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The following article appeared in The New York Times newspaper, New York, Friday, August 3, 1883 edition

AN AMBITIOUS PUGILIST Syracuse - NY - Aug. 2 - Hial Stoddard, who has challenged John L. Sullivan, the pugilist, to fight for $1000 to $4000 a side, is presently a resident of this city, where he is well-known in sporting circles. He is about 30 years old, 5 feet 9 inches in height and weighs 185 pounds, training down to 170 pounds. He is compactly built, possessing a fine chest and well developed arms. Stoddard, formerly lived in Fulton, Oswego Co. & was a Railroad Brakeman. He engaged in many brawls & was uniformly successful. He removed to New York and was Mate on a Sound Steamer. After becoming dissatisfied with that sort of life, he came to Syracuse and managed the Fulton Hotel here for about two years. He recently retired from the Hotel Business and has since been occupied principally in training and in taking part in local boxing matches. He is now preparing for his coming match with Salina Switholler named O'Hara. He is very popular among the Syracuse sporting fraternity and can count on a strong backing in any contests he may enter.

Syracuse, NY - Oct. 13 - Hial Stoddard and Owen McManus had a knock out with soft gloves tonight for $100 a side. Stoddard had the best of it after the first round. At the beginning of the third round McManus fell and Stoddard struck at him; the umpire for McManus claimed a foul, and a general fight followed, in which the seconds & friends of the pugilists participated. Stoddard was struck several times, but McManus did not take part in the melee. The Police cleared the stage and the fight was discontinued.

Pittsburg - April 22 - One of the most disgraceful impositions on the Public of Pittsburg that was ever perpetrated was the reported battle between Hyal Stoddard & W. H. Daly at the Coliseum last night. After a friendly set-too between local boxers, Stoddard & Daly fought four rounds with pillows. There was no attempt to knock one another out. It was simply an exhibition for the gate receipts under special arrangements. Neither man received any injury. There were 1500 people present & they were so mad that they were hardly restrained from tearing down the building.