I think a prime Sharkey could have been very competitive oj the 70's .. Keep in mind , Ali and Foreman at 6' 3" were huge guys for the era ..
As is the case so many times in these inter-generational comparisons among heavyweights, P4P he'd be competitive, but size-wise, he'd be over-matched in most cases. I say competitive, not that he would win the title. Ali, Frazier, and Foreman are likely to be insurmountable obstacles even at match weight.
How competitive of a fight do you think he can make against Ali, Frazier, Holmes, Foreman, Holmes, Norton if at all?
Doesn’t do great… Norton and Frazier are bad match ups for Sharkey. Ellis, Mathis, Patterson, Quarry and Lyle are good choices for him? Foreman, Young and Ali I’m iffy on, Ali was at his best against mastiff type brawlers… I think Sharkeys weird jerky style could eek out a bizarre looking split decisions same as with Young no one would care if he got robbed, no one would rewatch those bouts to question it either lol. Foreman either destroys him or gasses out, I think Sharkey is a bit too fox witted for Zaire George and the one vs Young stops him if he sticks to his jab.
I thought I added (at least I attempted to add) in my original answer that he wouldn't be competitive against Ali, Frazier, and Foreman in any event even with matched weights. Don't know where that comment went. At match weights I think he could be competitive with the others, but who the hell knows? And I don't really care. I try to enjoy the fighters for what they did in their own eras. I'm not sure why I got into this mess anyway?! I try to avoid fantasy fights as being a pointless exercise and a time waster. It must have been because I like Jack Sharkey and wanted to stand up for him. I'll try not to make that mistake again! By the way, I consider Holmes to be a man of the '80s.
It’s simple Sharkey is about a Quarry. H2H I take Quarry in a very tough fight. But that’s about Sharkeys level. Hes not beating Frazier Ali Norton Foreman Jimmy Young Larry Holmes. Chuvalo Bonavena Quarry Ellis would be interesting but I’m only picking him against Chuvalo.
Now that would be an interesting fight, a true test of inter-generational prowess! Both fought with similar style gloves (maybe Quarry would have used gloves weighing 2 oz. more ??, but at least the gloves had thumbs), similar ring sizes (as negotiated between the parties), similar round durations (10 for non-title and 15 for title bouts), similar knock-down rules (I think the three-knockdown rule was still being waived in championship bouts when Quarry was boxing, but I'm not sure), similar same-day weigh-in rules (although that would not have mattered much for heavyweights unless there was a contractual requirement to make a specific weight), and similar conditioning practices (traditional methods of training and no steroids!) etc., etc.
Sharkey was born in 1902 meaning he'd turn 68 in 1970 and 77 in 1979. I can see 77 year old Sharkey losing a close split decision to Larry Holmes in 1979
If you put him in the tournament to find Ali's successor, then he is arguably the betting favorite, with the usual caveats that attend him. It is not strictly impossible that he beats one of the big beasts of that era, it is just improbable.
You may be correct. Sharkey was sadly exposed by Joe Louis, but in the intervening years, he became an expert fly fisherman. That flick of the wrist in casting the fly, endlessly repeated, could only have enhanced his overhand right. Such a weapon might make a difference in the outcome of such a fight, as it nearly did when Ernie Shavers fought Holmes.