New Britain herald., 1927-07-23
OFFICIAL VERDICT
STANDS UNSHAKEN
New York Boxing Commission
Stands Behind 0'SulliYan

New York, July 2S up - Jack
Dempsey and Jack Sharkey today
were far from the scene of their
memorable battle of Thursday night,
either at home or well on the way
there, but a disappointed jury of
countless fans still was locked in
hopeless disagreement over the
question of whether the blow that
save Dempsey Il knockout victory
was fair or foul.
| Carefully avoiding Pennsylvania,
where he is wanted on a charge of
striking a woman spectator at the
| Dempsey Tunney fight last fall,
Dempsey was homeward bound for
Los Angeles and brief rest after
the victory he believes he fairly won.
Sharkey, at home in Boston, was
as positive he would have won but
/ for blow he declares was below the
belt just before he went down for
, the count in the seventh round OF
the Yankee stadium fray.
oplllloll appeared CIV NliS d|N ia
ed as it was on the probable out
! come before the fight but the Off
cial verdict that the blow was fair
stood mistaken above the storm of
argument. The state boxing commits
sion which never has reversed de-
cision of an official, stood squarely
behind Jack O'Sullivan. the veteran
referee who counted Sharkey out,
and even Sharkeys manager held no
| hope of a reversal by appeal to the
commission.
/ O'Sullivan himself said: There is
no question about a punch on Shar-
keys leg in the seventh round by
Dempsey's right. 1t was a sweeping
blow which glanced off the leg and
it was followed by Dempseys left to
the solar plexus, which was the blow
which started the finish.
Before the solar pleXus blow was
delivered and after the right land
ed on Sharkey's left leg, I stepped in,
saying, watch your punches. Jack,
then realizing there We're two Jacks,
said, I mean you, Dempsey. Then
Dempsey hit the solar pleXus blow.
Sharkey dropped his right hand and
Dempsey hit him with his left on
the jaw.
II do not regard the blow Sharkoy
received on the leg as sufficient
cause for disqualification"
The silence of the radio broadcast
account concerning the disputed
blows was explained today when it
was learned neither Graham Nc
Nance, who did the ringside broad
casting, nor Major j. Andrew White.
whom from studio. broadcast his
impressions Immediately after the
fight. believed a foul was committed.
McNamee was away from the city
but Major White said: 1T was dis
tinct to me from the position l was
occupying at the ringside, that no
foul blow was struck
Both sides in the dispute admit
ted Dempsey's attack was aimed for
Sharl<ey's mid-riff and it was re-
called that Dempsey's manager. Leo
Flynn, before the fight. asked the
BOXING commission 10 lnahc dH III
delible mark about the boxers
waists to prevent a false claim OF
foul. This request was denied with
the statement that competent off,
Gals will be provided to handle any
situation that may arise
I'm going to have the referee es-
pecially cautioned to watch particu-
larly for fouls" Flynn was quoted
tho day before the fight as saying.
in an interview with Benny Leonard.
And also to watch Just as partlcu-
larly blows that are not fouls SO that
there will be no chance for MI.
Sharkey to get away with anything
Mayor Walker was of the opinion
that Sharkey wore his tights higher
than ordinarily is done, giving a
false impression the blow was low.
Movies Of the fight shown here
served but to convince fans and eX-
perts alike of their original opn-
! ions.