New Britain herald., 1929-02-28
|SHARKEY MAKES
STRONG finish
Gets Close Verdict Over Snib-
ling in Slow Bout

Miami bcaCn, II Ia, rep. 20 MI
The impetuous fling of youth, it
seems, isn't enough. Young Strib-
ling, idol of the south and a veteran
of pugilism, despite his "a years.
had his fling last night, but at the
end of the glamorous melodrama OF
Miami Beach, the official decision
went to Jack Sherkey, the dour,
chunky and hard hitting sailor from
down east.
In a ten round match that was
alternately fast and dull. hard
fought and close, but punctuated
with few real moments Of throbbing
excitement. Sharkey overcame big
lead on points piled up by Stribling
in the earlier rounds and won with
a strong finish throughout the last
four rounds.
The battering Bostonian had his
hand lifted aloft as the victor by
Referee Lou Magnolia of New
York. but his margin of victory was
thin and far from convincing. either
to a major of experts or to most
of the crowd of 10000 that was
packed in the picturesque setting Of
l'lamingo Park.
Magnolia, sole arbiter of the bat
lie, did not hesitate to lift Sharkey's
hand, nor did his score sheet, show
ing six rounds for the Boston boxer,
three for Stribling, and one ever.
leave room for any doubt in his
mind. Ringside critics, although
widely at variance in their opinions.
were not far from unanimous in
agreement with the verdict. The
majority, in poll taken by the AS
sociated Press. credited Sharkey
with no more than q single rounds
margin. But only about one out OF
every twelve in the critical group
assembled around the ring believed
Stribling was entitled TO victory OF
at least a draw.
More Spectacular
Stribling, outweighed and out
boxed, but not out gained. fought
the more spectacular fight. he
furnished the one big moment OF
drama in the fourth round when he
caught Sbarkey flush on the lett
temple with an overland right that
staggered the Boston sailor and
made his knees sag momcntarlly.
Then, as at other times. however,
the gallant Georgian was unable to
follow up his advantage.
Sharkey, in better fighting condi-
ton, was woefully slow, ineffective
and wild at times, but he fought the
more business-like fight. lie won
by the colorless but nevertheless Ell
fcctive method of pounding Strib-
ling's body until it was sore,
bruised and blotchy red. That pun
ishng mode of attack slowly but
certainly took the steam from STRIP
ling's own offensive, slowed up his
plunges and wore down his re-
sistance in a bout that was filled
with plenty Of pushing and pulling,
Juggling and hugging.
Yet for all the closeness of the
decision, for all that Sharkey may
yet have to prove before he regains
the top rank he held more than
two years ago in the heavyweight
scramble. the victory moves the
Boston battler another furlong
along the comeback trail. His next
opponent-in the program leading
up to possible comeback by Jack
Dempsey in the struggle for Gene
Tunney's vacated throne-probably
will be the rugged and iron jawed
Spaniard, Pauline Uzcudun. who
grinned last night as he watched
two of his rivals in action and
Haunted his challenge to the win
ncr.
For all the fight may have lacked
in spectacular elements. or in the
drama that would have gone with
a Knockout or decisive victory. t
was nevertheless apparently exciting
TO crowd enjoying all the novelty
OF the spectacle itself. its tropical
surroundings. its gathering Of the
great and its testimony to the sue
cessful completion of one of the
most interesting sports ventures Of
all time.
or the crowd OF some 10000
about $4,000 contributed to an as
tonishing gate" estimated at $500
600 for the venture that Tex Rick
ard planned as big gamble and
which his successors led by Jack
Dempsey and Big Bill Carey. saw
through to success only after many
misgivings. Probably thousands in
the crowd came to see how it could
be done, skeptical perhaps to the
last, when the gates finally were
closed and a Sell out announced.
A Great Show
It was, altogether, a great show
! in which the big fight itself seemed
! in the end only a major item, the
climax but not the whole thing. For
I the famous figures of sports, OF
/ business. politics and society, this
spectacle was something to see. For
pleasure seekers. it was perhaps
worth the price to pick out the
celebrities who filled the ringsidc
rows: to see Jack Dempsey. the pro-
motor. in his Tuxedo; 10 note John
nv Farrell. the golf king, or Babe
. Ruth. Irene Castle Mclaughlin o,
/ stelle Taylor Dempsey. or the biz
] chiefs OF business ard finance.
If the fight itself did not stir the
emotions such as did the last Demp-
eey-Tunney battle, for instance. II
nevertheless had its few big mo
ments. its contrast in the coura Geous
battle of youth against seasoned
rugged warrior.
! Lost Big Gamble
! Strlbling made the big gamble and
lost, but the crowd applauded him
for it. Naturally enough. the per-
sOnal sympathieS OF most Of those ia
the arena, coming from the south.
We're with the Georgian, but he had
u