Sailor Tom v Rocky

Sharkey's "victory" over Fitz came with him flat on his back after being counted out when ref Wyatt Earp decided to call a foul. Fitz dominated the bout, and ko'd Sharkey cleanly in a return. Whatever you think of the "faded" Charles of 1952, Layne went the distance and got the decision from Jack Dempsey. Of the ringside experts, Jack Hurley and Frank Yazzolino favored Layne, and Nat Fleischer voted a draw.

And I wouldn't count on a consensus that Fitz was a greater fighter than Charles.

 

I get the idea that Sharkeys standing crept up after he retired due to his epic bout with Jeffries. He was certainly regarded as a top contender in his day but some contemporary sources said that he was not in Gus Ruhlins class. Today Sharkey is an almost mythical figure and Ruhlin is largley forgotten.

Sharkey beat Corbett (basicaly twice) and KOd Ruhlin more convincingly than Fitz or Jeffries. On the flip side of the coin Rex Layne did beat Walcott and Charles once apeice.

 

Depends on when that consensus was taken and the conditions of such a bout. I think Fitz was much tougher, had better stamina, hit tons harder and took a much better punch.

As far as the Charles Layne fought, I feel he was a past his prime , former great light heavyweight and pretty good heavyweight whose legs were shot. A faded warrior.

AS far as Fitz/Sharkey, your writing as if you are uncovering some big secret. Fitz was an exceptional fighter and a killer puncher. Fitz was like a Hearns ... deadly puncher ...He did bounce around Sharkey, so what ? Sharkey went to war with Jeffries and Corbett among others and fought them on even ground. Rex Layne did this with who ? The faded Charles and ancient Walcott ? Before you argue Corbett was old too, which he was, he was no where near as shot, faded and worn as those two were ..

 

Except I don't know what point you are making regarding the thread as a whole. Fitz, Sharkey, Corbett, and Ruhlin all lost to Jeffries. Charles, Walcott, Layne, and Louis all lost to Marciano--only Marciano was a notch more decisive in vanquishing his era. He was 6-0 with 5 ko's against the four men mentioned, ko'ing them all. Jeffries was 7-0-1 with 5 ko's, drawing once with Ruhlin and failing to ko Sharkey twice.

 

1. It is no big secret about Fitz dominating Sharkey, but I don't see the point in bringing up Fitz as the evidence seems to indicate Sharkey was never able to hold his own with him.

2. Corbett was no where near as shot, faded, etc

How do you know? You are judging this on what, exactly? Did he defeat any serious fighter who weighed over 160 lbs after 1892?

3. The "faded" Charles looks pretty good on the films we have of him from 1953 and 1954, including the one with Harold Johnson.

 

The point is that Sharkey has as much chance against Rocky as Charles or Walcott did (roughly). Both of these guys gave Rocky a very hard fight, they were both in it and if circumstances were slightly different, they could have won the fights. That is the nature of any sport, including boxing. Obviously if a club fighter steps up against Rocky, he is losing 100 times out of 100. If a world Class fighter such as Sharkey steps up against Rocky then he wins at least some fights out of 100. My point was that no matter what happens, this is going to be a fight where Sharkey has his moments, perhaps even wins rounds and generally makes a fight of it. I know this, because while rocky beat similar classed opponents, he didnt dominate every second of every round against them.

If tom Sharkey were around in Rocky's day, he would be a very bona fide and valid challenger. And as we all know with boxing, when this happens, anything can happen. I picked Marciano, but a Sharkey win is not only within the realms of possibility, but it would not be as big an upset as Douglas over Tyson, Ali over Liston, Braddock over Baer etc.

 

Good compared to who, light heavyweight Johnson ? Bob Satterfield ? Your not saying either was in Marciano's class are you ?

AS far as Corbett goes, I base it on all my own reading and then studying all of Adam's terrific books on the topic of the era. What do you base your's on?

 

I can see right now the bleeding heart "intellects" will beat this topic into the ground like a dead horse........ Yeah, I saw Thomas Sharkey fight live numerous times..... I have ALL his big fights on tape....... I studied him well........ CHRIST! Gimmie a break....

Marciano CLEANS his clock.......... 'Nuff said.....

MR.BILL

 

Based on your review of the films ?

 

This content is protected

 

I didn't know "kids" fought for our country. I bust my butt everyday doing one of the most dangerous jobs alive so fat sack of shits like you can live a easy going life in your air conditioned office everyday without having to worry. I protect you. Show some respect "Man".


ps Your boxing knowledge on old timers stinks!

 

Interesting..

However your forgetting one thing. The Color Line. Sharkey did not take on the black heavyweight contenders of the day. Just imagine if Marciano refused to take on black fighters? I have sparring clip of Gus Ruhlin vs Denver Ed Martin. Martin toys with Ruhlin. It further illustrates my point that the blacks of the day were shunned from the title held by the whites partly due to fear. Could Sharkey have taken 6'6 Denver Ed Martin? or big Hank Griffin? or Tough Cookie Frank Childs? or Bob Armstrong? or a young Jack Johnson? Sharkey's legacy is a bit of a mystery due to this reason alone. I would not rate him over James Corbett. Corbett was still a good fighter when Sharkey beat him, but he certainly was past his prime. I suspect Corbett in his prime would have boxed circles around Sharkey. As would Charles and Walcott.

 

So despite Corbett having not won a fight in SIX years prior to fight James Jeffries, he was less "Faded" than Walcott(who was coming off back to back victories over a Prime ezzard Charles, and was heavyweight champion) and Charles(coming off two knockout victories over top 10 contenders). Does this make any sense at all?

 

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5j2F4VcBmeo[/ame]

 

I'm old school, but Tom Sharkey ain't gonna hammer "The Rock" in a time machine..... No way, Jose....... Marciano by KO over "The Shark." Peace......

MR.BILL