It's impossible to say whether it was fixed or not. Studying footage doesn't really tell us what went on behind the scenes. I will say that Sharkey's subsequent record and abilities were pretty dismal, and that Carnera was an improved fighter on what he had been a few years before, so it's not a particularly peculiar result.
I just can't watch the footage and see anything other than a knockout. Sometimes a champion fails to show a weaker fighter respect, and ends up getting his head handed to him. That is basically what happened here.
To be honest, Carnera has a pretty darn deep resume, for a non top 10 heavyweight. The criticism of him turns on other factors.
To his end days Jack always told the story the same, he said he couldn't get around Primo's jab as in their first go, that it came at him like a phone pole the whole fight. He said he didn't see or recall the punch that put him out, it just did.
His resume is impressive if the fights were on the level. He doesn't look impressive on film to me but his sheer size for the era probably gave some fighters fits. I don't really count the Schaaf victory as he was ill during the fight and clearly not himself. Then if I throw out the Stribling and Godfrey fights, his resume is still very solid. Uzcudun 2x Levinsky 2x A split with Jim Maloney A split with Sharkey Tommy Loughran Walter Neusel All in all a very solid resume. Not hall of fame material but certaintly better than what he gets credited for.
I think we view is resume in pretty much the same way. I would add that Art Lasky was a good win for the era. I have never watched the Schaff fight, and I never will. Schaff would not have been allowed in the ring today, in that condition. It should be noted however that the question of the next title challenger, had pretty much come down to Carnera or Schaff, so the tragic outcome of the fight left the way open for Carnera to challenge Sharkey.
Schaaf did not die in the ring he lingered for several days even talking to his mother before passing away. Several members of The Detroit Purple Gang were seen at Sharkey's training camp , wanting to take a dive and being frightened into taking one are two different things.
