He was also a playwright, author and journalist, a producer of sporting events including wrestling matches and women's marathon bicycle races.
Billy Madden was born on December 10, 1852, in London, England, to Irish parents, and died on February 22, 1918, in White Plains, New York, after a protracted illness, reportedly a stomach cancer.
He was reportedly the first to use modern advertising techniques and campaigns to create laudable careers for the pugilists he managed.
He was credited with discovering and was indeed the manager of John L. Sullivan, as well as such other noteworthy fighters as Charlie Mitchell, "Nonpariel" Jack Dempsey, Jake Kilrain, McAuliffe, Peter Maher, among others.
His friendship with sports writer and lawman Bat Masterson was of long standing, as was his friendship with Theodore Roosevelt, the newspaper reporter, sports writer, Governor of New York State and President of the United States.