Jack Sharkey InThe Deep End Early

Unfortunately, Pros don't fight enough for this to truly happen, and a loss is seen to derail a career, when that isn't true.

Hard sparring has replaced these types of learning experiences (for good and bad).

 

It makes sense when you take less risks the losses count for more.

If someone takes 6 risky fights, wins 4 and loses 2, that's a proven fighter, it makes sense that loss isn't held nearly the same as someone who takes one risky fight and loses.

Plus they often start when they are later, and have less room to improve.

 

Sharkey's resume starts to look a lot more impressive on closer examination!

 

Sharkey IMO the most underrated heavyweight champ, watch him on film.

 

Jack is one of the guys that I think could transition out as he was to today's cruiser-weights and-bar Usyk- beat the lot of them.

 

Very good, skilled boxer. A poor man's Larry Holmes. I've always been impressed with his ability on film.
I feel bad for him. He should, could have been the best of that early 30s crop of Heavyweights. Being forced to dump the Heavyweight Championship had to mess with his mind the rest of his life.

 

He wasn't forced to dump the heavyweight championship.

That is a ridiculous fairy tale.

He just messed up, like most champions do eventually!

 

The best version of the Sharkey from the 1920's has a very solid case as an all time top ten cruiserweight .. the man could fight.

 

I'm really starting to believe that Sharkey is underrated.

 

From the 1925 win over Risko(after one year apprenticship of boxing) until he lost the title to Carnera in 1933, he lost only to Dempsey and Schmeling in two controversial fights and a split loss to Risko. He mainly fought contenders, quality like Maloney, McTigue, Godfrey, Wills, Delaney , Heeney, Stribling, Loughran, Scott, Walker, Carnera, and Schmeling without tasting defeat. Not bad for a fighter labeled inconsistent.

 

Jack Sharkey was a terrific fighter , underrated by much of history ... as stated above , he was matched very tough at the start of his career and learned his craft .. he clearly peaked in 26 - 29 as a fighter .. by the 1930's he was past his best but he is remembered for this fights ..

 

If you read some of the outsider reports of his fight with Jack Renault, it seems like maybe Renault started slow but took the fight to Sharkey and likely would have got the nod anywhere but Boston.

 

Prime Sharkey is arguably the most impressive pre-Louis heavyweight on film. Insane reflexes in the Maloney fight

 

With the absence of @cross_trainer ill say on his behalf he is the second best Sharkey and also still no Tire Iron Jones.