Prime Tom Sharkey vs Prime Joe Jeanette

Jack Johnson easily handled Sharkey numerous times in sparring. Sharkey could do nothing with him. Jeannette was an exceptionall fighter, just a shade below Johnson and Langford. Joe would tie him up and chop him to pieces winning a clear decision. It would be a fight though as Sharkey was tough as nails and in his prime possessed great strength,a great chin and terrific stamina ...

 

From what I have read of Corbett ,he was a pretty unlikeable bloke,his conduct at the Jeffries Johnson fight , isn't exactly flattering to him,neither was spitting in Fitz's face, pulling his nose ,or suggesting he could not write his name in a hotel register.Challenging Peter Jackson,to a rematch when he was safely back in Australia didnt cover him with glory either, considering Jackson had pursued him for years.
Errol Flynn, who portrayed him in the film bio, wasnt too nice either , so maybe it ws type casting.

 

Judging by his results against Fitz ,Sharkey's belly didnt match his chin for toughness.

"In boxing ability, he was the best,and I tell you that honestly ,because I hated the man.". Tom Sharkey,talking about Jack Johnson.

 

Sharkey was a wahsed up fighter after the 2nd Jeffries match. In some ways Sharkey was a bit like Frazier in terms of his style demanded he got hit often. I don't think Johnson ever sparred with a prime Sharkey.

 

Was Sharkey washed up in 1896 ? When Fitz kod him with a body shot in 8rds,only to have a crooked referee declare him dsq'd?
Sharkey was 23 then , and only 27 when Fitz repeated the job in 2rds later.
Johnson was a spar mate for Sharkey when he was beginning his trade.I won't post the reports of the sparring because you won't beleive them anyway.

 

No Sharkey was not washed up in 1896 for Fitzsimmons. Who said that?

What dates was Sharkey's Johnson sparring partner. Please provide the news clip with a date and I'll show you Sharkey had seen better days.

 

Look Fitz is one of the most remarkable fighters that ever lived and so often over looked or looked past but the man was exceptional. He was able, twice, to flatten Sharkey when the fabled Jefferies struggled tooth and nail and never did. Fitz was simply in a class with Langford as all time pound for pound puncher.

The days when Johnson was a sparring partner for Sharkey were post 1900 but the point was that he easily handled Sharkey.

Corbett is another whole story. I have quite a bit to say about the man but have to take my kids out so willl follow up later as the weather here is raw and I will be inside w time ... (lucky for you guys, LOL).

 

I look forward to your post ,which is allways worth reading :good

 

Interesting stuff. Good find!

 

I happen to feel Corbett was an excellent fighter and tremendous physical specimen. He was about 6' 2" , a ripped 190 or so and marvelously conditioned. His speed of hand and foot were all time great. In addition, he fought the greatest fighters of his day and to his credit ducked no one. This being established he was quite cagey and was very intelligent about the terms and conditions under which he fought ...

When Corbett fought John L. , he actually managed to get Sullivan to agree to a 24 foot ring and a fight to the finish. If you read accounts of Corbett's bouts with Jackson and Sullivan, Corbett fought with his legs as much as his fists. His strategy going in was to tire the other man out over a very long distance. I do not think he would have been as effective agaist a prime Jackson or Sullivan in a fifteen round scheduled distance fight and a 18 or 20 ft ring.

Corbett's career is really two parts, pre and post Sluuivan. Up to the Sullivan bout you might never have seen a more supremely conditioned fighter. His preperation and dedication were amazing. After the Sullivan bout he did not fight or train with the same frequency and he clearly slipped. He also miscalculated his condition v.s. Fitz and it showed as he slowed down as the fight progressed and was caught.

I was extremely impress with the footage posted on this board of a 60 year old Corbett sparring with a prime Tunney. First of all we got a true indication of his size and overall physicality. He was clearly bigger than Tunney. His speed and moves for a 60 year old man were amazing. While some of his style ws obviously dated, you know he had the physical aptitude to adapt to modern day style easily. The man was a marvel.

I laugh to myself when I see so many actually think the old guys were inferior to modern fighters. Again, there is no doubt that there have been positive modernisation in styles but I always feel most would have been able to adjust and excelled by taking their existing skills and modify them.

Can anyone imagine a prime Sullivan, properly trained and conditioned, with his hand speed, chin, strength and power ? He'd be a 190 pound Tyson with heart. Corbett would be exceptional as well ...

 

Corbett berated Fitz for not giving him a return after he was kod,but he would not grant Peter Jackson the same privilege, after their draw,despite repeated requests from Jackson.
I have no problem with his ability,but from what I have read, I don't think he was a very nice man.

 

Good analysis.

I think that a lot of Corbett's skill set was timeless. He was a thinking fighter and whatever stance he fought from he would always have made his oponent look silly.

Jack McAuliffe said that Genbe Tunney was better than Jim Corbett but only because he hit harder and took a punch better. Technicaly he had them pegged about equal.

 

Jack Johnson called Corbett, "The Father Of Modern Boxing ".Pretty big compliment.

 

“Tunney was on the defensive. Corbett was brilliant. He still had bewildering speed! He mixed up his punches better than practically any fighter I’ve ever seen.”

Grantland Rice (on the Tunney Corbett sparring session)


“He told me he used to draw diagrams of defensive boxing problems, charting the position of feet and the movements of footwork. He'd diagram his position in a corner of the ring, and his opponent's position, and sketch the way he would feint and side-step, eluding a rush. It was something like a dancer charting foot positions of a new dance--always a defensive dance with Gentleman Jim.”

Gene Tunney