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Home , Gene Tunney, Jack Delaney, Jack Sharkey, Johnny Buckley, King Levinsky, Long count

Name: Career Record: click Alias: 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: Trainer: Tony Polazzolo Manager: 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 and 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 . 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 lore by becoming heavyweight champion.

Early Years

Born Joseph Paul Zukauskas, the son of Lithuanian immigrants, Sharkey was born in Binghamton, but moved to Boston, 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 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 debut, fought at no less a venue than . 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 , who was considered at the time to be the fighter all of the top 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 ’s heavyweight championship.

Dempsey and Schmeling

To start off 1927, Jack stopped former 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 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 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 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 and , 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 ’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. World Champion

Still determined to prove himself in the best in the world, Sharkey next took on , 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 ’s 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 . 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 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 , 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.

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 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. . 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 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 . 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 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 ” with Tunney in , 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 '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 - be scored only 20 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 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 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 . 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 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 , before selling it to Buckley and returning to the ring. He lost decisions to 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 ’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 . 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 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 '’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 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.

', 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, 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, Post Gazette, (member 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 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. , 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 . 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 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 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 , 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

.