SHARKEY WINS

Evening Star, Issue 20422, 1 March 1930, Page 13

SHARKEY WINS

A POOR EXHIBITION SCOTT OIiTMATCKO Pres* Association —By Telegraph Copyright. NEW YORK, February 27. Sharkey was awarded a technical knock-out,, which occurred amidst scenes of such confusion as have not attended an American heavy-weight _ contest in , years. The end came two minutes oner the beginning of the third round, Scott hanging over the ropes an 1 vainly claiming a foul; Sharkey had come out at the bell with a hull-;iko rush, scoring a knock-down with a left to the stomach. Scott at this time did not claim any foul, but Sharkev followed with a series of left hooks which observers declare were pretty_ low. The Englishman went down this time crying “foul.” ' FIRST ROUND. In the first round; Scott clinched a,nd backed away as Sharkey landed terrific rights to the bbdy and the head, driving the Englishman to the ropes. Scott ’ parried more' or less successfully towards the end of the round, which was Sharkey’s. SECOND ROUND. The American forced Scott to his knees in his corner for a count of six an the second round, employing a shower of blows which pushed, rather than knocked, his opponent down. Scott , rose and boxed well, ‘landing a right - uppercut to the body. Scott was bleeding from the nose." It was Sharkey’s round. THIRD ROUND. In the third round Scott swung the American halfway through the ropes . with blows from both hands, then landed several times on the jaw. Sharkey flew at his opponent, sending him down on one knee for a count of three with a left to the body. The American was warned for bitting low, but dropped Scott with another left to the body, and the Englishman rolled' over, his manager stepping into the ring. There was immediately great confusion. The referee reserved his decision and examined Scott, who was apparently in distress. He was taken to his corner and tried to get up, hut from his grimacing ho appeared to be in pain. The referee motioned the fighters to continue, and the seconds left the ring. Scott tried to hand one to Sharkey, but the latter sent a left to the body, followed by another, which caused the Englishman to sag and go down against the ropes. While the count was stopped for nearly a minute the referee examined Scott, and thereafter declared ■ that ho must go on. Scott made a vain effort to put up his •guard, hut a few seconds afterwards the end came with a left hook high to the body, which caused Scott to crumble against the ropes. The referee stepped between the fighters. Sharkey backed away, and the referee raised the American’s hand as a token that he was the winner. .- Later the referee issued a statement to the effect that at no- time had any of Sharkey’s blows been low. “I told Scott he had been hit fairly and must continue or be disqualified.”

, ; SHARKEY'S LACK OF‘SELF- ‘ ;:1 CONTROL.. >' i NEW YORK, February 28. Sharkey made u terrible exhibition of himself when he discovered that Scott jwas claiming a foul. He raced across the ring, brandishing his gloves and screaming blasphemy. The referee drove him away, but he leaped and .howled in his corner, with tears streara!mg down his, face like a spoilt child, still shouting evil language. All this occurred while the managers, the bottle-holders, and several policemen stood about the ring amid scenes of great excitement.

WNim QF GIHTI6S fwl new hiiim VANCOUVER, February 28. .(Received March 1, at 10.45 a.m.) A sporting writer (Mr Charles , Smith) said he wept to Scott’s room with two doctors following the fight. They examined Scott, as he lay still in great pain. They agreed that Scott was suffering from a foul blow. The examination revealed evidence of a foul blow in the groin. British sports writers at the ringside gave their opinion that Sharkey used unnecessary ■unfair''' tactics,-and struck Scott more than a few obviously foul punches. They believed that Sharkey deserved disqualification. Mr Damon Runyan, reported for the ELearst newspapers, said: “Magnolia did not see the low f/unch, but 10,000 eyes did. 1 saw'it, and a foul is a foul.” i Tnnnoy and Stribling, who witnessed the fight, gave as their verdict, “Scott quit. • Mr Charles Smith says; “The tight was a veritable realisation of the presentiments that had been bothering Scott and his companions in catnp for weeks. They feared and openly discussed the possibility of just what happened. That a mix-up would occur, and with Magnolia in the ring Scott wonJd get the worst of it.” PRELIMINARY BOUTS BIANCHI KNOCKS OUT DARING. NEW .YORK, February 27. Bianchi (14et 101 b) knocked out Daring (14st 41b) after 2min 25sec in the first round, with a short right-hand punch to the jaw. Bianchi, who is an Argentinian, won with that surprising suddenness which makes it impossible to judge bis real fighting capacities. MALONEY AND DOUQUILLON. Maloney (14st .21b) and Douquillon (13st 31b) opened slowly. The Frenchman staggered Maloney in the third £J£pd with an overhand right to the jaw. They meandered uninterestingly vVmg thereafter, their awkwardness milking it a sorry exhibition. The frenchman’s left eye was closed by Maloney’s jabs. Tn the sixth round he was very tired, and a better man than Maloney might have finished him at any time. The Frenchman was in a bad way in the ninth, and ho was helpless in the tenth, but_ the American could only gain the decision. CAMPOLO AND RISKO DRAW.

Campolo (16st 21b) drew with Bfeko (14st). Campolo, with a right to the back of the head, knocked Risko tO: Ins knees in the first round, iho Argentinian’s great height was an advantage, but the American was fighting mriously. They mixed it sharply. Ihsko took the second and third, the fomth

was even, but throughout Risko showed up well. Campolo was mixing it and driving his opponent before him. In the fifth the Argentinian nearly lifted Risko with body blows. The sixth, seventh, and eighth rounds were Risko’s, a hard right and left hooks to the body and the head giving him the advantage. Campolo’s left eye was badly swollen. Risko sent the Argentinian 1 ) the ropes in the eighth with a left to the stomach and staggered him with right and lefts to the jaw. The Argentinian shook his head from the blows. Campolo did little fighting in the ninth, Risko chopping his blows to the body at close quarters. Campolo in the tenth hammered Risko’s head hard with rights, and forced the fighting, compelling the American to hold on. Risko was badly tired, and was taking punishment at the bell, LOUC, lAN BEATS CHARLES. Loughran (13st 9-ilb) won a tenround decision from Charles (14st 131 b) by virtue of his superior technique. However, the winner demonstrated that he is no longer a serious opponent for the heavy-weights, for Charles rocked and cut him badly.

ssoTi mmmn .SHARKEY’S EARLY XiCTORY. [By Hooksk X Sportsmen will deplore Jack Sharkey’s exhibition when they discover that Phil Scott has claimed a foul, but it will possibly be found that first reports of the incident are somewhat over-exaggerated. Be that as it may, it cannot be denied that Scott has been concerned in a number of contests in which he has won on a foul, and in his most recent bout with Otto Von Porat he won little kudos for himself when he protested vehemently that he had been fouled, being, awarded the decision, though many American writers expressed the opinion that he would have established himself in greater favour had he elected to continue. Sharkey is a good, solid fighter, and it was only ill-luck that prevented him from beating Jack Dempsey, many American writers alleging that Sharkey had been beaten into submission after a foul punch had been landed. Sharkey is a terrific body puncher, and that is not what ; Scott likes. That seems to be where the fight was won and lost. Sharkey has further justified American claims that he is the best of the present bunch of heavy-weights, though one would give a lot to see another Jack Dempsey getting in among them. Of the likely contenders for the titles, the only formidable ones Sharkey has yet to meet are 'Max Schmeling a-ndPnmo Camera, and events are hastening on to a stage where he will be engaged with one or other of this pair. The most interesting aspect of the Scott-Sharkey contest was that although British fighters have been engaged m world’s title bouts during tho past twenty years or so, it is thirtysix years-since a champion of England met a champion of America prior to the present contest. Bob Fitzsimmons was a Cornishraan by birth, though his talents as a fighting man were discovered in Timaru, where he one? I ■"t four men- in one night. Tom Heeuey was New Zealand’s own representatii*, and there have been other British challengers. - It was in 1894 that the champions of the two countries met, James J. Corbett defeating Charlie Mitchell, in three rounds at Jacksonville, Florida. SHARKEY’S RECORD.

Jack Sharkey is a LithuanianAmerican by nationality, his baptismal name being John Coccoskey. Born at Binghampton, Now York, on October 0, 1902, he made his first serious attempt to win honours at boxing in 1924, his first victory of note being when he knocked out Dan Lucas in two rounds. Bill Muldoon was despatched in one, and Pat Hace in two. Eddie Record was outed in seven rounds, another meeting between the pair going to Record on points. Sharkey picked up decisions over Homer Smith, Floyd Johnson, and A 1 Roberts, fought nodecision bouts with Charlie Weinert and Young Jack Johnson, and was knocked out by Romero Rojas, a Spanish-Indian heavy-weight, in nine rounds. Jim Maloney, Boston heavyweight, won on points. The following year saw Sharkey coming into prominence, and he beat such fighters as Jack De Have (ten rounds), Sully Montgomery (ten rounds), Jack Renault, Canadian heavy-weight champion (in 10 rounds), George Cook, wellknown Australian heavy-weight (in ten rounds), King Solomon (in ten rounds), Johnny Risko (ton), and Jim Maloney (ten). Maloney also lost to Sharkey on a foul, and Charlie Weinert and Bud Gormau both outpointed the present American champion. The year 1926 was an eventful one for Sharkey, for after winning against Eddie Huffman (ten rounds), Mex. Joe Lawson (by a k.o. in the tenth round), King Solomon (one round), Bud Gorman (foul, two rounds), Orlando Riverbi (one round), and George Godfrey (ten rounds), ho < entered the really big money by winning on a foul from Harry Wills, the negro menace. In seven round he won on a technical knock out against Homer Smith, and after outing Jim Maloney in five rounds the following year got his big chance when he was matched with Jack Dempsey in a fight that has since become history. The receipts wore in the vicinity of £200,000. Sharkey’s share being round about £35,000. Sharkey was on the way to victory in that match when Dempsey allegedly fouled him. The referee ruled otherwise, and the fight was awarded to Dempsey on a knockout in the seventh round.

Sharkey was not done with, however, and while Heeney was fighting his way to the title with Gene Tnnney, Sharkey fought a twelve-round draw with the New Zealander. Then ho dropped a decision to Johnny Risko, but outed Jack Delaney and Leo Gates, gradually fighting his way back until he won recognition on Gono Tunney’s retirement as the legitimate American _ heavyweight champion. His activities last year entitled him to the distinction, in the opinion of leading American critics, for lie beat Young Stribling, the best available opponent at the time, and knocked out a really great fighter in Tommy Laughran in throe rounds. Loughran was the undefeated light heavy-weight champion of the world at tho time, but Sharkey fought so well that night that he made Loughran’s efforts seem futile. He had not been regarded as a colourful fighter before that, though he always proved a good box office attraction. He has been somewhat but during the last twelve months his form has been consistently good, and if he can now dispose of Max Schmeling ho will probably be recognised as the world’s heavy-weight champion. SCOTT’S CAREER.

Phil Scott is on© of the few men who have been bowled over several times and yet been able to come back and meet with considerable success subsequently. If Sharkey is an in-and-out tighter, Scott has been more so. and frequently before his latest trip to America the critics were advancing all sorts of reasons for the fact that ho fell short of championship requirements. Some said he lacked

ambition, others that ho did not possess a fighting heart. Bo that as it may, it may be fairly stated, in spito of his latest defeat, that Scott is a good solid fighter without being a real champion, even in tlio conipiuiy finds himself in the heavy-weight division to-day. Scott’s real name is Phil Sufmng, and ho was born at London in 1903. He started ring activity in 1918, when he knocked out Gunner Poole twice and disposed of Gunner Gazzard similarly. The following year he fought two bouts for a win and a draw, and then in 1920 quite a fair amount of success came his way, his record being: Knocked out Grimes, two rounds; E. Hayes, one; Nick Burch, three; Victor Scott, two. Won : P. Rocca, three; Jim Rideout, fifteen ; Sergt. Pape, ten. Lost: Sergt Papo, three; Fred Sale, fifteen. Scott had some important fights in 1921, doing well, his performances being: Jim Rideout, won, fifteen rounds; Jack Tyrrol, knocked, cloven; Jack Stanley, won, fifteen; Harry Drake, knocked by, live; Jack Stanley, won, ten; Jack Tyrrcl, knocked, five; Ted Lewis, knocked, one; Pape, won, ten; Ivor Powell, won, twenty; Van Der Veer, won, IS; Jack Rollings, knocked, eleven; Joe Dixon, knocked, five. Ills only mill in 1922 was a draw with Van Dor Veer, but in 1923 he was knocked out by the Australian, Albert Lloyd, in throe rounds, fought a draw with Harry Reeve, and outpointed Sergeant Papo. Ho won three other fights by tho knock-out and two on points. Scott met with considerable success in 1924, and outpointed Gipsy Daniels, who has a victory to his credit over Max Schmeling. Daniels, however, subsequently turned the tables on Scott. Tern Heeney was outpointed over twenty rounds, his other bouts being: Albert Lloyd, won, fifteen; Tom Berry, won, fifteen, Marcel Nilles, knocked, nine; Ahaus, knocked, three; Pennwill, won (foul), two; Humbeech, won, fifteen; George Cook, wop, fifteen ; Harry Reeve, draw, fifteen; Andie Anderson, knocked, seven; Kid Moore, knocked, eight; and Soldier Jones, won, fifteen. hi 1925 he knocked out Jack Stanley twice, beat Samson Kochnor and Tom Berry (twice), but in turn was knocked out by the Basque woodchoppcr, Paolina Uzcudun. the result causing a great surprise in England. Following a win on a foul against George Cook in 1926,

Scott won the British heavy-weight title from Frank Goddard, whom ho knocked out in three rounds, subsequently heating Tom Keeney, Boy M'Cormick, Marcel Lunea, Amando de Coralia, and Leon Sahel, tho lastnamed pair in the same ring. Harry Persson outed Scott in eleven rounds. Going to America in 1927 after winning on a foul from Julius Okun, outpointing Harry Reeve and Fierro Charles, and outing Helmut Stewart, Scott went down in a round to the Dane, Knute Hansen. Monte Munn disposed of him in ton rounds, and the tough stepping stone, Johnny llisko, outpointed him in ten rounds. Scott, despite his detractors, determined tp snow that ho was bettor than the Americans would give him credit lor, and ho beat both Fierro Charles and the likelv Italian lighter, Roberto Robert!. The victory that gave him most kudos, however, was that against Vittoro Campolo, but his bout against Otto Van Forat caused much discussion, Scott winning on a foul. Many critics asserted that ho made an unnecessary fuss about being hit low. Ho has a win to his credit against Ludwig Harman, German heavy-weight, but tho latter is not classed with Schmeling. Scott has proved in past fights that ho does not like it on the body. COOK’S EASY WIN OVER WIGGINS. NEW YORK, February 28. At Indianopolis George Cook (lost 91b, Australia) beat Wiggins (13st31b). They opened the fight by clinching and attempting short jabs. Tho second, third, and fourth rounds were similar. Cook, landing good rights to the jaw, drew blood from Wiggins’s face. In the fifth and sixth rounds both took much punishment from heavy jabs. In the seventh and eighth both clinched. In the ninth and the tenth Cook landed furious lefts and rights to the head and body, and Wiggins was_ groggy. Cook took tho decision easily. He will meet Christner at Indianopolis on March 17. NEW ZEALANDER SCORES KNOCK-OUT SYDNEY, February 28. (Received March 1, at 1 a.m.) In tho Leichhardt stadium to-night in a preliminary bout of six rounds Fliin Stone (tho "Now Zealander) knocked out Keith Owen in the second round.