If John L Sullivan were active today would he be THE champ

[FlatLine]

So he'd be a god?

Well Monte Barrett might disagree?

[Larry the boss]

Well Monte Barrett might disagree?

Tye Fields sacrificed himself in that fight so Monte Barrett could live

[Sin City]

this is impossible to determine. during Sullivan's time there wasn't the sports medicine or training techniques there is now. say he had access to all that fighting in this day, whether he would still be a great fighter no one can say.. you would have to assume too much.

[FlatLine]

Tye Fields sacrificed himself in that fight so Monte Barrett could live

So Fields sacrificed himself to a god?

[Mr. Fantastic]

Dude would get knocked out by Wlad or Vitali in a heartbeat.

[Ryn0]

Do you mean with his fighting style? Boxing really developed in the 1920's with fighters like Dempsey (if you read his book Championship fighting Explosive Punching and Aggressive Defense then you realise he knew many of the modern training methods and fighting styles) thats probably the advent of the modern boxer there were exceptions like Jimmy Wilde and Harry Greb.

If Sullivan had access to modern training, nutrition coupled with his already excellent stamina, boxing brain and power he would probably give modern heavyweights a run for their money but if you just picked Sullivan up from the 1880's and dropped him in their with a Klitschko then it wouldn't last long.

[ShoulderRoll]

In a bareknuckle fight I'd take Sullivan over any modern heavyweight.

[Bigdaddy_Vh]

So he'd be a god?

That is correct

[Miburo]

Bareknuckle, sure, it's practically a totally different sport which demanded a very different approach than anyone currently is schooled in on a professional level. Otherwise no.

[elfag]

people are talking about him having a chance against wlad?

you guys are crazy, he gets flattened against any top 50 heavyweight with that atrocious stance offering no defense against modern boxing technique.