hardest in a while

[@TrentonBlessWrestlemania489]

Didn’t expect to see MJF in one of these videos. Liking these videos on the sports legends.

[@SAAMAverageman]

Ha! Gorgeous George, Muhammad Ali, and MJF. Didn't expect to see all three of them in a lineup.

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

Love your content guys! You always make My day 😊😊😊❤❤❤

[@user-ct4qx6go4m]

You are incredible and you make really great videos. I love watching them at the end of the week

[@captainc0rgi]

2:10 Irish were also often police officers.

[@samgrez7140]

Thus "paddy wagon"

[@panzerjagertigerporsche]

You guys should do videos on Politician Cassius Marcellus Clay, American ambassador to Russian and he was the reason why the USA has Alaska as a state, he also did some crazy stuff in his life

[@ains2904]

phrasing. the phrasing of this man.

[@emilianorios1939]

this has got to be the earliest i've been to one of your videos, keep making quality videos

[@LennonGuilarducci]

What a punch, to start your career

[@briannamcdaniel266]

This was amazing as always! Keep up the good work! ~Brianna

[@user-jf2ye1ps1i]

This is the type of content I am looking for! Keep up the great work!!

[@mellllonn]

You guys make such good videos! ❤

[@CristySFM1234]

Sullivan was a huge inspiration for me, though I still sort of train I still look up to Sullivan as a inspiration for my love in both standard boxing and bear knuckle boxing

[@nivision]

I see you sneaking MJF in the celeb athlete lineup at 1:02 and I approve.

[@Byzantine_Gaming]

Very well written episode, you guys really knocked it out with this history story

[@Ryu_D]

Thank you for the video.

[@ComixStudios-eq2hq]

You should talk about the Glorious Revolution in one of your next videos

[@geoffitta9175]

This channel is amazing in its retellings of historical figures! I'd love if they did a segment on Chavelier D'eon

[@musiclover01ization]

This was another great video.

[@harryguidotti3815]

I knew I recognized that stance. Even without visible arms. That's the Overy Manly Man!

[@stevenuniverse1422]

Perfectly imperfect.

[@nicholasfeltner5331]

Loved the drawn MJF. This is a story that MJF is like a throw back to.

[@Hyde_Hill]

Was that MJF at 1:06 ? Someone likes their wrestling.

[@Bobcat205]

Now that Extra Sports is slowly becoming a thing, and you are also a big wrestling fan, I’d recommend covering the story of Bruno Sammartino someday.

[@phillipreed6599]

Maxwell Jacob Friedman would be so proud lmao

[@moonbow-07]

super cool video !! 🥊💥

[@shadow16sf]

Thank you for finally giving me context for Flogging Molly’s song “Hand of John L Sullivan”

[@Jayjay-qe6um]

On their 2017 album Life is Good the band Flogging Molly made reference to Sullivan on the track 'The Hand of John L. Sullivan'.

[@richardjao748]

1:05 Real salt of the Earth that fella......

[@ItsMe-fs4df]

He's better than you...

[@dominicguye8058]

????

[@welcometonebalia]

Thank you.

[@Giaayokaats]

I wish his defeat by Louis Goulet in Helena, MT in the 1880s made the cut. That’s one hell of a story!

[@oldwolflogan4224]

YO!!! I did you guys reference The Devil Himself, The People's Scumbag, Maxwell Jacob Friedman????? I knew there was a reason I loved this channel!!!!!

[@annawaoanna3363]

0:37 is this the first time extra history has ever cursed?

[@Bob-the-1-and-only-blob-fish]

Maybe

[@josephrose8033]

While not related to this video, I have a video/series suggestion on the off chance that this is seen. I would love to see some videos or a mini-series on the St. Nazaire Raid (Operation Chariot). With your storytelling style, I'm sure a video/series would be highly captivating. For those who want to learn more, there is a good documentary here on KZbin narrated by Jeremy Clarkson, with interviews from some of the surviving commandos.

[@beendead.324]

"In his thick Boston accent" *Proceeds to speak pure Australian*

[@beanie3427]

There is an area near my hometown in Mississippi named Sullivan-Kilrain because it was the location of his bout with Jake Kilrain

[@Tewhill357]

Suggested edit: "Sullivan didn't just beat the man." should be "Sullivan bate the shite out of 'im."

[@KevdragonH32]

To be the man with the plan to shake the hand of John L. Sullivan...

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

Always looking forward to your videos! Hearth please ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@Toofunktoodrunktion]

THE FORESHADOW RETURNS

[@user-gw4oz1rk3i]

Exactly What i was about to say! EXACTLY!

[@Pawnlake]

Cool video

[@KDUFFRadio]

1:01 shoutout to MJF

[@EMILY7181997]

Ahhhhh!!! I can't believe you've made a video on my favorite person in sports history¡!!!!!

[@eleventhprimarch5303]

I know not many people care about Warhammer but the lead writer of Extra History, Robert Rath, is the author of The Infinite and The Devine. It's one of my favorite Warhammer novels, and I think Robert Rath deserves the recognition of being an awesome author.

[@jacobjingle-heimersmith2336]

Imagine challenging random crowd members to box with them, then procede to lose so badly the crowd member you chose to fight KO's you into two violins.

[@notakindcanadian4516]

Ya'll should make a series on Harald hardrada

[@amdreallyfast]

@2:25 wait is that the Foreshadow?

[@evilkhamzat]

So he was Conor McGregor before Conor was Conor McGregor

[@CollinMcLean]

I don't think there is a more stereotypically Irish sentence in the history of the world than "Two men named John L. Sullivan and Paddy Ryan got into a bare knuckle boxing match"

[@TDsponge]

1:02 I like how John Moxley was added in there

[@sourabhmayekar3354]

Nice

[@thegneech]

I'd love to see a followup video on Gentleman Jim Corbett!

[@danielsharp2012]

Ten years that's pretty solid. Came from nothing became a legend did it myyyyy wayyyyy

[@DuranmanX]

Irish Courage, the boxer

[@jimtalbott9535]

My Grandpa was a semi-pro boxer in the 1930s, prior to joining the army. That’s never been an easy world - and that’s if you win often.

[@mrrock2044]

This is cray cray

[@ladylucifer5044]

I'm really curious on why he didn't buy the headstone.

[@reillycurran8508]

That signature knockout hook is definitely a product of medical consultation, IIRC in modern boxing the points that apply the most torque on the neck joints are called "the buttons" because hitting them is like pressing an instant concussion button.

[@OverlordNightfly]

There's a great song about him by Flogging Molly.

[@CC-wv1ny]

Yassss

[@watheverhappenedhappened]

I would like to see a playlist video that talks about the history of the Irish-Americans and their influence on the history of America, similar to the African-American playlist that you guys made.❤ And It would be great to see another video playlists about Italian Americans and Asian Americans

[@TaylorMane89]

As a long time boxing fan and history nut, I'm very well familiar with the Boston Strong Boy

[@manicmechanic448]

"it's the warrior's code" The Dropkick Murphy's

[@isaiahthomas118]

what song is the irish volunteer? can anyone link

[@isaiahthomas118]

why were they singing it at a boxing match

[@foxshorts]

Hearing you swear is insane!!!

[@Tonnex]

May I recomend doing a video about Oluf Reed Olsen? He was known to be one of the best spys to ever live.

[@haven_lady675]

So this is John L. Sullivan. First heard of him from the movie Night at the Museum.

[@FakeBlocks]

Please do the Greek war of independence of 1821 against the ottoman empire next I've been asking for this since the first episodes of the sengoku Jidai!!

[@traceymeek1238]

Good story, guys. Was that there Irish flag back in the 1800's or did you just use the current flag so people could recognize it?

[@renegadeleader1]

The Irish tricolor as a symbol goes back to 1848, but it wasn't considered a symbol of Irish independence until the Easter Rising in 1916 or a national flag untill the Irish Free State was established in 1922. Prior to that a flag used to denote someone representing Irish heritage was a green flag with a harp that goes back to the 1600s in origin. If you want to be technical at the time this series is set the official flag of Ireland was that of the United Kingdom's. You can see how that wouldn't sit well when trying to symbolize John L. Sullivan's Irish representation.

[@pericoparakeet6104]

Dear extra History Can you do a show on Timur please From fan of History (might major in it)

[@thefaultinourpizza1513]

the memory palace has a great episode on this, it’s a more poetic version of him and his addiction

[@Aquarius484]

Now we’re getting into sports history

[@gustavocarvalholoboleite3526]

Hello Extra Credit one sugestion for a future video:Holodomor.

[@bthsr7113]

It's an ugly topic, but one that should be discussed and more widely known. Besides, they covered the Potato famine. Another unpleasant one they should consider at some point is My Lai.

[@voinekku]

​@@bthsr7113should be more widely known? Its probably the second most known atrocity after the holocaust. But a series about it would be great, absolutely.

[@postapocalypticnewsradio]

PANR has tuned in.

[@wolf2912]

History as taught me no person is perfect

[@gesstafelstein1858]

You guys oughta do a episode about Cassius Marcellus Clay! (Not Muhammad Ali but his namesake!) The fierce abolitionist and politician whose story is so bizarre and insane you wouldnt believe it. It would make a entertaining mini series!❤

[@madhonib]

Our family had a great-grand that was a bare-knuckle boxer, During the time of Sullivan, his Boxing name was 'The Denver Kid'. It is almost impossible to find any more information.