History

The Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame is housed in the original 1889 training barns used by The Great John L. Sullivan to prepare for the last Bare Knuckle Boxing Championship of the World against Jake Kilrain! He trained here in Belfast, New York, for that epic 75-round, 2 hour 16 minute brawl that took place in Richburg, Mississippi. Originally owned by trainer William Muldoon who built them in 1884, the barns were the training headquarters for Sullivan who arrived in Belfast not in the best of shape. Just six months previous to his arrival he was extremely sick and could not walk without the aid of crutches. Using training techniques that were ahead of his time, Muldoon helped Sullivan get into the best shape of his life. The famous reporter of the time, Nellie Bly, traveled here to Belfast to famously interview him in our training barns.

The barns were virtually untouched for more than 120 years until our President, Scott Burt, stepped in to save boxing treasure in 2009.