In 1887 a gold belt was given to John L. Sullivan, heavyweight boxing champion from 1882 to 1892. At the peak of his career, supporters of the "Boston Strong-Boy" made him a diamond-encrusted belt.
"The Great John L." lost only one of his nearly 50 career fights, falling to jim Corbett in 1892. Later, as Sullivan's income dwindled, he chipped out the diamonds and pawned his belt again and again. In 1901, a jeweler created a replica to display at the Buffalo World's Fair. It is not known whether the Smithsonian's belt is the original or the replica.
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