Boxer John L. Sullivan was the very first Heavyweight Champion of the World. He was born on Oct. 12 1858 in Roxbury Mass. to Irish immigrant parents. Also known as the Boston Strong Boy Sullivan stood just south of 5 11 tall and was the first boxer who earned the crown of Heavyweight Champion of gloved boxing a title he held from February 7 1882 to Sept. 7 1892 when he was defeated by knockout in the 21st round of a title bout versus James J. Corbett. Sullivan is generally recognized as the last heavyweight champion of the bare-knuckle boxing era under London Prize Ring Rules. He retired following the defeat to Corbett with an overall record of 38-1-1 with 32 knockouts to his credit.

This lot features a very unique gift that was bestowed upon Sullivan following his glorious boxing days. In 1885 his good friend William Bennett a Manhattan businessman and bar owner gifted to Sullivan this specially engraved black wooden walking cane that included an exquisitely decorative 14 karat gold-filled top with a 1/2 carat European single cut diamond embedded in its center. The top of the cane is engraved: John L. Sullivan From His Friend William Bennett 1885. The cane measures 37 tall and remains in remarkably good working condition. The gesture was even recorded in the Jan. 23 1886 edition of The National Police Gazette in the New York Sporting Goods section with the following write-up: Wm. Bennett the well-known Sixth avenue sporting man has presented John L. Sullivan with a handsome cane studded with diamonds. Bennett was an early financial promoter of boxing and was known to bankroll Sullivan's career. Perhaps the 100-year precursor to Don King he spent tens of thousands of dollars bailing Sullivan out of jail following his arrests for bare-knuckle boxing at the original Madison Square Garden. (At that time knocking out an opponent constituted an assault charge and jail time.) Sullivan eventually died from a heart attack on February 2 1918 at the age of 59. He is buried in the Old Calvary Cemetery in Roslindale a neighborhood of Boston. Legend has it that when Sullivan was buried the ground was frozen so hard that they had to blast out the grave with dynamite. Sullivan was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990 as a member of the Hall's original class. The cane comes in EX condition with a repaired crack at the bottom of the wood shaft and a small indenture on the side of the gold top. According to historical archives Sullivan was known to employ a cane (not necessarily this one) either to fend off unwanted media attention as he walked into the courthouse or to clear a path on the crowded streets of New York City.

The gold and diamond contents have been thoroughly inspected tested and verified by Swiss professional jewelry expert Jean-Jacques Mamie as originating from the mid-late 1800's.