Jack Sharkey in the 70s

OK, let's say he makes it to the tournament. Leotis Martin was the bottom man in that tourney, only being drawn into it due to Frazier declining. So Sharkey would be fighting Martin's opponent and eventual tourney winner Jimmy Ellis. I believe Sharkey would pound out a 12 round decision over Ellis by turning aggressor in a good scrap. Next he would fight Bonavena. I recall years ago Boxing Illustrated conducting a very broad mythical tourney and Sharkey and Oscar were matched and they had Jack winning an easy 10 round decision. I don't see anyone winning an easy 10 round decision over Bonavena. He was a hard man. Still, if Jack stuck to his gameplan and boxed (he could box and punch when he wanted to, just getting him to stick to a plan) he could pull out a decision over 12. Easier said than done as Oscar could give someone known to be a bit of a headcase real fits whether it be pre-fight or during the fight. In the finals, he would be fighting his counterpart. A man who could box, punch, similar build and was known to be as temperamental as Jack was. Again, he could pull out a 15 round decision by boxing smart (I know I've dropped all the variables these fights could pose, but for the sake of the question I'll continue). Ellis had title defenses aborted against Henry Cooper, Gregorio Peralta and Robert Cleroux. I believe Jack would have gotten through each of these challenges without too much bother. As for the Floyd Patterson fight, man I don't know if Jack would have gotten past Floyd. I have seen the Ellis-Patterson fight and I did feel Floyd deserved the verdict. Jack would have had to been all over Floyd from the start of the fight, smothering him, which he could do in some of the film I've seen on him. This is a tough one, but if he gets by it will be on work rate because in this fight Floyd had long stretches of inactivity during several rounds. OK, through attrition Jack has made it to the Garden and the Frazier fight. No meeting Ali in the FOTC. Styles make fights and Frazier eats up Jack in 5 or 6 rounds.

Scartissue

 

Damn good post ... we saw that an older Dempsey was getting to him at the body ... imagine a prime Frazier ? :nut

 

actually I did not see that. What I saw is sharkey badly stun dempsey early and then proceed to thoroughly outbox him the rest of the fight and win 5 of the first 6 rounds......until dempsey got dirty and hit him cheaply low.

 

again, it's how one sees a fight ...I've watched it many times and see Sharkey getting tired, getting hit more and more as the rounds move on ... scoring more is bursts than dominating rounds as he had in the start ...