Photograph: Gary Wayne Gilbert, courtesy of Burns Library

The punching bag used by John L. Sullivan to train for his last bare-knuckle fight, in 1889; a 1937 Ring magazine spotlighting James “Champion” Braddock, autographed by Max Schmeling (who stands on the scale at right); gloves worn by Gene Tunney—these and more are part of “Fighting Irishmen,” an exhibition curated by the collector James J. Houlihan, on view through September 5.