Name: Jack Sharkey

Career Record: click

Alias: Boston Gob

Birth Name: Joseph Paul Zukauskas

Nationality: US American

Birthplace: Binghamton, NY

Hometown: Boston, MA

Born: 1902-10-06

Died: 1994-08-17

Age at Death: 91

Stance: Orthodox

Height: 6′ 0″

Reach: 72 inches

Division: Heavyweight

Trainer: Tony Polazzolo

Manager: Johnny Buckley

Annotated Fight Record

Photo (with megaphone) Biography

Overview

A fast and well-schooled fighter with no lack of heart and determination, Jack Sharkey is

nonetheless overshadowed by the other heavyweight champions of his era. Sharkey’s

indefatigable willingness to fight any opponent is best illustrated by his distinction in being the

only man to have faced both Jack Dempsey and Joe Louis in prizefights. Though he consistently

fought the best, Jack did not always win when up against the true upper crust of the division. In

fact, his finest performances are perhaps his losses to Dempsey and Max Schmeling. Outspoken

about his own confidence in his abilities and often surly or uncooperative in business, Jack had

the talent to back up his ego. He remained a constant presence at or near the top of the

heavyweight division for nearly a decade and solidified in his place in boxing lore by becoming

heavyweight champion.

Early Years

Born Joseph Paul Zukauskas, the son of Lithuanian immigrants, Sharkey was born in

Binghamton, New York but moved to Boston, Massachusetts as a young man. Sources report

little of his early life until, at the outset of the First World War, teenaged Joseph repeatedly tried

to enlist in the Navy. Turned down because of his age, he was not able to enlist until after the end

of the war. It was during his tenure in the Navy that he first showed interest in boxing. Tall and

husky for a man of his generation, Joseph (or “Big Skee” as he was nicknamed at the time) was

encouraged by his friends in the service to box. He quickly established notoriety as the best

boxer aboard any vessel on which he served. During his brief returns home to Boston he took

part in his first fights for pay, the first taking place on January 24, 1924 against one Billy

Muldoon, who was dispatched inside of a round. By the time of his honorable discharge just

short of a month later, he had won a second fight and was already earning write ups in the

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Boston papers.

Having found himself a manager and now focused entirely on his career as a prizefighter, young

Zukauskus decided to adopt a more publicity-friendly stage name. He decided upon Jack

Sharkey, combining the names of two of his idols, heavyweight boxing icons Jack Dempsey and

Tom Sharkey. Jack met with moderate success in his first two years of fighting mainly in the

Boston area. Though he did not always win his early bouts, he routinely fought reputable

opponents with vast experience advantages over him. As a result, his technique improved

quickly, as was displayed in his 1926 New York City debut, fought at no less a venue than

Madison Square Garden. His opponent, Eddie Huffman, was no contender but was still a favorite

over the Bostonian. The unknown Sharkey boxed well enough over ten rounds to take the

decision and earn notice in fight circles as an up-and-coming heavyweight. Five follow-up wins

led to a match with future hall of famer Harry Wills, who was considered at the time to be the

fighter all of the top heavyweights made a point to avoid. To the surprise of many, Sharkey

clearly outboxed the veteran Wills who retaliated with an illegal backhand blow that got him

disqualified in the thirteenth round. It was Wills’ first defeat in four years and Jack Sharkey was

now a major contender for Gene Tunney’s heavyweight championship.

Dempsey and Schmeling

To start off 1927, Jack stopped former light heavyweight champ Mike McTigue in twelve rounds

and then Boston rival Jim Maloney in five. Then it was on to a match with his own idol, former

champion Jack Dempsey. The winner was scheduled to meet Tunney for the title. On July 21,

1927 at Yankee Stadium in New York, Sharkey proved too fast and too hungry for the aging and

rusty Manassa Mauler. He clearly outboxed Dempsey and was amassing a wide points lead

going into the seventh round when, believing himself to have been fowled by a low blow from

Dempsey, Jack turned to the referee to complain. At the very moment, Dempsey landed a classic

left hook directly to Sharkey’s chin. Sharkey, who had dropped his guard when complaining to

the referee, immediately fell forward onto the canvas and was counted out while clutching his

groin and moaning in agony. Though Dempsey supporters rallied around the technicality that a

fighter should protect himself at all times, many who left that night felt that Sharkey had proven

himself Dempsey’s master, loss or no.

It was no wonder then that, over the next couple of years, Sharkey continued to be respected as

one of the most consistent performers in the division. He held future title challenger Tom Heeney

to a twelve round draw, dropped a decision to highly regarded Johnny Risko, and then rebounded

with seven consecutive wins against impressive competition. In 1929 he proved especially

successful, beating both Young Stribling and Tommy Loughran, two future hall of famers who

had a combined 296 wins to their credit when Jack fought them. Thus, after Tunney retired,

Sharkey was a shoe-in to fight for the vacated world championship. His opponent would be

Germany’s Max Schmeling, a little-known counter puncher whose record lacked the big names

evident on Sharkey’s. On June 12, 1930, in his first fight for the title, Jack again exhibited

terrific boxing ability and appeared to have control of the fight going into the fourth round. In

that round, he landed what appeared to be a low blow on Schmeling, who fell to his knees

howling that he had been fouled. When Schmeling’s manager broke into the ring, chaos ensued

and the panicked referee disqualified Sharkey.

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World Champion

Still determined to prove himself in the best in the world, Sharkey next took on Mickey Walker,

the popular brawler and former two-division champion who was moving up in weight in hopes

of winning the heavyweight title. In an admittedly close fight in which Sharkey scored the only

knockdown, the judges ruled the fight a draw. Then he moved from having a considerable size

advantage against Walker to being at a decided size disadvantage against Italy’s Primo Carnera

on October 12, 1931. Carnera stood over six and a half feet tall and weighed two hundred and

sixty one pounds, but had none of the technique of a clever boxer like Sharkey. Jack boxed rings

around the “Ambling Alp,” scored a knockdown in the fourth, walked away with a decision after

fifteen rounds, and earned himself a second shot at Schmeling.

Max Schmeling was still the heavyweight champion of the world when the pair fought their

rematch at Madison Square Garden on June 21, 1932. This time Sharkey emerged the victor and

new champion, winning a fifteen round split decision. But again success came with bitterness.

Many in the crowd felt that Schmeling had gotten the better of the action and the Garden echoed

with chants of “robbery.” Plans for a rematch were ruined when Schmeling lost his next fight to

big, hard-hitting Max Baer. So the new champion, supposedly under pressure from mob figures,

decided to face Primo Carnera once more on June 29, 1933. Though he again proved Primo’s

superior in speed and skill, Jack was rendered unconscious by a huge right uppercut directly

below his jaw in the sixth round. Afterward, the press surged with accusations about Sharkey

taking a dive, though the man himself denied such rumors to his dying day.

Later Years

After incurring two more losses before the close of 1933, Sharkey was considered by many to be

a shot fighter. He took an entire year off before returning in 1935. In his next four fights, all

against mediocre opposition, Sharkey could only manage two wins. He was then placed in the

ring as a name opponent for up-and-coming sensation Joe Louis on August 18, 1936. Floored

four times inside of three rounds before suffering a knockout, Jack never fought professionally

again. In retirement, he owned a bar, often worked as a referee, and often earned money from

various personal appearances. He died on August 17, 1994 at the age of 91, just months after his

induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Jack Sharkey

was born Joseph Paul Cukoschay, also spelt Zukauskas. the son of Lithuanian immigrants. in

Binghamton. New York state, on 26 October 1902. 541line Some years later when a young

reporter told him he couldn’t pronounce Sharkey's

name, the fighter laughed:

“Neither can I, That’s why I changed it’s the damnedest conglomeration of letters I've ever

seen!'

As a boy growing up in Binghamton Sharkey wasn't much of a scholar. He preferred fishing in

the local streams to attending classes, and was something of a loner.

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As a kid griming up I avoided fights, he recalled. When the Lithuanian’s fought they fought to

kill. And my favourite occupation is breathing. He did do some rudimentary boxing at St

Patrick's Academy in Binghamton, although he never thought of it as anything more than a

diversion.

DRIFTING TO THE BIG APPLE

As soon as he was old enough Sharkey worked in a local shoe factory for $7 a week and, after a

year he started to take on some laboring work. At one time he was employed to help build a

dam on the Susquehanna River, but Ile constantly dreamed of leaving home.

When , at 15, he was turned down for the Navy because he was too young he left home anyway

and drifted toward New York City, sleeping rough and in hostels, managing to scrape a few

dollars together from menial laboring jobs in bars and rail yards . He later claimed that he had

been a foreman in the Endicott Johnson Shoe Factory at $ I25 a week, but this has never been

confirmed.

In June 1920. 17 years old, broke and bright-eyed, Sharkey crossed Brooklyn Bridge on foot. He

had no prospects, no way out, and on impulse because he saw the sign, because it seemed a

better idea than any others he'd had, he tried the Navy again. This time he was accepted and

packed off to training school in Newport. Rhode Island. It was another world, with rigid

discipline, regular work and reasonable food.

Sharkey was on a vessel that patrolled the Caribbean, the USS South Carolina, and he

remembered: “ They called it the 'Banana Fleet'. We used to go ashore with another company of

Marines and a cannon, and put down uprisings.'

Sailors stayed off the boredom in whatever way they could, and Sharkey liked to pound away at

a heavy bag in the gym. At the end of two years, he signed for another term and this time

travelled across the Atlantic.

After being ordered retake part in a boxing tournament Sharkey won his fight in 30 seconds and

decided to stick with fighting. He w on 38 times losing the 39th in the Navy championships final

to Biff Crowley from Arkansas.

In January 1924 he was discharged from the Navy. He walked into a sports arena in Boston told

them that he could fight and was offered $100 to box, .as long as he changed his name. He had

no problem with that, dreamed up Jack Sharkey — a combination of Jack Dempsey and Tom

Sharkey —and knocked out his first professional opponent, Billy Muldoon, in the first round.

Sharkey liked his new name so much that he later adopted it legally.

Seven weeks after his pro debut in his fourth contest. Sharkey suffered his first defeat — a points

decision against Eddie Record. In a rematch a month later, he knocked out Record in seven

rounds, and then beat Floyd Johnson on points over ten. Johnson had lost to the former world

champion Jess Willard in 11 rounds the previous year.

WEDDED BLISS

In the summer of 1924, Sharkey married a divorcee by the name of Dorothy, much against the

wishes of her parents. His new parents-in-law were naturally anxious for their daughters future

second time around, and were far front impressed by the fact that her new husband was a boxer.

However, their initial fears were to prove groundless as the couple remained together for almost

50 years and had three children — two girls. Dorothy and Marilyn, and a boy, Jack, who played

football for the University of Maryland.

The Sharkey’s settled down in the Chestnut Hill area of Boston, but Sharkey's career took a tum

for the worse, he was knocked out in nine rounds by Quinton Romero, in August, outpointed by

Jimmy Maloney, in November, and then to all intents and purposes beaten again in a No

Decision bout against Chancy Weinert, in December.

Sharkey claimed he wasn't knocked cold by Romero, but was simply to exhausted to fight on... a

direct result of his marital exertions. 'We were just two kids in love and didn't know that this was

no way to get ready to enter a ring, where you need all the energy you can get. I did too much

honeymooning!'

By this point in his career, Sharkey, had got himself a manager, Johnny Buckley. but he was also

prone to hand injuries. Boxing was Sharkey’s only obvious earning potential so, with a family to

support, it was decided that he would have to abandon his swashbuckling style in favour of a

more considered and thoughtful approach.

Sharkey's desire to look after his family also meant he developed the unusual habit of collecting

his pay cheque on the day of a fight, taking it straight to a hank and depositing it, so that by the

time he reached home it would have cleared.

THE START OF SOMETHING PROMISING

Sharkey got his career hack on track in 1925 by outlining strong Australian, George Cook,

Johnny Risko and Jimmy Maloney, although he still lost decisions to Charley Weinert and Bud

Gorman. It was the following year that saw Sharkey really start to make his mark on the

heavyweight ratings, with victories over Gorman in a rematch. and against classy George

Godfrey in Boston.

His biggest fight to date was set for October 1926 when he was matched with the great Harry

Hills a man whose world title dream was frustrated purely because of the colour of his skin. No

promotor was willing to risk money on marketing a black man, and even though Wills had

signed terms to meet world champion Jack Dempsey he never got his title fight

Wills lost to Sharkey on a 13th round foul, and saw any lingering title pretensions disappear

once and for all. “Wills was a physical culturist, a terrific fighter, and a hard puncher, but he'd

been after Dempsey for so long and maybe he took me for a softie “: said Sharkey the fight. “

He was getting old, and age catches up with all of us.”

In March 1927, Sharkey stopped former light heavy champion Mike McTigue in 12 rounds,

despite being adrift on points after 10, and so badly cut he needed 14 stitches in his mouth. Two

months later, Sharkey fought Boston rival Jimmy Maloney for a 4th time in front of a crowd of

80,000 in the Yankee Stadium, New York City.

Sharkey knocked out Maloney in five rounds to earn a fight with his idol Dempsey, who lost his

world crown to Gene Tunney eight months earlier. Dempsey knew be needed a fight before

taking on Tunney in a return, and so he and Sharkey met at the Yankee Stadium in July 1927. A

crowd of 75,000 supplied gate receipts of S1,083,530 - an astonishing figure for a non title fight .

KNOCKING HIS IDOL

Sharkey did his bit to sell the fight by describing Dempsey as a dynamo that has burned out, and

for six rounds he appeared to be right. He staggered the former champion with a right hand in the

opening round and Dempsey's legs were still wobbly when the bell rang. For the next five rounds

his left jab was hardly out of Dempsey's face, bloodying his nose and mouth. Then in round

seven the course of the fight changed dramatically. With the chance to throw body blows at close

range Dempsey slammed away and one shot, a left, dropped low. Sharkey was furious — and in

obvious pain - and cast a glance at referee Jack O'Sullivan. who was on the wrong side to see

what had happened.

At that moment, Dempsey unleashed a terrific left hook to his opponents unprotected jaw. As

Sharkey fell face firm to the canvas, the crowd roared their disapproval and manager Buckley

made histrionic claims for a foul.

The knockout was allowed to stand, and Dempsey went on to his rematch with Tunney. For

Sharkey what looked like being his finest hour had been snatched away from him. At least this

fight and the past couple of year bad provided for his family's future: for the three fights with

McTigue, Maloney and Dempsey, Sharkey had banked almost $300.000. The money allowed

him to provide for his widowed mother and set up a trust fund for his children.

In old age, Sharkey chose to remember Dempsey with affection rather than bitterness. “ he

broke every rule, and he'd do anything to keep you on the floor. Kick you even. he hit me in the

nuts all night. With him you had a fight. He was the hardest hitter I ever faced - and I'm talking

about the fair punches.' he recalled.

GETTING ON WITH IT

The pair never fought again, although Sharkey claimed that he asked Dempsey more than once,

reminding him that whatever the outcome they would make a lot of money. Dempsey went on to

lose the famous “battle of the long count” with Tunney in September 1927, and the announced

his retirement in February 1928.

It took Sharkey some time to get over the Dempsey defeat, and he was listless as he drew with

the New Zealand 'Hard Rock' Tom Heeney, next time out, in January 1928. Six months later,

Heeney challenged Tunney for the world title and lasted into the 11th. Two months after drawing

with Heeney things looked even worse for Sharkey when he lost a decision to Johnny Risko, a

stocky, solid pro whom he had previously outpointed. Risko was a quality fighter who was

prevented from reaching the very top only by his lack of a punch - be scored only 20 knockouts

in 140 fights in 16 years. Risko did, however, fight everyone who was anyone, including four

heavyweight champions: Sharkey, Tunney, Max Schmeling and Max Baer.

Sharkey put his problems against Risko down to his fragile hands.” I hurt then most against

Risko and Tom Heeney” he said. “That gave Tunney an excuse not to fight me. I knew in my

heart that I could have beaten Gene. So did he.”

Still, whatever the reasons, Sharkey knew that after three consecutive defeats, he seemed to he

sliding into the massed ranks of heavyweight second-raters.

Sharkey halted his decline, in April 1928, when he knocked out former undefeated tight-

heavyweight champion Jack Delaney in one round, and set off on an unbeaten run that would

take him, belatedly, to a shot at the championship itself. He outpointed the glamorous “Georgia

Peach” Young Stribling, and then won the vacant American title with a three round stoppage of

another former light heavyweight champ. Tommy Loughran.

Jack hit Tommy so hard he had him talking to himself. Knocked out standing up. reported writer

Daniel M Daniel.

In February 1930 Sharkey battered the talented but fragile Englishman Phil Scott who was

known as “phaintin Phil' because of his reputation for folding from body shots. In a battle billed

as a final eliminator, both boxers had accepted a 'No Foul' rule regarding low blows.

Scott went down for a count of six in the second from a low blow and the minute's rest at the end

of the round was not enough for him to recover fully. He was told to fight on or lose by

retirement, so he got off his stool only for Sharkey to attack with a barrage of body blows. Some

were legal and more strayed low. Scott went down again in the third, was given time to recover,

and was disqualified amid a storm of controversy.

If you include the time outs the final round lasted a total of three minutes 42 seconds. Scott

claimed he had been hit low six times, but officials remained unimpressed and the result is now

generally recorded a KO.

JACK'S LOW BLOW

After six years as a pro. Sharkey finally got his world title shot. A fight with Germany's Max

Schmeling took place in June I930...and yet again, Sharkey, who entered the ring draped head-to

foot in the Stars and Stripes was involved in a controversial finish.

After dominating the early stages of the fight Sharkey threw a careless left hook to the groin and

Schmeling collapsed in a heap. After consulting the ringside judges. referee Jim Crowley

disqualified Sharkey and awarded the championship to Schmeling, who had to be carried back to

his corner.

Nat Fleischer wrote in his report for Ring magazine: 'Sharkey outsmarted Max in every move. he

outboxed him, hooked, uppercut and countered beautifully’

Nevertheless, Sharkey was out in the cold again as Schmeling went on to defend the

championship with a 15th round stoppage of Young Stribling.

Sharkey admitted that the Schmeling verdict took a lot of his fire away and left hint with a sense

of disgust for the business. When he finally appeared in the ring again against Mickey Walker 13

months had passed.

Former welter and middleweight champion Walker was trying to make an impression on the

heavyweight division but it was a crazy task for a man who stood only 5ft 7 in tall. Sharkey ,

25lb heavier and 5 inches taller, couldn’t take 'The Toy Bulldog’ seriously and was almost made

to pay for his casual approach. At the end of 15 rounds the decision was a draw. “ I took it easy

on him” Sharkey remembered. “Thought I was a big shot.”

A SHORT-LIVED REIGN

Sharkey's next contest was against the giant

Italian Primo Camera So many of Carnera’s

earlier fights had been fixed it was difficult

for fans to know past how good the Ambling

Alp really was. Against Sharkey in October

1931 he proved that whatever people might

say about his ability nobody could question

his heart. As he climbed off the floor in the

fourth round to last the full I5. Afterwards

Camera called it the worst thrashing I shall

ever expect to get. The victory Over Carnera

laid the Walker Past to rest and in June 1932.

Sharkey stepped into the ring for a title

rematch with Schmeling.

Sharkey at the age of 29 finally became

heavyweight champion of the word, although

not, of course, without a whiff of controversy

.At the end of 15 rounds he was given a split

decision which provoked the German's

manager Joe Jacobs to yell furiously: “We

wuz robbed.”

Sharkey was champion for a year and eight days, until losing in his first defence, a return with

Carnera.

The contest in June 1933 was ended by an uppercut in the sixth round that Sharkey never saw.

Yet to many observers the champ had looked out of sorts from the opening bell,

THE WHISPER THAT WOULDN'T G0 AWAY

Sharkey's timing was off — he says he was ring rusty — and he was unable to trouble Carnera as

deeply as he had done in their first meeting. The Italian's Mob connections were well known and

many cynics suggested that the champion had thrown the fight. It was a rumour that was to

follow Sharkey to his grave.

'Don't they understand that he just got better?' Sharkey said miserably late in life. When he was

80 he was still pleading his case, but understood that people “just couldn't accept that I lost the

championship to a slow, muscle-bound bumpkin.

The “They” that he was referring to were all those who accused him of treating the heavyweight

championship, the most prized of all boxing possessions , like 30 pieces of silver. His

relationship with reporters had always been troublesome and even when he won the title he didn't

endear himself to the press when he answered a leading question about what it was worth to him

with a glib put down: 'oh. about 25 bucks. Maybe 50 if I knew the guy who a ran a pawn shop.'

Now that he had lost the title Sharkey's detractors were ready and willing to condemn him for

taking a dive. Nobody could believe that this emotional, most erratic of fighters, could have

blown his title to Carnera. They refused to believe it. It was too illogical...unless he had taken

mob money to do it.

Yet, as he continually said: 'I was on top of the world. Why would I purposely lose ?. Boxing

was my business.”

He did, however, admit that the death of a one time protege and good friend Ernie Schaaf at the

hands of Camera only four mouths earlier affected him. he also talked of discouraging

occurrences in the build-up of the fact dim, as against Walker, he underestimated a man he

should have beaten, and that in the wake of Schaaf s death he had conflicting emotions as to the

nature of boxing.

“The haunting vision of Schaaf was constantly before me. I mean, I was with him the night he

was killed. for Gods sake. I suppose everything closed in on me at once. I did not take a dive for

the Camera fight. I wish people would get that notion out of their heads.”

NO WAY BACK

Starkey was never the same again after losing to Camera. He retired briefly to run a bar across

the street from the Boston Garden, before selling it to Buckley and returning to the ring. He lost

decisions to King Levinsky and Tommy Loughran, in the space of nine days in September 1933

and then faded into the boxing backwaters.

he briefly returned to the limelight when he fought the rising Joe Louis, in New York, in August

1936. Sharkey was still only 33 but he was a shadow of the vibrant, volatile heavyweight of the

late I920s. Louis knocked him out in three rounds.

This time after 55 fights over the course of 12 years. during which time he had boasted a record

of 38 wins, 14 defeats and three draws, he retired for good.

In 1952, he left Boston and moved to Epping, New Hampshire, living in the house which had

belonged to his wiles grandparents and in which she had been born.They had visited it for years.

and during his ring career Sharkey had used it a post-fight retreat. a peaceful place where his

wounds could heal, his bruises subside and he could regain his strength.

GONE FISHING

In retirement, he refereed for a while, he controlled both of Archie Moore’s world light-

heavyweight defences against Yvon Durelle - and ran another bar. But mostly he spent time

watching his family grow up and indulged his lifelong passion for fly fishing.

He became a leading angler and gave demonstrations across the USA and Canada. Fishing most

days of the week well into his late 70s. 'Sometimes you don’t care if the fish don't take the bait.'

he said. 'You're just happy as hell to be out where the air is dean and the scenery is something

that your eyes can value”

His wife Dorothy died in 1973 but Sharkey continued living in the home for almost another two

more decades keeping it the way she liked it. “in this house. I have known life's sweetest

moments”' he told veteran writer Laurence MacNamee in 1979. As well as his three children, he

had 14 grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. Most of whom he was proud to say had never

even seen films of his fights. 'I'm just grandpa to them.' he said. His biting cynical wit remained

through his long life. When Jack Dempsey died in 1983. somebody broke the news gently to

him as he sat alone. He barely looked up.” So I finally beat the bastard.” he said.

Sharkey died of old age on 17 August 1991. He was 91.

The Kokomo Tribune

19 September 1933

Levinsky Wins Decision In Clash With Sharkey

Chicago, Sept. 18

King Levinsky won the decision over Jack Sharkey, former' worlds heavyweight champion, in a

savage ten round battle tonight.

It was the first bout Sharkey has fought since he .was knocked out , losing the title, to Primo

Carnera three months ago.

Fight by rounds:

Round One

Sharkey with a 'sneer on his face came out to hook a left to the Jaw, but they tied up in a clinch.

Levinsky threw a left to the body and cut loose with a wild swing to the head. He cracked a

right to the jaw and floored Sharkey staggering him and then knocked him down with another

right for a count of seven. Sharkey held on when he got up and wrestled to the ropes with

Levinsky, Swinging punches from his hips. Sharkey drove a right to the jaw and Levinsky

pounded him around the body. They traded body punches in midring with Sharkey retreating to

the ropes.

Round Two

Sharkey began throwing punches .to the body with the Kingfish circling around him. Levinsky

swung another wild right to the head forcing Sharkey to clinch. Levinsky cracked Sharkey with

two, more driving the.sailor to a corner.

Sharkey teetered on his toes but managed to stay upright Sharkey dug a left to the body and

hooked a left to the jaw. Levinsky backed into a corner with a left and right to the head.

Sharkey drove short right to the jaw. They Continued to punch after the bell.

Round Three

Sharkey attempted to box at long range but the Kingfish bulled his way in close. Thev slugged

furiously in midring. Levinsky hooked a left to the body and caught two lefts in return. Sharkey

chased him to a corner and they fought it out on the ropes. Levinsky landed a heavy right to the

body and at the bell Sharkey ran to a neutral corner looking for a place to sit down.

Round Four

Sharkey ripped a left to the body. They mauled at close quarters with neither doing Any damage,

then Sharkey hooked a left to the jaw that spun Levinsky around. They slugged head to head

with Levinsky throwing punches to the body. Sharkey connected with a left and right to the jaw

before they tied up in a clinch. Sharkey drove both fists to the body and blocked Levinsky’s

returns to the head.

Round Five

Sharkey connected with a left and right to the jaw and took a left hook to the chin. The former

champion dug a left hook into foul territory, and Levinsky retaliated with a blow in the same

territory . Levinsky connected with a .heavy right to the head that .shook Sharkey to his heels

and. Sharkey stabbed Levinsky with four straight lefts to the face. Levinsky landed with a left

and right to the body then hit Sharkey with straight, right to the head, waiving for the former

champion to come in and fight.

Round Six

Sharkey's first punch was a left hook low. Levinsky missed a right, uppercut and a left to the

head. Sharkey countered with-short body punches. Levinsky threw both hands to the body.

Sharkey was short with a left to the jaw and then stabbed the Kingfish with two lefts to the

face. Levinsky landed a heavy right to the head and then they traded punches on even terms.

Sharkey nailed Levinsky with a right to the jaw and caught a heavy right swing in return.

Sharkey connected with left and right to the jaw.

Round Seven

Sharkey charged in with three sharp left hooks to the body and he caught a left hook to the

head.. They traded two straight lefts to the face and when Sharkey stepped in he hooked his left

to the body.

They slugged it out in midring and Sharkey sneered over Levinsky's shoulder as they were

locked in a clinch. Sharkey jabbed two straight lefts to the face and then Levinsky tore into him

throwing both hands to the head. Sharkey connected with a left and right to the head as the

bell ended the round

Round Eight

Sharkey missed a left to the body and clinched. Jack dug a left hook to the body and. Levlnsky

threw both hands to the head Levinsky nailed Sharkey with a heavy right to the jaw that

knocked him back on his heels and he invited the sailor to come on and slug.

Sharkey .stepped in and caught another right to the head. Levinsky dropped a right hand shot to

the jaw and then repeated. Levinsky drove the ex champion to the ropes under another body

attack without return.

Round Nine

They, went into a clinch with Sharkey sending two light lefts to the face. Levinsky stepped in

with right and left to the body. Shakey landed a hard right under, the heart and Levinsky shot a

right uppercut to the head. Sharkey jolted the Kingfish with three lefts. Levinsky backed

Sharkey into a corner, landing a heavy right to the head. Levinsky again rushed Sharkey to the

ropes, outscoring him in their exchanges. Levinsky pinned Sharkey into, a corner and smashed

away with both hands, to the head.

Round .Ten

They shook hands in midring and Sharkey missed a vicious right uppercut. Levinsky again

nailed Sharkey with a. looping right to the head' and Sharkey backed away. They clinched and

hammered each other around the ribs. Sharkey drove two lefts to the face. The Kingfish appeared

to be tiring.

Levinsky suddenly lashed out with a right to the head and left and right to the body. He forced

Sharkey to the ropes with heavy swings, Sharkey stabbed two lefts to the face. Levinsky swung

lefts the head, Sharkey backing away. Sharkey missed a left and right to the head. Levinsky

landed with two rights and three lefts to the Jaw and nearly knocked Sharkey through the ropes.

They were in a clinch as the bell sounded.

The Dee, Danville

VA

4 March 1927

YOUTHFUL BOXER SCORES A

TECHNICAL KNOCKOUT OVER

VETERAN IRISHMAN

Two rugged Boston heavyweights, Jack

Sharkey and Jimmy Maloney, today stood

head and shoulders above all aspirants for

the championship.

As a step toward the final round of Tex

Rickard'’s elimination tournament In the

most dramatic encounter of the series last

night, Sharkey scored a technical knockout

over the veteran Irishman, Mike McTigue,

in the twelfth round of a 15_round match

at Madison Square Garden.

Maloney won his spurs two weeks ago by outpointing Jack Delaney, light heavyweight

champion, in ten rounds in the same arena. More thrills and gore sprinkled Sharkey's victory last

night than have been packed into all the previous battles of the tourney. It was the struggle of

another good little warrior — another Delaney — against a rugged battering good big man—

another Maloney.

In defeat McTigue was as stirring a figure as ever he has been since a sensational knockout

campaign that numbered Paul Berlenbach among his victims and. brought him to the greatest

opportunity of his career almost at the sunset of his fighting careers But. McTigue. 38 years of

age, was waved to his corner, a brave but battered fighter after two minutes and nine seconds of

fighting in the twelfth round Blood gushed from his mouth, where just a moment earlier

Sharkey's glancing right had smashed a tooth and broken a blood vessel inside his cheek.

The 170—pound Irishman was hammered and cued by the young American of Lithuanian

ancestry through the final stages, before the accident ended the struggle.

Sharkey, 25, was too young, too strong for the foxy McTigue.

Early in the battle crafty Michael made a bid for a knockout, a daring, smashing rally that dazed

Sharkey.despite the Boston tar's 19 pound weight advantage. The 14.000 fans in the Garden

roared encouragement, as McTigue poured in a furious attack that cut Sharkey's left eye and split

his lip. In the third frame Mike put his all into a crushing right hand smash to the chin. It was the

punch of a rejuvenated hand, the blow that piled up five straight knockouts. Sharkey took it,

blinked and as blood, seeped from his lips, slashed forward with both fists flying

This was the high water mark of McTigue's struggle. Thereafter Mike retorted to guerilla warfare

as Sharkey, regaining his early confidence swept him about the ring. Mike was groggy in the

tenth and eleventh rounds and his left eye was cut. He claimed a foul in the eleventh that was not

allowed.

When the fight was stopped. Sharkey was as gory as McTigue. Mike was reluctant to give up the

battle. Sharkey. eye closed and lips battered, could think after the fight only of his fellow

townsmen and the battle that will decide Tunney's challenger.

"Give me Jimmy Maloney." he said In his dressing room "Give me Maloney and I’ll knock him

out”

Wisconsin State Journal

13 June 1930

William Muldoon Disagrees, Believes

Sharkey's Blow Fair

Tunney Calls It a Foul;

Newspaper Men Almost Unanimous That Punch Was Low

NEW YORK, N. Y.

'William Muldoon, dean of the New York state athletic commission and co-donor of the Tunney

- Muldoon heavyweight championship trophy, disagreed today with the almost unanimous

opinion that Max Schmeling was fouled by Jack Sharkey in their titular bout at Yankee stadium

Thursday night.

"I have to contradict all these young fellows, but in my opinion Sharkey would have been

declared the winner by a knockout when Schmeling refused to answer the bell for the fifth

round," the 85-. year-old boxing czar told the United Press.

. "The disputed blow, as I saw it, was a terrific left hook which landed just below the navel and

was perfectly fair. These physicians' reports don't mean a thing. Signs of a foul blow would not

be evident in a physical examination for several hours."

Gene Tunney, the other donor of the championship trophy, said he thought the blow was foul,

and Dr. William Walker, official commission physician, who examined Schmeling after the bout

declared he found a distinct spasm on the left, side Schmeling's groin. indicating a recent blow.

The physician said that "Schmeling could not produce

this condition unless he was hit low.' Opinions of

newspaper men who viewed the bout from the ringside ;

follow:

Frank Getty, United Press—"I was not in position to see

exactly where . the blow in question landed, but

Schmeling is too good a sportsman to have been faking,

and obviously was fouled. Sharkey was winning all the

way. and was most unfortunate to have landed this

unintentional low blow."

Joe Williams, New York Telegram . I am firmly

convinced that Schmeling was hit low and that the blow

carried sufficient power to render him temporarily helpless. I don't agree that Max showed

enough to warrant his being accepted as champion."

Grantland Rice, N. A. N. A.—"It was a foul and, although unintentional, had to be penalized."

Damon Runyan, New York American—"Any argument that the blow was not a foul is absolutely

silly. It landed in the crotch and the follow through almost lifted Schmeling off his feet."

George Barton, Minneapolis Tribune—" I was not in position to see the punch, but I know

Sharkey was winning up to that time. I've refereed bouts for 25 years and think if Schmeling was

of real championship calibre he would have taken a rest and continued."

Ed Frayne, New York American— "The punch was foul but the decision was perfect and the

best thing that could have happened for the boxing game."

Harvey Boyle, Pittsburgh Post Gazette, (member Philadelphia State Athletic Commission)—

"The punch landed low and the rules had to be enforced. I think 95 per cent of the fighters who

win bouts on fouls could continue, but it would be too much to expect a man to throw away his

technical rights with a million dollar title already handed to him."

Round by Round

Round One

They met in midring, Max ducking into a clinch. Jack jabbed several lefts to the head and

Schmeling hooked a left to the jaw. They sparred. Jack jabbed two lefts to the lace. Sharkey

hooked two light lefts to head. Max swung left to head but missed. Max was coming in with his

head down on Sharkey's chest. Sharkey landed short right to jaw and hooked another left to head

with Max taking it easy. Schmeling put right to head. Jack grazed Max's face with left. It was a

slow round with Sharkey having slight edge.

Round two

Max jumped in with straight right to jaw. They clinched. Jack hooked left to body. Max missed

left to head and Sharkey spun him around with right. Max rushed but missed, Sharkey jabbing

mercilessly with lefts. Schmeling rushed again and Sharkey uppercut savagely with right to

heart. Jack let Max come at him and took left in stomach without return. Max hooked left to

head. Jack uppercutted right to face. Schmeling was short with a right. Sharkey drove two lefts to

face. Schmeling hooked a left to the jaw and they clinched. Sharkey dropped a right in Max's eye

and hooked another to jaw at close quarters. Sharkey jabbed two lefts to face as the bell sounded.

Sharkey's round.

Round three

Sharkey hooked light left to head and Max drove right to face. Schmeling tossed another right to

head. Sharkey tied him up in a clinch. Max landed a left to body and head, stepping in close.

Jack drove three hard rights to head staggering Max. Jack drove the German to ropes with rights

and lefts to lace. Sharkey uppercut right to face with Max hanging on Sharkey drove right to

face, sending Max back to ropes. Sharkey forced the fighting, Schmeling looking badly beaten.

Jack crossed terrific right to side of head and whipped left to body. Max smiled. Sharkey's round.

Round four

Sharkey jabbed left to face. He whipped three lefts to face as Max missed a hard right. Max

drove hard left to Sharkey's face. Schmeling went into clinch. Both missed badly with Sharkey

swinging hard for knockout. They traded lefts to face. Sharkey took an easy crossed right to jaw

as Max went in close. Sharkey whipped hard right to head. Schmeling crossed left. to face and

Sharkey landed right to head. Schmeling bored in. Sharkey dropped him with left to body.

Schmeling claimed foul from floor, round ending, when count was resumed by timer.

In fifth, when Schmeling refused to come out of corner, Referee Crowley advised with judges

then declared Schmeling winner on foul. He and one of the judges were not in position to see

low blow, the referee explained.

80,000 Who Saw Bout;

Sharkey Had Piled

Up Big Lead

By FRANK GETTY

(United Press Sports Editor)

NEW YORK, N. Y. — T h e fistic world has a new heavyweight champion. today, but the

decision which brought that honor to Max Schmeling, the fortunate youth of Germany, still

rankles in the breasts of some 80.000 spectators who witnessed the unfortunate ending; to the

battle for the title. With but six seconds left to go in the fourth round of Thursday night's

spectacular fight in. Yankee stadium, .Jack Sharkey, who had outclassed Schmeling in every

way, whipped home a terrific left hook which landed below Max's belt. The German, a badly

beaten fighter until that moment, went down helpless and incapacitated, and after an inexcusable

delay and amidst scene of tremendous confusion, Referee Jimmy Crowley awarded the

fight and the championship to Schmeling.

No other decision was possible, since the only judge in a position to see where that swishing left

hook landed declared it a papable foul. - The better man—Jack Sharkey— once more fell victim

to the ill fortune which has dogged his footsteps across the years in which he has sought the

heavyweight title.

Champion Is Lucky

Max Schmeling is the new champion of the world, but champion by virtue of the same good

luck which has marked his career. The marble base of the "Tunney-Muldoon Trophy"' will be

carved with the name of the German youth, but no one among the vast throng which packed

every nook and cranny of the towering Yankee stadium Thursday night left with any doubt that

Jack Sharkey was the better man.

For three rounds, the Bostonian, Proud of his chance to represent the United States in an

international bout of such importance, trained to the minute, and fighting the greatest fight of his

career, toyed with the young man of the Rhineland. In the third round, Schmeling was all but out

on his feet, a battered and beaten victim of a worthy successor to the long line of heavyweight,

champions from John L. Sullivan down through Gene Tunney.

Sharkey Had Big Edge

Five minutes later, after the confusion caused by the indecision of the referee, the clamor of

seconds and managers and upon the word of a lone judge. Harold Barnes, it was Max Schmeling

instead of Jack Sharkey who was declared the champion of the world.

Schmeling's Career

Has No Parallel

in Boxing History

Is Perhaps Least Impressive

of Any Heavyweight in

Records; Largely Case

of Good Fortune

By GEORGE KIRK8EY

NEW YORK, Max Schmeling, a young German who emigrated to America only two years ago,

with three knockouts against his record, and a broken hand, claimed the world's heavyweight

championship today—on a foul.

Schmeling's career is

without parallel in all

heavyweight history. After

six fights in this country,

the young German has a

claim to the heavyweight

title which has eluded Jack

Sharkey for three years,

since the Bostonian

reached the top in 1927.

Schmeling is 24, and has

been boxing since 1924.

The young German has a

striking facial resemblance

to Dempsey. Max Dickman

scored a technical K. 0.

over him in two rounds in

1924. Schmeling stopped

Dickman in one round in

1926. Larry Gains, a

Canadian Negro, knocked

out Schmeling in two

rounds in 1925. and Gypsy

Daniels kayoed him in one

round in 1928. Schmeling

scored his greatest victory

in this country by winning

on a technical knockout

over Johnny Risko in the

ninth round. Risko has

outfought Schmeling almost up until the end. but Schmeling's rights to the head eventually had

the Clevelander bouncing all over the ring until he was no longer able to continue. Max returned

to Germany because of entanglements over his contracts, but came back to fight Paolino for the

milk fund last summer and he won a 15 round decision from the basque.

Schmeling has engaged in 53 bouts, winning 31 by knockouts, 13 by decisions, and three on

fouls... He has four defeats charged against him. three by knockouts and one decision. He has

fought one draw.

Dempsey-v-Jack Sharkey 1927

The Bridgeport Telegram

22 July 1927

Knockout Comes as Sudden Climax to Most Dramatic Battle Ever Staged.

FOUL IS CLAIMED

Referee. However. Refuses to Rule on Claim—Victory

Comes after Near Defeat.

YANKEE STADIUM. New York. July 21

The rip tearing Jack Dempsey of old came back tonight to smash his way to a spectacular

knockout victory over .Jack Sharkey the young Boston heavyweight, and gained the height to ft

return title match with Gene Tunney.

While a vast, deliriously excited throng of 82.000 spectators cheered him on, the former

champion rallied after a wobbly start, bored through Sharkey defense with a clashing attack

which brought the 24-year-old sailor , down for the count of ten in the seventh round of what

was to have been a 15 round match.

A terrific right hook to the pit of the stomach doubled Sharkey up and a crashing left to the Jaw

brought the Boston giant down for the fatal count after 45 seconds of fighting in the seventh

round.

So close to the border-line was Dempsey's crushing left — the really decisive blow — that

Sharkey started to claim a foul, only to go tumbling down In a moment from the impact of

Dempsey's right hand. The referee, Jack Sullivan, at first seemed puzzled as what to do but

finally decided to ignore the excited yells of Sharkey's seconds. He finished the count in unison

with the official knockdown timer and waved Sharkey out.

Claim foul.

Sharkey's handlers persisted in their protests after the fight but their attempted action was

drowned in the wild outburst that came from the huge throng, most of which had come to cheer

the 32-year-old ex-champion in his colorful come-back.

It was a sudden climax to one of the most dramatic heavyweight battles ever staged, a slashing,

mauling struggle in which Dempsey defying the craft and stamina of Sharkey's youth,

demonstrated that he had come a long way back from the floundering form that cost him his title

last fall.

Staggered and badly shaken up by vicious left hooks to the jaw toward the close of the first

round and jarred frequently by Sharkey's stiff counter wallops. Dempsey fought on and won

because he refused to be beaten back or balked Shaken as he was at first Dempsey had the

resources to come back, keep plunging in. breaking through Sharkey's guard with short left and

right hooks. His right eye cut and streaming blood, his lips split by vicious jabs. Dempsey

nevertheless had the power to keep plunging in until he won.

TERRIFIC TWO

The vast crowd. which paid close to $1,100.000 to see the spectacle was thrilled by Dempsey's

sensational, doggedly persistent fight to victory against odds that seemed all against him at the

start. The former champion's old speed the fighting spark that made him the vicious "Manassa

Mauler" of old seemed lacking as the fight began. The younger, speedier and more clever

Sharkey outstepped and outboxed the Former champion and when he came in with a series of

terrific blows toward the close of the first round the nd seemed in sight.

It was such a first round last September that had started Dempsey on his downfall at Tunney's

hands. But tonight he had the stamina and gameness to fight back to a victory that seemed out of

his grasp when the gong ended the first round and he wobbled to his corner.

Keeps Battering

Somewhere Dempsey had gained a new store of stamina. His old speed was not quite returned

nor were his blows as sharp but he had the stuff to keep battering, flailing away at his rival,

growing stronger instead of weaker as Sharkey tried in vain with hooks and uppercuts to beat the

former champion off.

From the second round through the sixth it was a slugging attack chiefly to Sharkey's body while

the ex-sailor tried to fight his way clear, ripping in left and right hooks that sometimes slowed

up and cut Dempsey but which never stopped his persistent attack.

Blood spattered from Dempsey's eye under the impact of left jabs and he spat blood frequently

from his mouth but it did not halt him.

The fury and bull-dog grit of Dempsey's drive enabled him to hold Sharkey even In the second

round after the first had gone to the ex-sailor, and outpoint his young rival in the third, fourth

and fifth rounds. Sharkey carried off the sixth as he speared Dempsey with rights and lefts, sent

the former champion back but the spirit of the old "Manassa mauler" flared up in slashing finish

that had Sharkey on the run at the gong and paved the way for the big climax in the first minute

of the next round.

Until the finish Sharkey it seemed was the stronger as well as the faster of the two but he was

beaten. apparently because he fought almost exclusively on the defensive form from the first

round on .Perhaps Sharkey's plan of battle was to lay back, holding off Dempsey until the latter

tired, then leap to the attack. If so.he delayed too long and lost his chance of fighting for the

championship of the world at least this year. If not. It was because he found Dempsey's attack

too furious and persistent to offset or to counteract.

There was no question that Sharkey's hitting accuracy was far from its Usual high mark. His

right, the blow that laid Jim Maloney low two months ago was short or wild. He landed It a few

times especially the first and sixth rounds, but otherwise the bobbing, weaving Dempsey

appeared to elusive a target to connect with.

Sharkey had the youth and speed but Dempsey had the punch Aggressiveness and stamina to

offset his rivals assets.

Fight By Rounds

ROUND ONE

Dempsey came out in a crouch and fell into a clinch hammering five short rights to the body as

Sharkey missed a left-hook. Dempsey bore in again, drilling hard smashes to the ribs. Jack

hooked two lefts to Dempsey's head. They were in a clinch again and Sharkey got In two more to

the head. Sharkey stabbed Dempsey with a left to the head. Dempsey bored in again, took two

lefts to the head and again drove short punches to Sharkey's body Sharkey looked tired.

A left hook shook Sharkey's head back Sharkey

licked Jack with two right uppercuts. Dempsey.

reeling ran around the ring. Sharkey smashed him

with rights. Dempsey was groggy as Sharkey

missed a long right. The bell caught Sharkey half

way through a right swing. Dempsey went to his

corner very tired.

ROUND TWO

Jack came out slowly and Sharkey missed a left.

Sharkey drove Dempsey to the ropes with a right

to the jaw. Dempsey fought, fiercely at Sharkey's

body but laid heavy in the clinch. Dempsey

missed a left hook. In close, they swapped jolts to

the rips. Dempsey held Sharkey clubbed him to

the body. Sharkey

nailed Dempsey with a left to the head and drove

Dempsey to the ropes with short rights to the jaw.

They slugged at each other. Dempsey was very

tired after the flurry but managed to hook his left

hand twice on Sharkey's chin. They were in a clinch at the bell.

ROUND THREE

A small cut appeared over Dempsey's left eye from Sharkey's jab. Dempsey drove a long left to

the stomach and then to the head but landed two right jolts on head but landed two rights on

Sharkey's chin. Jack Dempsey shuffled in. apparently stronger, crowding Sharkey with a body

attack. They were locked in a clinch. They stood for a moment and looked each other over, tired

from the fierce pace. Dempsey whipped over a right uppercut as he wove. Sharkey caught

Dempsey with a wicked right smash to the chin as the former champion came in to whale at the

Boston boy's body.

Sharkey hurled two lefts In Dempsey's body and Dempsey stepped back. Sharkey slipped and

went down In his own corner but was up without a count. No blow was struck and the bell ended

this session while Sharkey was on his knees.

ROUND FOUR

Sharkey seemed less confident when he missed. Dempsey drove Sharkey around the ring with

fierce punches to the body. Sharkey punched hard as Dempsey nailed a left to the chin. Sharkey

cut three left Jabs Into Dempsey's face and hooked both hands to the face. Dempsey's right eye

commenced to bleed badly. Dempsey came in again with a short right to the body and lifted

Sharkey’s head with a right uppercut and took two smashing jolts from Dempsey’s left hand

.Sharkey missed frequently as Jack danced about.

Dempsey nailed Sharkey with a left hook fully on the jaw driving the sailor into a defensive

crouch in a neutral corner. They were plugging away at the bell.

ROUND FIVE

Dempsey appeared to be finding himself under the heat of the milling. He shuffled out and

skimmed Sharkey's chin with a left. Sharkey stabbed Jack about the head but Dempsey caught a

left hook on his nose. Sharkey spit blood as Dempsey swung in close for another short armed

body attack. Sharkey met him with a right uppercut coming in but Dempsey got In two lefts to

the ribs. Sharkey landed a straight right to the head and Dempsey clinched. A cut appeared on

Dempsey's left cheek. Dempsey bore right back, throwing rights to the body but taking Sharkey's

left four times to the head. Dempsey hooked a solid left to Sharkey's head and the sailor

wobbled. Another left drove Sharkey back but the Boston boy came out slugging as the round

ended.

ROUND SIX

Sharkey, apparently much fresher than Dempsey was playing a waiting game. He left Dempsey

rush him again and Jack missed a long left to Sharkey's head. Sharkey was short with a left to the

chin but his right smacked solidly on Dempsey's Jaw. Dempsey missed a long left. Dempsey

came steadily on. However ramming to the body but Sharkey was all elbows on defense,

Sharkey slapped in a right to Dempsey's face. Dempsey followed him and they bobbed at each

other until Sharkey shot Dempsey's head back with a terrific right upper cut to the Jaw. It was

the cleanest and hardest punch of the fight so far. Dempsey leaned In. however, pushing

Sharkey to the ropes. Dempsey caught the sailor coming out with three smashes to the head and

the crowd booed as Sharkey deliberately punched Dempsey after the bell.

ROUND SEVEN

Dempsey was weaving again and Sharkey held as the fire grew hot about his body. Dempsey

knocked him down with a right. Dempsey suddenly whipped his hand Into Sharkey's stomach

and followed with a straight right hand smash to the Jaw that sent Sharkey down. Sharkey got to

his knees at the count of nine, swayed and fell flat to his face as the referee counted ten. ,

Sharkey's handlers claimed the blow was foul but the referee upheld his decision. Probably the

greatest ovation given a fighter was accorded Dempsey as the referee raised his hand in victory.

The stadium fairly rocked. The round had lasted only forty-five seconds

.