Seattle Press on Line - A Woman Was First to KO John L. Sullivan

A Woman Was First to KO John L. Sullivan

Apr 07, 1999 -- To the Editor:

In regard to the article on Seattle women boxers, here's an interesting note: the first person ever to knock out the legendary heavyweight champion, John L. Sullivan in a boxing ring was a woman named Mrs. Hessie Donahue. Hessie used to don a loose blouse, bloomers and boxing gloves and stand in for a few fake rounds with the champ as part of a vaudeville act. One night in 1892, however, Sullivan connected with a genuine blow to Hessie's face--and he got her mad. She retaliated with a solid punch of her own and knocked the previously unbested Sullivan out for over a minute.

Excerpted from "The Book of Women," by Lynne Griffin and Kelly McCann.

Bobbi Polzine

Reader Comments

Discuss this article in the forums!


john	Jun 30, 2003	dickson,tn 37055	police
how did john l. handle this humiliation with his ego?


John L Sullivan III	Jun 17, 2004	Seattle,Wash	Wrestler
Do you really believe this?


ppwk4h5@lycos.com	May 15, 2006	unknown	m. From google pr .
google pr main