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
.