I doubt it'd be too controversial to say Wills was shot for their actual fight, though feel free to argue against if you disagree So, if you took each in their prime, who do you think would have won?
I think Sharkey always poses problems for Wills, I however am someone that feels Wills is overrated. Just way too many repeat opponents on Wills record for me to be believe that each bout was either 1. On the level or 2. Some measure of complacency didn’t come over the combatants to give their all. Sharkey handled Wills with ease and was on verge of ko when ref stepped in and waved bout off - some believe to save the gamblers from losing their shirt - by making a dq loss. I know Wills is post prime in his recorded fights but against madden, Firpo, and Uzcudon- I don’t see what all the fuss was about. Yeah it’s a disservice to judge Wills on those bouts, but that coupled with his continuous round robin of fights against the same small handful of opponents leaves me skeptical to just how good he was. Sharkey on the other hand does impress on film, and also had many good wins and was quick. Something I believe may have troubled Wills.
Pretty even fight imo.Sharkey on a good night could hold his own with most anyone. I do feel Wills may be a trifle overated as well,granted he was past his best in the clips we have, but he looks quite slow and more of a clincher than a dynamic boxer/puncher. Good subject for a thread BTW!
Wills disappoints on film. Jack Sharkey was an off and on type of fighter. I'd probably take Sharkey in a 10 round match. 15 rounds, 50/50 as Jack Sharkey did not have the best chin.
Hard to say really, but you might be inclined to favor the more consistent Mr Wills. When the inevitable thread "Best wins of Jack Sharkey" comes along, I will consider his win over Wills for the "best win" category.
I don't know where the Sharkey had a weak chin notion came from, as from Rojas in 1924 to the Carnera KO(?) in 1933 nobody put a dent in Sharkey except Dempsey in that controversial finish. I too suspect Wills was a tad overrated and Sharkey had the style to give him fits.