Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 January 1915 — SULLIVAN REGAINS POSSESSION OF BELT [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

SULLIVAN REGAINS POSSESSION OF BELT

r John I->- Sullivan, once heavyweight champion, has got back the belt that the citizens of Boston gave him back in 1883, soon after he had defeated Paddy Ryan and become champion of America. The belt has been in various hands, passing out of Sullivan’s when he became hard pressed for funds. Eventually he redeemed it and then let it go again. It has been in Chicago several times, and now goes back to the veteran gladiator and his partner, it is said, at a price of $4,000. The last man to get it from Sullivan was a New Yorker, who obtained it at a price of $2,000, it is said, with little chance of any redemption coming. Tom Donnolly of Chicago knew of its whereabouts and, after some dickering, is said to have obtained the belt at about the same figure. He bought it five years ago and prized it highly.

He advised John L. that he had the prize, and lately Sullivan has evinced lively Interest in the trophy, and several months ago entered into negotiations for its return. Donnolly listened to the old-timer’s pleading, after much correspondence and the personal trip to Chicago of a close friend of Sullivan, who said John was willing to pay $4,000 to regain possession. It was at this figure, it is said, that the belt again changed hands and was returned to the original owner. ThfS belt, supposed to be emblematic of the world’s heavyweight championship, was presented to Sullivan over thirty years ago by the citizens of Boston, and the money to pay for it was obtained by public subscription, headed handsomely by some of the leading citizens of the Bay state metropolis.

John L. Sullivan, Former Heavyweight Champion.