This content is protected 1. Both landed very well, but Sharkey did it a little more often than Walker did. Sharkey was also the better man in the clinches. Sharkey. (rounds 2-4 not supplied) 5. Sharkey looked like the Octopus. He showed great speed inside. Walker launched a huge left hook, but slipped and fell. Now, I think Walker would have fallen despite what happened. By listening to the commentator, and by watching the ref, it looks like Walker slipped, but Sharkey actually knocked him down. I put the video on .25, and Sharkey throws a right uppercut at Walker, as he's lunging, that lands. I think it was a little controversial, as, as I said, Walker probably would have fallen anyway. Walker went on to give a good account of himself though. Later on, he again leaped out with a wild left hook which missed, but he quickly followed up with another one which stopped Sharkey for a moment. It was Walker's best success in the fight thus far. The round was given to Walker, and although it was close, I had to give it to Sharkey. 7. Walker scored his best in this round. He landed many good blows. Walker. 11. Walker peppered Sharkey in this round with quite a few great shots. Walker. 15. Uneventful. Even. Although many rounds are missing, I feel that the ones we can watch reflect pretty well the way the fight must have gone. Sharkey appeared to be winning the contest early, Walker came on in the middle rounds and maintained his success until late. Sharkey was tiring a lot worse than Walker, but neutralized Walker's attacks with clinches in the last few rounds, thus making those even. That's my guess. Both looked good in this fight, but I feel that Walker proved more. I would have to imagine the fight was more embarrassing to Sharkey, who drew with an older, smaller fighter, though more experienced. Personally, I thought a draw looked fair. Still, as I've watched Sharkey, I've noticed especially in his recent fights, including this one, that he's been improving as a fighter. Verdict: I thought it was a good fight. Take a look at it.
Nothing to add to your evaluation, although my take is Sharkey doesn't look all that good considering the size differential. Walker was impressive.
Just imagine if the decision had gone to Walker? You would have a former welterweight champion defeating a future heavyweight champion, and far from a bad one. However in that timeline, Sharkey probably never becomes champion. Walker likely challenges Schmeling in Sharkey's place, I have to assume loses, and Sharkey is only remembered as an outstanding contender. You might even have seen Walker Carnera at some point!
From what I've seen of the footage and reports of this, my overall impression is Walker was pretty lucky to get the draw.
I decided to have a proper go through of the reports. Very varied opinions, several saying it was clear one way or the other, others having it close.. This is the tally of the reports I've gone through (I'll keep looking and add more I find) For Sharkey The Brooklyn Daily Times (Charles Vackner) The Standard Union (Murray Robinson) Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Ed Hughes) The Evening Star (Walter Trumbull) Boston Herald (Burt Whitman) Springfield Republican (James J Corbett) International New Service (James L Kilgallen)(from the Minneapolis Star) United Press (Dixon Stewart) (The Orlean Evening Times) For Walker Daily News (Jack Farrell) The Brooklyn Citizen (WM. J. Granger) Asbury Park Press (William S Conklin) Universal Service Inc (Damon Runyon) (from The Enquirer (Cincinnati)) Chicago Tribune (Westbrook Pegler) The Jersey Journal (Wilbur Wood) Even Associated Press (Alan Gould) (From the San Francisco Examiner) Perry Lewis (The Philadelphia Inquirer) North American Newspaper Alliance (Grantland Rice) (The Dallas Morning News) International News Service (Bill Corum) (The Denver Post) I concede it's possible the reports I've found may not be representative. I did see the report stating 16 of 21 ringside reporter gave it to Walker, stating Gene Tunney gave it to Walker, while James A Farley (chairman of the New York Boxing Commission) gave it to Sharkey. The Boston Herald stated 16 of 27 reporters ringside, 16 gave it to Walker, while 11 gave it to Sharkey. I'm not sure what to make to those polls since, especially the first one really doesn't match what the reports show (I've already found more people giving it to Sharkey than did according to that poll). Possibly excitement over Walker doing better than expected.
