OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - Sailor Tom Sharkey Missing Opponents Fighter Pack

Cap · 01-12-2005, 05:20 PM

I've really bounced around over the years in my regard for Tom Sharkey. He was a rough and tumble fighter with almost no defence (read some of the contemporary blow-by-blow). He made up for his deficiencies with tremendous knockout power in either hand, a granite chin and a willingness to take punishment to hand out his own. The two losses to Fitzsimmons were the result of a terrific shot to the gut, likely similar to what felled Corbett. The losses to Ruhlin were again due to hard blows to the body (and alcohol-abuse outside the ring).

A careful look at Sharkey's record shows few wins over creditable opponents early in his career. Nick Burley was a pretty good light heavyweight. Alex Greggains was a fighter with some skills, enough to eke out a draw with the sailor. Joe Goddard had started on the road to ruin by the time Sharkey put his lights out in 1897. As for Joe Choynski, their first meeting ended in a win for Sharkey simply because Joe had signed a contract stipulating that he must knock Sharkey out to win. By the time they met the third time, Choynski had dropped many rungs on the contenders' ladder (although he did manage to knock-out Jack Johnson the following year). Sharkey's biggest win was probably his first-round KO of the young Akron Giant, Gus Ruhlin, at Coney Island in 1898. His best performance was likely his first fight with Jim Jeffries, where many spectators thought he had won. Fireman Jim Flynn was said to be a great admirer of the squat sailor.

Cap

01-12-2005, 05:20 PM	#8 (permalink)
Cap Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Large Province in God's Country Posts: 4,043	I've really bounced around over the years in my regard for Tom Sharkey. He was a rough and tumble fighter with almost no defence (read some of the contemporary blow-by-blow). He made up for his deficiencies with tremendous knockout power in either hand, a granite chin and a willingness to take punishment to hand out his own. The two losses to Fitzsimmons were the result of a terrific shot to the gut, likely similar to what felled Corbett. The losses to Ruhlin were again due to hard blows to the body (and alcohol-abuse outside the ring). A careful look at Sharkey's record shows few wins over creditable opponents early in his career. Nick Burley was a pretty good light heavyweight. Alex Greggains was a fighter with some skills, enough to eke out a draw with the sailor. Joe Goddard had started on the road to ruin by the time Sharkey put his lights out in 1897. As for Joe Choynski, their first meeting ended in a win for Sharkey simply because Joe had signed a contract stipulating that he must knock Sharkey out to win. By the time they met the third time, Choynski had dropped many rungs on the contenders' ladder (although he did manage to knock-out Jack Johnson the following year). Sharkey's biggest win was probably his first-round KO of the young Akron Giant, Gus Ruhlin, at Coney Island in 1898. His best performance was likely his first fight with Jim Jeffries, where many spectators thought he had won. Fireman Jim Flynn was said to be a great admirer of the squat sailor. Cap Attached Images __________________ "...There were Giants in Those Days.." Last edited by Cap : 01-12-2005 at 05:44 PM.