Sharkey was pissed after the Dempsey loss.

I understand Sharkey, you're beating the most famous athlete of your time, way ahead on the score and in your mind you get sucker punched trying to call a foul. That could've been the greatest night of Sharkey's life... "Protect yourself at all times" Anyways RS.

 

Can’t blame him, he was slapping Jack around for 5 rounds then got his nutsack pounded on Diddy style in those final 2 rounds before getting sucker punched. Sharkey has every right to be pissed off

 

Very true, Sharkey could’ve become a superstar AND gotten a title fight with Tunney

 

He was always an excitable head case, watch him lose his temper after the fight with Phil Scott lol he could've at least got the Tunney fight... winning the Tunney fight, I don't know about that but it would've been good money for the Gob either way he'd be getting a Dempsey rematch win or lose against Tunney, if he win's... well maybe he fights them both again?

 

Here’s the thing though Going into the fight - Sharkey had already won 2-3 fights claiming low blows. So he had a reputation. He was highly emotional fighter, check that video of him against Carnera when Carnera’s knee touched canvas second time he demands the fight to end and leaves the ring only to come back and continue fighting.

 

Boxing has often locked into some long held narratives that are completely off the mark - yet they are tied up with a pretty bow and never duly redressed.

The Dempsey - Sharkey gave rise to the famous reaffirmation of the instruction to protect yourself at all times - AS IF Sharkey consciously erred in not doing so - and that reaffirmation also served to redirect attention away from Demspey’s preceding foul.

All crap speak. Sharkey got hit square in the nuts - and anyone who has been similarly hit knows that it puts you in a world of pain, your only world without the ability to think about anything else.

After the low blow, Sharkey’s head turned in the direction of the ref - but ever so briefly and not necessarily to the ref.

That could be put down as having been merely reflexive - just as was the dropping of his hands toward the damaged area.

Sharkey reflexively reacted like anyone who had just been hit in the nuts would react - that’s why Dempsey hit him low - to bring those hands down so Jack could get that free head shot in - which of course he did.

That final punch didn’t even render Sharkey unconscious - while on the canvas, the visible overriding discomfort for the Gob was STILL from the low blow.

The general feel might be that Tunney would’ve defeated Sharkey but it would’ve made for a very interesting fight and perhaps not entirely comfortable for Gene.

 

Very fair points.

Though an intelligent guy, Sharkey was equally known for being temperamental and erratic.

However, He did seem to be putting in his best and most serious effort against Dempsey before what did appear to be a legit low blow - and, fair to say, Dempsey came into the fight with his own rep for breaching the rules at times.

 

Very very interesting

 

Yes, I agree that it seems that Sharkey did volunteer himself to fight in the trenches more than was actually necessary.

The Gob was sensational in the first round when he staggered Dempsey and knocked him across the ring with fast, perfectly on point punches thrown in dazzling combination.

Credit to the Mauler for surviving what might’ve been a first rounds KO/stoppage loss.

Still think Sharkey was doing okay though arguably fighting Dempsey’s fight.

I think it was Dempsey who was getting desperate, his punches straying ever lower until - boom, a direct hit to the nuts. Lol.

 

Could you imagine how much Sharkey's career could've skyrocketed on a first round finish of Dempsey? He might've even succeeded Tunney's heights of fame.

 

Till the great Johnny Risko came along...