BOXING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 264, 20 August 1936, Page 2

BOXING.

LOUIS DEFEATS SHARKEY. KNOCKED OUT IN THIRD ROUND. United Press Association—Copyright"* NEW YORK, August 18. About 35,000 gathered in the Yankee Stadium to watch Jack Sharkey’s attempt to defeat. Joe Louis in his come-back campaign for the heavy-weight championship. Louis knocked out Sharkey in the third round. In spite of conflicting reports regarding the negro’s physical and mental condition, lie' was a firm favourite in ringside betting to defeat the Boston heavyweight. Some interest was added to the bout with the announcement that Braddock, the world champion, must undergo an operation to a hand, and as a result a championship bout with Schmeling was impossible this year. Sharkey, in the event of winning, was expected to be matched with Schmeling. Louis weighed 16st 6flb, and Sharkey 13st 51b. Louis wasted little' time in demonstrating his superiority over Sharkey. In the first round, after an exchange of light lefts to the head, the negro opened a two-fisted attack to the head and body, which Sharkey was unable to counter, and Louis easily won the round. In the second round Sharkey landed a few ineffective blows, but emerged from a clinch with a bleeding gash over the left eye. A hard attack by Louis drove Sharkey to the ropes, where he was drojiped by a long right for a count of nine. As he staggered to liis feet Louis opened another two-handed barrage, this

time sending Sharkey to the floor for a count of eight. Sharkey was dazed as he retired to his corner at the end of the round. In the third round Sharkey was trying desperately. He was short with a left to the head, and then landed a weak left to the jaw. Louis again floored Sharkey for a count of eight with two right chops to the jaw, and whe'n he staggered to his feet the negro dropped him for the full count with a right to the head and a left to the body. The round had been in progress for lmin 2sec. Louis fought a cool, easy bout, totally different from his effort against Sehmeling, and reminded ringsiders of his long string of knock-out performances before he lost to the German. Expert opinion varies as to whether the negro has regained his previous form or merely scored through the ineffectiveness of Sharkey, who is obviously no longer of championship calibre.

The fight receipts totalled 150,000 dollars.