Was Jack Sharkey one of the greatest natural talents of all time?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by janitor, May 14, 2016.


  1. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    I think there is a case.

    Consider that he turned profession with very little amateur experience, and six months later he defeated Floyd Johnson in only his sixth professional fight. Johnson went into the tank after this, but he had been considered a leading title contender only a year earlier.

    In the following year he had twelve fights that included wins over Jack Renault and Jim Maloney, and his second year as a professional sees him defeat Johny Risko.

    By the equivalent point in his career to the place where Joe Louis has won the title, he has defeated Harry Wills and George Godfrey.

    For all of his inconsistency, Sharkey’s record has a whiff of greatness to it.

    He was matched harder, earlier, than virtually any heavyweight champion in history, and he fought more elite heavyweights than virtually any other heavyweight champion.

    Emotionally he was a volatile and unstable man, but Muldoon might just have been right when he said that he was the best heavyweight in the world from the neck down!
     
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  2. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    At heavyweight, possibly.

    Considering all weights, absolutely not.
     
  3. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    Lets frame the debate at heavyweigth, to keep it simple.
     
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  4. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    What greater proof of the lacking in that era than that any palooka could walk in off the street and be a factor.
     
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  5. Mr.DagoWop

    Mr.DagoWop Boxing Junkie banned Full Member

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    That's a common misconception.
     
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  6. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    It's seems rather self-evident.
     
  7. Unforgiven

    Unforgiven VIP Member banned Full Member

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    I think a lot of the fighters of that era were similarly matched early in their careers too. Sharkey lost his fair share of early fights too so it's not so remarkable. It is probable that not all those opponents were greatly experienced with long amateur backgrounds either. Some might have been but not all.
    Not sure how we can measure "natural talent".
    Sharkey was good for sure.
     
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  8. Unforgiven

    Unforgiven VIP Member banned Full Member

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    But could they and did they ?
    I doubt it.
     
  9. ThePlugInBabies

    ThePlugInBabies ♪ ♫ Full Member

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    define 'natural talent'.

    such a vague and loose term.
     
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  10. mrkoolkevin

    mrkoolkevin Never wrestle with pigs or argue with fools Full Member

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    :deal
     
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  11. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    This is called circular logic.
     
  12. Mr.DagoWop

    Mr.DagoWop Boxing Junkie banned Full Member

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    Enlighten me
     
  13. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    In this case I am impressed by how early he was matched with serious contenders, and how quickly he rose through the ranks.
     
  14. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    Wow, we certainly disagree on this one S .
    At his best Sharkey was a hard night's work for anyone.

    If he was flying he might have beaten Tunney,who wanted nothing to do with him.
    Sharkey's problem was inconsistency.
    When he was good ,he was very good ,when he was bad he was
    sh*te!
     
  15. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    This is called a weak era.
     
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