Did Jack Sharkey say that no black fighter could ever beat him?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by InMemoryofJakeLamotta, Jun 3, 2023.



  1. Hotep Kemba

    Hotep Kemba Member Full Member

    103
    159
    Apr 19, 2023
    Why're you getting so defensive?
     
  2. SolomonDeedes

    SolomonDeedes Active Member Full Member

    1,157
    1,423
    Nov 15, 2011
    His comment before fighting Louis was: "I'll flatten him in about six heats. I always did have the Indian sign on these black boys. Look what I did to Wills and Godfrey and this guy Louis couldn't carry their gloves."

    Who knows if he actually believed this? He may just have been trying to give the fight-going public a reason to think that an ageing ex-champ who couldn't beat Tony Shucco stood a chance against Joe Louis.
     
    InMemoryofJakeLamotta likes this.
  3. InMemoryofJakeLamotta

    InMemoryofJakeLamotta I have defeated the great Seamus Full Member

    11,278
    7,340
    Sep 21, 2017
    Even if he did say it, it doesn't offend me in the least. I just wonder if he would have made the statement had he saw the likes of Tyson, Foreman, Lewis, Bowe etc
     
    KernowWarrior likes this.
  4. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

    94,389
    23,596
    Jun 2, 2006
    I think he only fought 4 Young Johnson , Wills,Godfrey, and Louis.
     
    InMemoryofJakeLamotta likes this.
  5. ThatOne

    ThatOne Boxing Addict Full Member

    3,638
    5,598
    Jan 13, 2022
    Big George would have pushed his ---- in if he didn't ----- himself after getting hit with one of his uppercuts.
     
  6. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

    69,368
    22,476
    Feb 15, 2006
    Perhaps people are being a bit too hard on Sharkey here.

    He fought the dangerous black contenders that Dempsey and Tunney refused to meet.

    Going into the Louis fight he would have been a heavy underdog, and he was probably just trying to find a narrative to sell teh fight.

    Bernard Hopkins did something similar in the run up to the Calzaghe fight, in a much less subtle manner.
     
  7. InMemoryofJakeLamotta

    InMemoryofJakeLamotta I have defeated the great Seamus Full Member

    11,278
    7,340
    Sep 21, 2017
    What did B Hop say?
     
    cross_trainer likes this.
  8. ThatOne

    ThatOne Boxing Addict Full Member

    3,638
    5,598
    Jan 13, 2022
    I'm not going to get beat by a white boy. Boxers shouldn't bring color into discussions.
     
    cross_trainer and janitor like this.
  9. JackSilver

    JackSilver Boxing Addict Full Member

    4,483
    4,287
    Jun 24, 2017
    An apart Louis how many other black men did beat him?
     
  10. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

    69,368
    22,476
    Feb 15, 2006
    He made a series of unpleasant comments in teh run up to the fight.

    "I will never let a white man beat me."

    "I will make every red blooded American proud when I whup his white ass."

    I am quoting from memory here, so don't quote me.

    This kind of thing should have been buries in the ground a long time ago, preferably under six feet of concrete.

    However you ask whether it was more excusable in Sharkey's case, or in Hopkins case.

    You might also ask whether Sharkey was worse than Tunney, or better than Tunney.
     
  11. InMemoryofJakeLamotta

    InMemoryofJakeLamotta I have defeated the great Seamus Full Member

    11,278
    7,340
    Sep 21, 2017
    Well when you make an absolute statement, all it takes is one to disprove the statement.
     
    cross_trainer and janitor like this.
  12. Saintpat

    Saintpat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    19,322
    18,298
    Jun 26, 2009
    Sharkey was an equal-opportunity racist, citing ‘Indian sign’ while saying no black man could beat him. That’s quite a double-down in one statement. Surprised he didn’t work in slurs against Jews, Hispanics and Asians while he was at it.
     
  13. scartissue

    scartissue Boxing Junkie Full Member

    8,761
    9,189
    Mar 2, 2006
    In defense of the times it was used, that was a very common term back in the day. Jersey Joe Walcott used it extensively in the buildup to his rematch with Louis and I recall Mike Quarry using it about one of his opponents. Again, a common term.
     
    InMemoryofJakeLamotta likes this.
  14. Saintpat

    Saintpat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    19,322
    18,298
    Jun 26, 2009
    Sadly, racism was more common than common sense or common courtesy. Actually, probably still is, but at least there’s awareness of it now.
     
  15. scartissue

    scartissue Boxing Junkie Full Member

    8,761
    9,189
    Mar 2, 2006
    I don’t know it’s origins but I would think possibly referring to an Indian shaman or something like that