BOXING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 244, 15 October 1931, Page 11

BOXING

HEAVYWEIGHTS’ BOUT SHARKEY AND CARNERA. IN LINE FOR WORLD TITLE. The 15-round boxing contest at Brooklyn (U.S.A.) on Tuesday, between Ja*ck Sharkey and Primo Carnera, which resulted in a win for Sharkey, was a heavyweight championship elimination bout.

Jack Sharkey was born at Binghamton, New York, on October 6, 1902, of Lithuanian-American parents, and is 6ft. lin. in height. In a consensus of opinions of 70 of the foremost boxing critics in America last year he was ranked second to Young Stribling, who failed to live up to expectations against the German, Max Schmeling, in their recent world title match. Schmeling was ranked next below Sharkey, with Camera fourth. Sharkey was hardly expected to stand up to the enormous Italian. Sharkey has always been a bright spot in boxing, if only for the remarkable number of disputes which have arisen over his ring tactics.

In his 35 big contests since 1924 he has only been knocked out twice —once by Rojas and in 1927 by Jack Dempsey. It is interesting to recall that George Cook, who a few months ago boxed in New Zealand, met him in 1925, losing on points. Tom ‘Heeney, the Gisborne boxer, in 1928 drew with him in 12 rounds.

Primo Carnera, who is a native of Venice, was born on October 25, 1906. Undoubtedly he is the most discussed boxer of recent years primarily for his extreme size but calls to military service in Fran*ce and Italy, as well as prohibitions to enter the United States, all helped to focus attention upon him. His career as a boxer only started in .1928, but he has a record of more than 20 knock-out wins. George Cook went down to him in two rounds. Until Carnera met Young Stribling no real gauge of: his ability was available, and even then there were many doubts. How ever, his recent bouts made him look as if he would be the next to meet Schmeling for the world’s championship which is shortly to be contested in America.