John L. Sullivan wins the heavyweight boxing championship.

Sullivan knocks out Paddy Ryan in the ninth round of their title fight in Mississippi City, Mississippi, to become The U.S. bare-knuckles champion. It also sparks a tremendous celebration along Washington Street in Boston, when the results are posted along Newspaper Row. Upon his return to Boston, he is presented with a gold watch at the Dudley Street Opera House on March 9, 1882. Known as the “Boston Strong Boy,” Sullivan goes on to win the last undisputed heavyweight bare knuckles championship fight in 1889.* He then loses the first heavyweight championship fight in which gloves are worn in 1892.*