Schmeling-Sharkey II 1932 one of the worst decisions of all time

I know but none picked Schmeling. Boston was known as a homer town still is to an extent so the fact none went for Schmeling isn't really surprising.

You said you only listed newspaper reporters but you Have Tunney listed. Did he write a report for the fight?

Most of the big name reporters of the day seem to have favored Schmeling.

 

Yes, Tunney wrote a piece for International News Service.

 

Well the fact names like Grantland Rice, Damon Runyan, Hype Igoe among reporters picked Schmeling along with the likes of a respected champion like Tunney and the fact that the majority of reporters overall picked Schmeling leads me to believe the judges got it wrong.

To say nothing of the limited footage we have of the fight which to me shows Schmeling being the effective aggressor and winning the fight.

Maybe robbery is too strong at 25-15 tally among reporters but Schmeling was the champ I feel comfortable in saying he deserved the nod.

 

"Schmeling was the champ"

But he had won the title on a foul against Sharkey. It is certainly understandable and I think fair that he wouldn't get the usual "champ's edge" in this one.

 

I agree with this position. Many "robberies" which are on film just show a close fight with contrasting styles which might appeal or not depending on the fan viewing it. Graham-Gavilan, Maxim-Patterson, Ellis-Patterson are good examples.

 

Do you feel that way with Schmeling vs Sharkey?
From the footage I see which admittedly is not the entire fight I see a clear edge for Max after the early rounds.
My own 2 eyes coupled with press row scoring and people like Walker and Tunney siding with Max a foreigner leads me to believe it was a poor decision.

America didn't want the belt to go back to Europe plus the fact as you mentioned he won the title on a foul leads me to believe that Max was fighting against a stacked deck. I don't think his manager would of exploded like he did proclaiming we was robbed unless he felt that way.

Does a full version of the fight exist?

 

Newspaper accounts are very much in favor that Max won the bout. However some point out that Sharkey did box beautifully. One newspaper stated that the general consensus was Max won by a
8-6-1 round tally.

 

That's why I said "Not a robbery, just a controversial decision". 42% of reporters didn't score the bout for Schmeling.

 

Well if you remove the draws. 62.5 picked Schmeling 37.5 for Sharkey. Throw in the mayor and it's 65-35.

Not a robbery but the person in the minority got the nod. If your information is correct which I assume it is.

Good stuff. Thx for your comprehensive sourcing.
Still think Schmeling had an uphill battle to retain his title on NY.

 

You can't simply remove the draws. I can find examples, where the majority of reporters scored the bout a draw, with just several newspapers voting for one or other fighter. Imagine 10 votes for a draw, 3 for fighter A, and 1 for fighter B. Does this become a clear fighter A victory, because without draws it's 3-1 in his favor?

 

Only 35% had Sharkey winning.

But newspaper opinions are to be taken with a pinch of salt anyway.

 

True I'm just saying Sharkey doesn't crack 40 percent for winning.

 

I respect Tunney his response to the bout carries weight with me. Also the more notable and esteemed boxing writers seemed to side with Schmeling.
Add in that Schmeling was the foreign fighter, fighting on American soil and still the majority of the American press sided with Max, I can say confidently that it was a poor decision.

 

Jack never physically regained the form he displayed against Dempsey once the 30's rolled in, reminding me of how once Quarry lost his prime and became a little soft he never did either. Jack just looked plain bad here, soft jab, soft counters, not very strong and not very fast, pretty much the same look he displayed later in being ko'd by Primo. Max on the other hand could have upped his all time status with a stoppage of Jack here but did everything but. It was bouts like this that had Fleisher include Max in his top ten heavies.

 

Of the footage available, I see Schmeling way ahead. Sharkey seemed to rely on a jab that stopped about six inches short of Schmeling while Max's jab kept popping Sharkey's head back.

"Does a full version of the fight exist?"

I don't know.