For the working class, living in Troy during the 19th century often meant using your fists to get by.
The infamous 'Watervliet Cut,' a lateral part of the Erie canal that allowed access to Troy, was lined with saloons, and one writer reported that bodies were found floating in that portion of the canal way too often. Troy's first boxing champion ran one of those saloons.
Patrick Henry (Paddy) Ryan (1851-1900)
Paddy Ryan, known as the Trojan Giant was born in Thurles, Tipperary, Ireland on March 14, 1851, but lived in Troy, West Troy, and Green Island. Standing at 5 foot 11 inches (some reports are 6 foot 1 1/2 inches), he weighed in at 195-200 pounds.
It has been written that Ryan was a better wrestler than boxer but he certainly did like to fight. He opened his famous saloon at the Sidecut around 1874. His ease at dealing with "problems" impressed Jimmy Killoran, athletic director at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Taking Ryan under his wing, Ryan was ready for professional boxing by 1877.
On May 30, 1880, Paddy won the first true Heavyweight Championship of the World from Joe Goss, the English champion, at Coillier's Station, West Virginia in the 87th round (after fighting an hour and a half).
Paddy lost it two years later, on February 7th, fighting John L. Sullivan, the Boston Strong Boy (bare knuckled and under London Prize Ring rules) in nine rounds. Ryan reportedly said Sullivan, a powerful right handed puncher, "hit me like he held a telegraph pole."
Ryan and Sullivan liked to fight each other. Between January 19,1885 and February 17, 1897, Sullivan fought Paddy at least a dozen times, Sullivan winning all the matches.
Ryan died on December 14, 1900, in a rented house on Albany Avenue, Green Island and was buried in St. Mary's Cemetery in that village. He was elected to the Ring Boxing Hall of Fame in 1973.
John Morrissey (1831-1878)
John Morrissey known as "Old Smoke" was born in Templemore, Tipperary County, Ireland on February 5, 1831, but was raised by an immigrant Irish family in Troy. He stood close to 6 foot tall and weighed in at 170-176 pounds.
Morrissey got his nick name 'Old Smoke' from a battle against a Native American named Tom McCann. Morrissey was pinned on his back over burning coals from a stove that had been knocked over in the bout. While steam and smoke, and the smell of burning flesh permeated from Morrissey, he continued to fight without notice. This came as a surprise of the crowd that expected him to call "Enough," the signal to surrender.
Morrissey didn't have many fights, but he did win the Heavyweight Championship of America on October 12, 1853 at Boston Corners, NY, on the border of Massachusetts and New York, against Yankee Sullivan (James Ambrose, alias Frank Murray). Sullivan apparently won the fight and beat Morrissey badly, but left the ring and ignored the "Time" call so the referee declared Morrissey the winner.
Morrissey upheld his Heavyweight title to Troy's John C. Heenan on October 20, 1858 at Long Point, Canada. Heenan actually broke his right hand early on in the fight and fought at a disadvantage. Morrissey gave up the heavyweight championship and retired from the ring.
Morrissey was known as a strong, tough, fighter but had little boxing acumen. After retiring from the ring, he became a prominent politician and served two terms in the United States Congress and twice in the New York State Senate.
Morrissey is probably better known for creating the Saratoga Racetrack.
He opened gambling operations in Saratoga for the summer spa season in the 1860's and opened his soon to become world famous Clubhouse in 1870. He began the horseracing course in the late 1860's. Morrissey was a pioneer in using the newly invented telegraph to make betting available to everyone.
He died on May 1, 1878 at the Adelphi Hotel in Saratoga at age 47 just after his election (He won, against Tammany Hall's handpicked candidate, in the wealthiest election district in New York City.) and was buried in Saratoga. The New York State Legislature closed on the day of his burial and the entire elected body attended funeral services in Troy. An estimated crowd of 12,000 stood outside the church to pay tribute to the American Champion.
He was elected to the Ring Boxing Hall of Fame in 1954.
John Camel Heenan (1835-1873)
John Camel Heenan was the only one of the three actually born in Troy on May 2, 1835. He was raised by an immigrant Irish family also. Heenan stood 6 foot 2 inches and weighed in at 182-195 pounds. He was known as the Benicia Boy, from swinging a sledgehammer in the Pacific Mail Steamship Company's Benicia, California, repair works.
Heenan fought John Morrissey for the Heavyweight Championship of America in 1858, but broke his right hand early in the fight hitting a ring stake and fought at a disadvantage.
Heenan was the first American boxer known to lift weights and punch bags as part of his training regimen for a bout with the English champion Thomas Sayers. On April 17, 1860 in Hampshire, England, Heenen fought the five foot eight inch, 154 pound Sayers. Sayers fractured his right arm in the 6th round from a hit by Heenan. Constables tried to stop the fight in the 36th round after two hours, but spectators were pushed into the ring. They fought five more rounds before it was finally declared a draw. Champion belts were made for both fighters.
Heenan was known as a clever boxer with "tremendous punching power," but was probably better known for marrying Adah Isaacs Menken, a famous San Francisco actress of the time who was the notorious, glamorous, beautiful, and infamous "Mazeppa," a play based on the poem of Lord Byron. Heenan made a practice of beating Adah every night after dinner. So she divorced him. She married five times.
Heehan toured around the country with Englishman "Gypsy" Jem Mace , the 'Father of Modern Boxing,' giving exhibitions.
He died at Green River Station, Wyoming Territory on November 2 1873, and was buried in St Agnus Cemetery in Menands.
The Benicia Boy was elected to the Ring Boxing Hall of Fame in 1954.
Next Week. "The Opponent." a new movie about a woman boxer from Troy.