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.

[@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

[@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.

[@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

[@TheMightySceptile]

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

[@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.*

[@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]

🙌👏🔥

[@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?"

[@PremiumIrregular_]

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.

[@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.

[@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

[@TheIvoal]

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

[@xaviersaavedra7442]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@AliKatt0]

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

[@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.

[@officialxverzusz]

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

[@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

[@briannamcdaniel266]

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

[@emilianorios1939]

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

[@ains2904]

phrasing. the phrasing of this man.

[@user-jf2ye1ps1i]

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

[@ComixStudios-eq2hq]

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

[@stevenuniverse1422]

Perfectly imperfect.

[@mellllonn]

You guys make such good videos! ❤

[@Ryu_D]

Thank you for the video.

[@LennonGuilarducci]

What a punch, to start your career

[@Byzantine_Gaming]

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

[@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.

[@captainc0rgi]

2:10 Irish were also often police officers.

[@samgrez7140]

Thus "paddy wagon"

[@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.

[@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

[@nicholasfeltner5331]

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

[@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

[@moonbow-07]

super cool video !! 🥊💥

[@welcometonebalia]

Thank you.

[@TrentonBlessWrestlemania489]

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

[@phillipreed6599]

Maxwell Jacob Friedman would be so proud lmao

[@SAAMAverageman]

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

[@shadow16sf]

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

[@Hyde_Hill]

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

[@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'.

[@nivision]

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

[@annawaoanna3363]

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

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

Maybe

[@TDsponge]

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

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

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

[@thegneech]

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

[@Giaayokaats]

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

[@richardjao748]

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

[@ItsMe-fs4df]

He's better than you...

[@dominicguye8058]

????

[@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.

[@Pawnlake]

Cool video

[@EMILY7181997]

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

[@CC-wv1ny]

Yassss

[@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.

[@danielsharp2012]

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

[@manicmechanic448]

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

[@notakindcanadian4516]

Ya'll should make a series on Harald hardrada

[@Toofunktoodrunktion]

THE FORESHADOW RETURNS

[@user-gw4oz1rk3i]

Exactly What i was about to say! EXACTLY!

[@KevdragonH32]

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

[@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!!

[@amdreallyfast]

@2:25 wait is that the Foreshadow?

[@Aquarius484]

Now we’re getting into sports history

[@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

[@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!!!!!

[@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.

[@wolf2912]

History as taught me no person is perfect

[@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.

[@thefaultinourpizza1513]

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

[@mrrock2044]

This is cray cray

[@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.

[@foxshorts]

Hearing you swear is insane!!!

[@pericoparakeet6104]

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

[@TaylorMane89]

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

[@Tonnex]

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

[@OverlordNightfly]

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

[@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.

[@sourabhmayekar3354]

Nice

[@armoredvistitor2197]

the Shadow!

[@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!❤

[@KDUFFRadio]

1:01 shoutout to MJF

[@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.

[@DuranmanX]

Irish Courage, the boxer

[@kinglocolos9298]

[wicked]

[@beendead.324]

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

[@evilkhamzat]

So he was Conor McGregor before Conor was Conor McGregor

[@postapocalypticnewsradio]

PANR has tuned in.

[@ladylucifer5044]

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

[@jroden06]

Just got a new name for my Sole Survivor Unarmed PC in Fallout 4!! Sullivan fights in Boston again!!

[@halp898]

hey, extracredits finally got the boxing/wrestling that he wanted from the prussia video

[@Tewhill357]

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

[@ATeTortenelemPuskad]

Extra History team, I have a suggestion. You could make a video about the 1848 Hungarian revolution.

[@haven_lady675]

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