Lennox Lewis vs Jack Sharkey

Sharkey would have made it to round two at the most.

 

How can you make this sort of prediction, when nobody stopped Sharkey in 1-2 rounds, or even came particularly close to doing it?

It is just nonsense.

Predictions have to be based on something tangible.

 

So, just how "tangible" is a fantasy match-up in boxing, anyway?

 

Not very, but you can at least try to work within what you have some sort of precedent for!

Everything that we have seen from Sharkey, suggests that he had some degree of success frustrating his opponents, whether he won or lost.

 

Apart from a young Joe Louis, who he was lucky make it through the second round against.
Lewis is only a short step away from Louis, in terms of level, with an extra 3st. or so in muscle and bone to deliver with.

 

At the risk of stating the obvious, that was his last professional fight.

I don't think that even Louis's most ardent supporters, would argue that he beat a prime Jack Sharkey.

 

So when you say, we would be justified in favoring Tommy Burns to beat Deontay Wilder, you base this on... what tangible evidence??

 

I know - and, Louis hadn't peaked yet, either.
Conversely, an old Dempsey knocked out Sharkey in his prime.
But, age is not the point.

It's a matter of levels and so one good question is, to whom did Sharkey give trouble, who was on Lennox Lewis' level?

 

It isn't nonsense...it's based on the entirely new set of intangibles that Lennox Lewis brings to the table...he was so much bigger, stronger, so powerful...as Ruddock, Botha, Golota found out....not the cautious, chess playing Lewis that fought Holyfield, but the forward attacking, aggressive, lethal Lewis who could start off so fast...and was capable of ambushing a guy so much smaller than him like Jack Sharkey. I'm amazed I have to "word" this thing to death when you know very well what I'm talking about. You're overestimating Sharkey's ability to cope with a big, dangerous, lethal guy like LL who could do in 1 or 2 rounds what it took the big clumsy, far less potent Carnera 6 rounds to do.

 

A prime Sharkey doesn't last any longer, or fare any better with the Brown Bomber than Bob Pastor did in his rematch with Lewis.

 

Two of my favourite fighters. I rate LL top 5 of all-time, higher h2h. No doubt he wins here, Sharkey was not a concussive puncher. But I see it as competitive. The nearest Lennox met to Sharkey was Ocasio and Holy, both did well. Jack was tough, very clever, skilled, fast, durable and hit hard enough to keep Lennox honest. He could handle big, heavy men but none with Lewis' ability or power. But if you doubt that Sharkey COULD SURVIVE to a points defeat watch his first Schmeling, Loughran and Carnera fights and you might change your mind.

 

I've no doubt Sharkey was tough, but he did fall to naturally heavy punchers. Was he really clever enough and tough enough to avoid and, if not, withstand the power and armory of Lewis?

I can imagine a Lewis uppercut ending this one early (although, I would not entirely discount Sharkey holding out for a while).

 

One of those typical 6 foot 1 and a half super-heavyweights. He was 220 when he fought Sharkey. I fail to see why the use of steroids or weights is supposed to make Holyfield smaller and the lack of use make Godfrey bigger.

 

Shakes biggest problem was between his ears. He was very inconsistent. But when he was on, he was highly skilled, excellent counterpuncher, quick footwork, good reflexes. The too version of Sharkey can possibly last the distance and grab a few rounds.