CHAMPION OF THE WORLD!
A sledgehammer right fist; Heavyweight Boxing Champion at age 23; the most popular man in America; “boxing reform” activist and a ten-year foe of the Police Gazette publisher who wants him dethroned. And an alcoholic.
Sullivan’s exuberant lifestyle captures the American spirit. He becomes the most popular figure in the US and a world-wide celebrity. But Sullivan angers Police Gazette publisher Richard Kyle Fox which begins a 10-year feud. Fox continually imports overseas fighters to dethrone Sullivan; none succeeds.
John L. sails to England, defeats English champion Charley Mitchell and has a lively encounter with the Prince of Wales. Back home, he goes theatrical and stars in a melodramatic stage play written for him; it is widely successful. He also begins a relationship with singer Ann Livingston, who becomes his lover/companion.
Sullivan eventually accepts Fox’s challenge to a bare knuckle champion fight against Jake Kilrain. The famed “Fight of the Century” lasts 75 rounds! Kilrain is no match for John L. Kilrain’s manager throws in the towel.
John L. doesn’t defend his title for next three years; resumes his notorious lifestyle, theatrical career and lecture tours.
Contemplating retirement, Sullivan (34) agrees to fight newcomer James J. Corbett (26). Corbett dances around the champion for 20 rounds, but secures a knockout in the 21st – the only defeat in John L.’s career.
Sullivan then stops drinking and becomes a nationwide advocate of temperance. He speaks at temperance meetings; tours with axe-and-bible prohibitionist Carrie Nation. John L.’s new persona restores his popularity. He is even asked to run for Congress, and hobnobs with President Teddy Roosevelt.
At age 46, Sullivan is goaded into an exhibition fight with 26-year old newcomer who promotes himself as the new John L. John L. knocks him unconscious -- for five minutes!
After retiring, Sullivan is feted at Madison Square Garden where a young boxer pushes the old man aside in the dressing room. Sullivan grabs him; “I may be the ex-heavyweight champion, kiddo, but I can still lick any sonofabitch in the house!”
“RECOMMEND” Dave Trottier (Author, The Screenwriter’s Bible)
Screenplays
Jim specializes in screenplays based on historical true events (including musicals), bio/pics and/or disasters. In alphabetical order:
“BOJANGLES, EUBIE AND BERT!” Three Black musical legends of the past – Bert Williams, Eubie Blake and Bill “Bojangles” Robinson – relive their show business success in spite of racism and theatrical bigotry.
ScriptLinks
Post Your Script Here!The Chain - Francisco Pizarro
A West Indies Native and a Franciscan Friar embark on an Amazon expedition with legendary conquistador Francisco Pizarro in search of a city of gold.
Roadside Picnic
A truck driver picks up a hitchhiker on the anniversary of the girl's mother's roadside murder.
Supernatural - I Got You, Babe
When a John Lennon impersonator gets killed by the doppelganger of Mark David Chapman, Sam and Dean step in to find out why on a cruise ship full of celebrity impersonators heading for Bermuda.
Supernatural - Intervention
Sam sets up an unusual intervention to address Dean's alcoholism.
Blindsided
A man goes on a blind date with a blind woman only to find the woman is not what she seems.
The Body and Blood
A priest who is losing his faith attempts to renew the faith of others at the dawn of the zombie apocalypse.
Pwned
A second rate musician acquires a pawn shop guitar for free, then learns the price he must pay for taking it.
Turf War
As Florida neighbors fall in love, their rival lawn ornaments start a war.
Spike
A Native American environmentalist is pitted against his logger brother after a botanist whistleblower is pushed too far in the struggle to maintain the forests of Northwestern Montana.
A Good Soul
A sitcom actor risks losing his soul for the chance to prove that he can be more than the lovable big brother he played on TV.