The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-10-11

ed to do lick of preparation for the bout except the devouring of straw berries and cream by the plate. The result was that Sharkey, weathering two rounds of Corbett's rapid-fire left jab, made matters not For Gen tleman Jim. The champion was heartily glad when the police put a period to the bout before the end of the fourth at a signal, it has been alleged, from Corbett's handlers. In New York long after Corbett had lost his ttlte to Fitzsimmons, Sharkey proved that he was-tf1e master box er's master when he beat Corbett in nine rounds. This time Corbett second entered the ring. losing the bout for Jim when the ex-champ pion's condition was exhibiting signs of waning.
 Sharkey next had the courage to tackle the most dreaded puncher or his day, Bob Fitzsimmons. Sharkey stolidly charged against Bob's sIedge- hammer blows for eight terrible rounds, finally collapsing from the effect of a tremendous solar plexus shift Sharkey's prestige however, was partially saved when Wyatt Earp, the referee and a famous gun man, decided the blow was a "fouP' and awarded the honors to the beat en sailor. The decision, it is alleg- ed was the result of a conspiracy to ''do'' F'itz out of the S1O,0O0 purse put up for the winner.
 Sharkey then tackled Peter Maher, another murderous hitter and made a draw of it In seven rounds. Re turning to the coast he won from Joe Goddard the famous Australian in six rounds. The best Joe Choynsli could get in his next clash with Sharkey was a draw. Next came Sharkey's S first battle with Jim Jeffries, the lat ter receiving what appeared to be an inaccurate verdict at the end of twenty bitter rounds. Sailor Tom dismayed but not discouraged engag- ed the formidable Gus Ruhlin-e in New York and flattened the Akron Giant with his first sweeping swing on the jaw Jim Corbett had enough in nine roWnds this time. The crafty Kid Mccoy succumbed in ten rounds after a brilliant struggle. Sharkey was being heralded broadcast as the | coming. champion. Tom issued a l daily challenge to Champion Jeffries, 1 claiming that the Californian should l never have been given the decision
 in their first meeting. Jeff ignored l the defy until Sharkey became per sonal in his remarks when he made
 the match to obtain revenge for the I sailors insulting language.
 i Tom Sharkeys fought many great 1 ring battles but his masterpiece was ] undoubtedly the valiant though un- i successful attempt to prove himself i the King of Fistiana when he faced l the giant Jeffries for the last time at Coney. Sharkey drew from every pugilistic resource at his command i in trying to compass the mighty Cal ! ifornian's downfall. Never before ! did he rush so furiously. Never be- ] fore did he unleash blows charged : with such crushing power. But in i the end 1t was from his supply of ] inflinching courage that he was ob-
 iged to make the heaviest demands 1 Several inches shorter than Jef-
 fries and outweighed by 25 pounds Sharkey nevertheless, was the az gressor throughout. In one Of the fiercest battles known to the Queens berry realm the gritty sailor charged
 his bulkier foe for twenty-five rounds
 without taking a backward step. Sci ence was discredited factor. Ii
 was a slugging match from the first
 to the last gong. The tide of battle see-sawed first one and then the
 other having the upper hand. Shar- key relied on a windmill swing with
 the right to stop the Big Fellow
 while Jeffries stopping inside of the punch, usually, crashed terrible right handlers to the sea-faring pug's ribs. Tn the seventh and eighth Jef- fries was in a bad way from the sail
 or's swings. But he recovered ano
 the men fought on even terms uni the eighteenth From that time or
 the champion had the upper hano
 although Sharkey never stopped rEahinz