Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-20
SHARKEY IN EARNEST
Sailor Boy Training to Meet
the CoIored Champion.
SURE HE CAN WHIP JACK
Fight Fans May Laugh, But Tom
Insists He Is Com
ing Back"
SURE HE CAN WHIP JACK

NEW YORK, September 2O.-Down at
Sheepshead Bay. which is one of the
quietest places on earth with the big
race track gates closed tight, a broad
shoudered, square-jawed man is banging
away at a punching bag in a barn and
taking long runs on the deserted thor
oughfares while the residents indulge in
gossip. This very active, earnest person
is known all over the civilized world as
Thomas Sharkey, able seaman. who re-
tired from the prize ring in 1903. after
sensational career, during which he put
up wonderful twenty-five round fight
with James j. Jeffries.
To speak plainly, even though it may
amuse the sporting fraternity. Sharkey
is training for the sole purpose of getting
into condition for a fight with Jack john
son, the negro heavyweight champion OF
the world. Sharkey saw Johnson defeat
Jeffries at Reno and Immediately after
the alleged fight he hit the trail for his
home at the bay, secretly confident that
If able to regain his old form he could
whip the black man and recover the
championship for the white race Sharkey
did not waste any time in getting down
to business. Always in pretty fair con-
dition, he began training lightly, and
simply dormant, he gradually increased
the daily exercises. though keeping the
entire plan of action to himself.
Sharkey is thirty-five years old. a year
older than Johnson. He has always been
regarded as a physical marvel, but when
he got through with Jeffries at Coney
Island he was taken to a hospital suffer-
ing from two fractured ribs and broken
nose. That was in 1899. when Sharkey
was in his prime. but the terrific beating
he received on that occasion took away
much of his stamina and year later
FitzsimnonS stopped him in two ROUNDS
with few well directed punches. Shark
ey tackled Jack Monroe in six-round
bout in Philadelphia in 1908 and was
soundy beaten. His poor showing in that
affair convinced Sharkey that his fighting
days were over. and he retired to attend
to his private affairs.
health ever since. and the fighting bee
has never ceased to buzz in his head.
He is game, determined fellow, and
would rather fight than do anything else
except counting money. Possessed OF
great strength, he still commands the
respect of the rough-and-tumble artists,
and with a single word he can COW a
gang leader as we'll as plain, ordinary
trouble seeker. Sharkey has known
johnson for many years and has always
despsed him as a pugllist He was dead
sure that Jeffries would knock the big ne
gro into state of collapse IN rev
rounds, and when the boilermaker was
defeated Sharkey refused to believe that
JEFF was himself
81 can beat Johnson!" he told some Of
the sporting men at Reno, but they
laughed at him. That is why he has been
training in secret, for he never could
stand ridicule. But to hear him tell 1t
he will surprise the sporting world some
Of these days by coming out of retire
ment in superb condition, with real
challenge and a big forfeit, hoping that
Johnson will recognize him. When some
OF the leading fighting men heard recently
that Sharkey was training so hard they
were convulsed.
..Sharkey must be in his second child
hood they said. why, he wouldn t
have a chance in the world with Johnson.
He was all in seven years ago, and, like
Jeffries, he can't come back
Sbarkey, however, has paid no attention
to these comments. When asked to out
line his plans the other day he wasn't
inclined to discuss them at length
''I am working down here all the time.
he said, land I feel fine. l am going to
come back and I'll surprise lot OF
people When l am ready to fight you'll
hear from me. Yes, l feel sure l can
beat Johnson He's overrated and will
not last long
The able seaman weighs about la5
pounds at present and looks to be in rug
ged health. He seems to have remark
able capacity for hard work and is pro-
ceeding with his training according To
original ideas. During the coming winter
he may ask for a tryout at one or the 10.
cal clubs, in which event skepttcs will
have a chance to see for themselves JUS,
what this husky veteran is like.