Lennox Lewis vs Jack Sharkey

I regard Sharkey as one of the worst heavyweight champions ever, and even IM surprised by these comments

Assuming Sharkey doesn't have a meltdown early, Lewis by KO mid rounds

 

Sharkey was a fluid fighter, slippery on the ropes with good lateral movement in the center of the ring. Fast hands and pretty tough too. When he was young - The second Schmeling fight and beyond he looks like a different fighter.
I actually believe he would give Lewis some timing issues. Remember Sharkey dominated Wills, (past prime but was still carrying in a vaunted win streak into that bout), and he beat Godfrey. Plus he clowned Primo in the first fight they had. In short Jack looks very good against the big guys.
Personally I just think he’s a little to small to be able to get hit by Lewis at some point and survive. But he had the ability to make guys miss. I think Sharkey troubles Lewis more than Carnera, Braddock, Schmeling (who I rate higher than Sharkey but is too stationary for Lewis to stand in front giving away that height and reach) but most likely at some point Lewis pins him down and lands the shot (s) to end it

 

This is the best assessment yet.

 

both on their best night, lewis wins inside the distance and with relative ease

 

Who would win between perhaps the best (super) heavyweight of his (modern) era versus a top 5 heavyweight (cruiserweight) from a very poor late 20s/early 30s heavyweight era? hmmm tricky.

Sharkey would need to be able to wear 6 ounce gloves from his era to even stand a fighting chance. Maybe he could thumb Lewis in the eye.

 

LL would exercise a bit of caution at first, but like turning on a light switch, the whole tenor of the bout would change when Lewis begins to bombard Sharkey like he did Rudduck, Golota and Botha....the size difference here would be the determining factor in awakening the tiger in Lewis's tank. Hurt badly at the end of the 1st,...LL picks right up where he left off in round 2. Sharkey wouldn't have had a chance against Lewis.

 

Let's look at who actually stopped Sharkey.

Rojas stopped him late in his 10th professional fight, while behind on the cards. At his stage Sharkey was 21 years old, and had been fighting as a professional for only six months.

Joe Louis stopped him in his last professional fight (no shame there obviously).

Between these two fights Sharkey fought 44 times, over a twelve year period. During this period his only stoppage losses came against Jack Dempsey, and Primo Carnera. Without getting into the debates surrounding those fights, they were both somewhat flukey stoppages.

I see no reason to assume, that Lewis is simply going to plough through him in one round, or two at the most!

 

I think Sharkey, in top form and focussed, could stall the inevitable for a handful of rounds. He had skill and was fairly quick and durable. He was, in large part, unrealized potential.

 

Seamus is not a one dimensional slugger!

 

Sharkey fought a whole heap of punchers, including ones the size of the modern crew.

He fought a ridiculous number of world class opponents, often very close together.

This is not a man whose ability to survive is in any way unproven.

He isn't even that small for goodness sake.

He was probably bigger than Holyfield minus the steroids!

 

No, not unless you want to set up a crime scene.

 

Would that necessarily favor him?