This content is protected What are your thoughts about this fight? I find it very entertaining, two smart and unorthodox fighters in a tactical battle, with some firepower here and there. I think that Schmeling clearly won this fight, but it's not completely one sided. Also special for @Pat M - Sharkey used uppercut a lot in this fight
GunBoat Smith was the referee and he was criticized for his verdict.It's a pretty close fight imo. Having been to loads of live cards and then rewatched them on TV, only to get a different perspective,I am reluctant to score such an old fight and confidently give a definitive verdict.Tentatively I'd vote for Max.
I think this is what's known as a hometown decision. Schmelling outboxed him clearly for the most part.
During watching this fight I realized something - Sharkey had really heavy jab. It wasn't rangy, but he could use it both as a set up as well as power punch.
I agree. I have recently seen the complete version without the overdubbed commentary this version has. In the original version, the sound is live and you can hear the punches land. Believe it or not Sharkey's jabs sound louder to me than Schmeling's. Seeing that version changed my opinion about the scoring of the fight. I used to think it was a bad decision. Now, I am more willing to accept the decision as rendered. IMO, it could have been scored either way. I agree, though, that the nationality of the fighters may have affected the outcome.
Schmeling clear for me. Sharkey retreats entire bout and his jab diminishes in second half of fight. Schmeling’s right although not noticeable on this video totally busted up sharkey’s eye. You don’t win retreating throwing a jab to a guy landed power rights. If I remember right press row had it 22 max 4 Sharkey 1 draw
Since it's not complete, I can't really render. decision. However, Sharkey does not impress. Slow-twitch mauler with no power and a lazy jab. Occasionally shows some cuteness and decent reflexes. Overall, just not much "there" there. Max looks good, aggressive, effective and the boss for the majority of the action.
The first 7 rounds are somewhat competitive of the footage we have, mainly because Max is almost too economical, but as the fight progresses you can see Max’s assertiveness take control and Sharkey’s offense becomes feeble. It’s not the whitewash the commentator makes it out to be (obviously he knew the result as it was not a live commentary) but it’s a clear 10-5, 9-6 max fight for me. I have heard that the judges also had Stribling ahead in his fight with Max - can anyone verify that for me - it seems to me - the powers didn’t like that max won the title on a foul and was a non American.
I don't watch old fights with commentary, they are usually terrible. I prefer silence to focus on what happened in ring. In the second half of the fight Schmelling really busted up Sharkey's face. After the fight, you can see through this clear film how badly Jack's face looked. Many times people say that you have to take away the title from champion, some even say that you need to do so in convincing way. In this case, not only Sharkey lost clearly in my opinion, but he didn't try hard enough to beat Max. It looks like clearly a political decision, quite a shame because it softened Schmeling legacy (at least on paper).
The one I was referring to is the same version as offered here, but without the overdubbed commentary. I bought a copy on VHS from Tony Fosco when he was still living. I watched it again a few weeks ago. As far as footage goes, the one offered here is the full theater version, I believe.
