The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-06-29
AFTER THE FIGHT.
Opinion That Sharkey Is an Over.rated
Lump Of Strength-0lves Fitz
q Chance TO Chew.

Either Tom Sharkey Of California Is
better man than most sportsmen have
put him down to be. or else the state
ments Of the contest between himself
and James ]. Corbett the other night
We're colored to a greater or less extent
In the ex-sailor's favor, says the Buffalo
Enquirer. There Is much to consider In
the latter statement. Corbett has been
bounded for several years past, In fact
ever since he put the pride Of the coun-
try, the great John l.. Sullivan, out OF
the fighting business at New Orleans.
Everything he does Is wrong and some
newspaper men 60 to extremes to show
their ill-will for the champion. Espec-
tally is this true Of Philadelphia. Chi
cago and New York papers and writers.
That Sharkey Is above the average Is
proved by his aggressive work the
other night. But there is not sportsman
in this country who has seen Corbett
box who will for a moment believe that
he Is anyway In the champions class.
After the match Corbett did not have
scratch on him and declared that
Sharkey made a wrestling match out of
1t instead of a boxing exhibition. Shar-
key processes that he can secure back
ing for $4,000 for finish fight with
Corbett and says he will force the POM
padour boxer to make the match. 1t
would be next to suicide on his part to
fulfill his threat
1t is so to / that Corbett can knock
him out inside Of ten rounds and II
would be like finding money to make
such a match. Sharkey's head is
swelled now, but SO was Charlie
Mitchell's and other men whom Corbett
put to sleep. No one today regrets his
making the match for four rounds
more than himself. 1t Is next to impos-
sible for any man, however good, to put
an antagonist to sleep In four rounds II
the number is stipulated In a an agree
ment 1t took Corbett eight rounds to do
UP Courtney, and Sharkey thinks he Ia
world better, yet he was groggy three
times in the contest. being nearly put
out in the first round. Here is a chance
for Fitzsimmons. The reports will 60 to
England that Corbett did not succeed
in putting out third rate man. 1t will
be an additional excuse for Fitz to chew
through the press, but woebetide the
same red-headed boxer II he ever so far
fOrgets himself as to enter q 24-round
ring with James J. Corbett, Esq, Of San
Francisco and New York.
The betting was 10 to 8 that Corbett
would not stop Sharkey. There was no
Corbett money in sight at these odds.
Corbett was seconded by Billy Delaney,
Jim Carr and Geodge Green. Sharkey's
seconds were Danny Needham, Tim Nc
Graht and Paddy Ryan Of Vallejo. The
articles provided that Corbett should
receive so per cent of the gross receipts
whether he was beaten or not. Sharkey
to receive IS per cent. Of the net re-
ceipts II he stayed the four rounds.
! The gross receipts were estimated at
| $4,000. 1t was Corbett's first public ap-
pearance in his home since his men,
orable 61-round draw with Peter Jack
son at the Califonia Athletic club five
years agd and as he was to be expected.
the pavilion was crowded, fully 10000
being present. Both men had trained
faithfully for the contest and entered
the ring at 179 pounds each.
The fourth round should be taken as
a criterion Of the fight. One report
says: "Sharkey leads and Corbett
ducked cleverly. Both men clinched.
Sharkey struck viciously at Corbett and
a short mix-up and a clinch followed,
Referee was unable to separate fighters.
Sharkey fought viciously. He threw
Corbett heavily. There was little or no
leading done and the men finished the
round in clinch. Sharkey's right eye
was closed, while Corbett was without a
scratch. After the call of time It re-
quired three policemen to keep Sharkey
from Corbett. Sharkey struggling in his
corner and Corbett protesting to the
referee"
Corbett was seen Immediately after
the encounter by a reporter to whom he
said: "Why, 1t was no fight at all.
There was not even one round of fight.
ing. That fellow made a wrestling
match of 1t. He hung on for all he was
worth. I could not get in on him. Call
1t wrestling match will you?" Sharkey
has shown himself to be Of the improv-
ing kind A peculiar feature of this
fighting Is that the higher class man
he goes against the better he performs.
That such Is the case is shown by the
poor battle he fought against Big Miller
and Jim Williams while with Aleck
| Greggains. Billy Smith, Joe ChoynskI