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Jack Sharkey
Jack Sharkey was a veteran just 4 months short of his 30th birthday when he got his second crack at the title.
Many thought he would have gone on to beat Schmeling in their first meeting had it not been for that infamous low blow. The tough Bostonian's Achilles' heel was undoubtedly the erratic nature of his performances. He could look a world beater one day and a second-rater the next. Fans often wondered which version of Sharkey was going to turn up for his re-match with Schmeling' at Long Island, on 21 June 1932.
Jack Sharkey was born Joseph Paul Zukaushaus on 26 october 1902, the son of immigrant Lithuanian parents. He grew up in Binghamton, New York. His first taste of boxing came when he joined th US Navy in 1920. When he left the service 4 years later, he had done well enough as an amateur to persuade a manager that he was ready to take the step up to the pro ranks.
Name of Heroes
The name under which he rose to become a top contender was derived from 2 of his boxing hero's: current champion Jack Dempsey and sailor Tom Sharkey, who had lost to Jeffries on points in 1899. Although his record was not unblemished, Sharkey took a lot of scalps. He was skillful, a good puncher and light on his feet. In 1927 he came up against the man whose christian name he'd appropriated. Jack Dempsey had lost his title to Tunney and was looking for a tough warm up before trying to regain the crown. Sharkey had the former champion reeling early on, and later claimed he was just 1 punch short of putting his hero away. He couldn't find that KO blow, however, and Dempsey recovered to win in the 7th. The ex champion put in a succession of pulverising body shots which Sharkey thought were low. He turned to the ref to complain, leaving his jaw unguarded. Dempsey needed no second invitation and ended proceedings with a huge left hook. Despite the result, many pundits claim the early rounds of that particular fight was some of Sharkey's finest boxing ever.
Bounces back VS Carnera
Tunney retained his title with the famous long count victory over Dempsey. Sharkey was in the frame to meet Gene but only got a draw vs Tom Heeney in the eliminator, and it was the latter who got the opportunity instead. When he lost to Schmeling 2 years later in such contraversial circumstances, Sharkey must have thought that his chance had passed him by. Yet he bounced back with a destructive performance against the man-mountain from Venice, Primo Carnera. The ex circus performer done well to survive the 15 round duration of the fight, for Sharkey's tutored fists had rendered him a sorry sight by the end.
New York was keen to proclaim Sharkey as the heavyweight champion of the world. He was hardly that, but he had done more than enough to earn a re-match with Schmeling. It was to be as contraversial as the first fight, though for very different reasons. The fight went on for the full 15 rounds, but neither the reporters nor the crowd had much doubt that Schmeling had retained his title.
Fortunate Decision
The former group included Gene Tunney, who put aside patriotism to make Schmeling a clear winner. The referee, former contender Gunboat Smith, and one of the judges saw it differently. Sharkey was undoubtedly fortunate to take the title on a split decision. Schmeling hid his obvious disappointment and went over to congratulate a stunned Sharkey. The Germans manager, Joe Jacobs, was less than sanguine, yelling " we were robbed"
A year later, Sharkey's first defence saw him matched against Carnera, the man he had beaten so convincingly between the two Schmeling fights. His pre fight comments suggested that he didn't really rate Carnera's boxing ability and the contest would go the same way as the last one. Tha Ambling Alp gave 2 reasons why it would be different this time. Firstly, he was better developed, both physically and in terms of boxing ability. Secondly, he revealed that 2 days before his first fight with Sharkey he had been involved in a car crash which left him unconscious for an hour. The 26 year old thought he could beat Sharkey and go on to hold the title for several years, for he couldn't see anyone coming through the ranks who would pose a serious threat. He was half right.
Jack Sharkey was a veteran just 4 months short of his 30th birthday when he got his second crack at the title.
Many thought he would have gone on to beat Schmeling in their first meeting had it not been for that infamous low blow. The tough Bostonian's Achilles' heel was undoubtedly the erratic nature of his performances. He could look a world beater one day and a second-rater the next. Fans often wondered which version of Sharkey was going to turn up for his re-match with Schmeling' at Long Island, on 21 June 1932.
Jack Sharkey was born Joseph Paul Zukaushaus on 26 october 1902, the son of immigrant Lithuanian parents. He grew up in Binghamton, New York. His first taste of boxing came when he joined th US Navy in 1920. When he left the service 4 years later, he had done well enough as an amateur to persuade a manager that he was ready to take the step up to the pro ranks.
Name of Heroes
The name under which he rose to become a top contender was derived from 2 of his boxing hero's: current champion Jack Dempsey and sailor Tom Sharkey, who had lost to Jeffries on points in 1899. Although his record was not unblemished, Sharkey took a lot of scalps. He was skillful, a good puncher and light on his feet. In 1927 he came up against the man whose christian name he'd appropriated. Jack Dempsey had lost his title to Tunney and was looking for a tough warm up before trying to regain the crown. Sharkey had the former champion reeling early on, and later claimed he was just 1 punch short of putting his hero away. He couldn't find that KO blow, however, and Dempsey recovered to win in the 7th. The ex champion put in a succession of pulverising body shots which Sharkey thought were low. He turned to the ref to complain, leaving his jaw unguarded. Dempsey needed no second invitation and ended proceedings with a huge left hook. Despite the result, many pundits claim the early rounds of that particular fight was some of Sharkey's finest boxing ever.
Bounces back VS Carnera
Tunney retained his title with the famous long count victory over Dempsey. Sharkey was in the frame to meet Gene but only got a draw vs Tom Heeney in the eliminator, and it was the latter who got the opportunity instead. When he lost to Schmeling 2 years later in such contraversial circumstances, Sharkey must have thought that his chance had passed him by. Yet he bounced back with a destructive performance against the man-mountain from Venice, Primo Carnera. The ex circus performer done well to survive the 15 round duration of the fight, for Sharkey's tutored fists had rendered him a sorry sight by the end.
New York was keen to proclaim Sharkey as the heavyweight champion of the world. He was hardly that, but he had done more than enough to earn a re-match with Schmeling. It was to be as contraversial as the first fight, though for very different reasons. The fight went on for the full 15 rounds, but neither the reporters nor the crowd had much doubt that Schmeling had retained his title.
Fortunate Decision
The former group included Gene Tunney, who put aside patriotism to make Schmeling a clear winner. The referee, former contender Gunboat Smith, and one of the judges saw it differently. Sharkey was undoubtedly fortunate to take the title on a split decision. Schmeling hid his obvious disappointment and went over to congratulate a stunned Sharkey. The Germans manager, Joe Jacobs, was less than sanguine, yelling " we were robbed"
A year later, Sharkey's first defence saw him matched against Carnera, the man he had beaten so convincingly between the two Schmeling fights. His pre fight comments suggested that he didn't really rate Carnera's boxing ability and the contest would go the same way as the last one. Tha Ambling Alp gave 2 reasons why it would be different this time. Firstly, he was better developed, both physically and in terms of boxing ability. Secondly, he revealed that 2 days before his first fight with Sharkey he had been involved in a car crash which left him unconscious for an hour. The 26 year old thought he could beat Sharkey and go on to hold the title for several years, for he couldn't see anyone coming through the ranks who would pose a serious threat. He was half right.
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