Joe Goddard The San Francisco call., November 19, 1897, Page 12, Image 12 https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a...---en--20--1--txt-txIN-sharkey+ruhlin-------1 Joe Choynski (actually a draw, but **** it) The San Francisco call., March 12, 1898, Page 7, Image 7 https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...eq-7/#words=sharkey+choynski+Sharkey+choynski Gus Ruhlin San Francisco Call, Volume 84, Number 30, 30 June 1898 https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a...---en--20--1--txt-txIN-sharkey+ruhlin-------1 Corbett (bull**** ending, but he was doing well) The sun., November 23, 1898, Page 2, Image 2 https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/.../seq-2/#words=sharkey+corbett+Sharkey+corbett McCoy The sun., January 11, 1899, Starts on Page 1, mostly on Page 2, Image 2 https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030272/1899-01-11/ed-1/seq-1/ Choynski Rock Island Argus., May 09, 1900, Image 1 https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...eq-1/#words=sharkey+choynski+Sharkey+choynski
High praise for his day, indeed! To be compared to John L. In print likely was not just a compliment that was tossed about
Note that Sharkey is praised for his clean tactics in the Ruhlin fight. This is not the only contemporary source that I have seen, that questions the perception of Sharkey as a dirty fighter.
Sharkey has better wins than John L does, and IMO could have beaten him. Sullivan once spared with Sharkey and felt he would be champion. Fast boxers like Corbett, McCoy or Choynski could non keep away from Sharkey, meaning he must have had fast feet and hands to catch up to them and land. A less refined two fisted Joe Frazier type, with a better chin and less defense and similar energy is what I picture. Sharkey had to be durable. Punchers like Jeffries, Choynski and McCoy could not put him away,