Paddy Ryan (March 14, 1853–December 14, 1900) was boxing's Heavyweight Champion from May 30, 1880 when he won the title from Joe Goss until losing his title to John L. Sullivan on February 7, 1882. March is the third month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... 1853 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... December is the twelfth and last month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... 1900 is a common year starting on Monday. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... For the U.S. Secretary of the Navy, see John L. Sullivan (U.S. Navy). ...

Paddy Ryan was born in Thurles, Tipperary Ireland on March 14, 1851. After coming to America, he lived in the Troy area of New York State and was known as the Trojan Giant. After opening a saloon in 1874, he caught the attention of the athletic director of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Jim Killoran. Killoran supposedly saw him dealing with troublemakers and drunks at the saloon whereupon he decided to train Ryan as a prizefighter. 1851 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... State nickname: Empire State Other U.S. States Capital Albany Largest city New York City Governor George Pataki (R) Senators Charles Schumer (D) Hillary Rodham Clinton (D) Official languages None (English is de facto) Area 141,205 km² (27th)  - Land 122,409 km²  - Water 18,795 km² (13. ... Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, or RPI, is a large university in Troy, New York, near Albany, founded in 1824 by Stephen Van Rensselaer. ...

Ryan's first match was in 1877. He was as much an all-around fighter, grappler or wrestler as he was a boxer. Under the London Prize Ring rules of that era, his style of fighting was perfectly acceptable. Three years later on May 30, 1880 in Coillier's Station, West Virginia Paddy Ryan faced Joe Goss who was recognized as champion. After 87 rounds and ninety minutes, Paddy Ryan emerged the winner and claimed the championship. A list of rules drafted by Britains Jack Broughton in 1743, governing the conduct of prizefighting/boxing for over 100 years. ...

In 1882, Ryan agreed to face rising boxer John L. Sullivan for the championship. The fight was to be bare-kunckle under the London Prize Ring Rules in a 24 foot ring. Each side put up $2,500 winner-take-all. The fighters arrived in New Orleans on February 6, 1882. Governor Lowry of Mississippi issued a proclamation ordered all local sheriffs to do whatever was necessary to stop the fight which was illegal. The next day, the fight crowed moved to Mississippi City, Mississippi where a ring was set up in front of the Barnes' Hotel in a grove of live oaks.

Paddy Ryan's seconds for the fight were John Roche (New York) and Tom Kelly (St. Louis). His umpire was James Shannon of New York. Sullivan's seconds were Billy Madden and Joe Goss. His umpire was James Shannon. There was a dispute over the selection of a referee which was finally settled by the appointment of two referees: Alexander Brewster of New Orleans and Jack Hardy of Vicksburg.

Following old tradition, John L. Sullivan threw his hat in the ring at 11:45 am. Ryan entered the ring at 11:57 with the crowd estimated at 5,000. The men then approached the scratch line in the center of the ring and shook hands.

After nine rounds, Sullivan knocked Paddy Ryan out with a right handed punch which landed under Ryan's left ear. The fight had been conducted bare-kunckle under the London Prize Ring Rules. Historically the fight was the last time the championship would be won (as opposed to defended) in a bare kunckle fight. Ryan fought Sullivan on many occasions afterward, but never won.

In Ryan's era, boxing titles were informal. Some sources often refer to him as the "Heavyweight Champion of America" others call him a world champion. But in practice, he was recognized as the premier champion of boxing while he held the title.

Paddy Ryan died on December 14, 1900 in Green Island New York and is buried in St. Mary's Cemetary. He was elected to the Ring Magazine's Hall of Fame in 1973.