The Washington times., 1931-07-21
MUST
K. 0. MICKEY
WALKER
Nv JAMES L. KILGALLEN


Sharkey will undertake tomorrow
night the mans size job Of stop
ping Mickey Walker in their Is
round bout at Ebbets Field in
Brooklyn for the benefit of the
milk fund. In order to maintain
his prestige as Americas premieE
heavyweight, Sharkey must dc
more than win the decision on
points-he must knock Walker out
Sharkey hasn't fought since the
night of June IL, 1880, when he
met Max Schmeling in New York
for the heavyweight champion.
ship. That battle, which drew an
attendance of 1922 and a gross
gate of $749,935, wound up in wild
disorder, with Schmeling gaining
the decision because of a foul de-
livered after 2 minutes and SIS sec
onds of fighting in the fourth
round. Up to the moment he un-
leached a low left hook. Sharkey
had been giving Schmeling ter
rifle shellacking.
Sharkey 1877
What effect, if any, Sharkey's
long absence from competition
will have on his fighting tomor-
row night remains to be seen.
He will enter the ring in first
class condition, weighing about
1877 pounds, nearly 80 pounds
heavier than Walker.
Often when pugiliSts lay off
for a long period, they find
their timing off and lack that
certain assurance that leads to
victory.
However, I find most of the
experts speculating more on
Sharkey's mental attitude than on
his lack of recent competition
Dozens of well-informed judges
of fighters have expressed this
opinion:
'If Sharkey doesn't lose his
head he will win"
Backing up this statement,
they point to the Bostonian's
record as an hySterical scrapper.
They cite the Schmeling setto as
an excellent illustrations OF
Sharkey's strange mental miscues.
his sudden and dramatic losing of
the fight which he virtually had
won.
On another occasion, Sharkey
had Jack Dempsey in a bad way
when he foolishly turned to the
referee to protest a low blow only
to be knocked out cold by Demp.
sey who shot a terrific hook to
the chin.
The fight fans recall, too, that
Sharkey cried in the ring the
night in Miami that he had Phil
Scott on the floor. Scott was
moaning that he was fouled and
Sharkey thought he was disquali'
fied although as a matter of fact
he was awarded the fight.
Sharkey is temperamental and
easily aroused. Outwardly a
phlegmatic fellow he laShes him
self into a fury in the ring and
is always dangerous until the
other fellow definitely proves that
he is his equal. That's why so
many claim that Sharkey is a
front runner.
When annoyed Sharkey is apt
to fly off the handle. It may be
just too bad for him if he does
that tomorrow night. More than
ever before, the terrible Sharkey
person must maintain his poise
while in there against the rough,
tough and experienced toy bull.
dog"
Shrewd Manager
In Walkers corner will be the
shrewdest manager of fighters in
the world, Jack Kearns. OF late
Kearns has done and said a num-
Der Of things calculated to dis
turb Sharkey exceedingly. al
though the latter, processes to be
only amused at such antics.
KearnS no doubt figures an
angry ShSrkey would be easier
to conquer than q Sharkey who
is calm and collected.
Sharkey will need all his wits
in fighting Walker. For he is
going against as courageous a
ring man as ever climbed through
the ropes. If there is anything
that Walker has that Sharkey
lacks it is the will to win. Nobody
ever accused Mickey Walker of
dogging it. No matter how
rough the going. Many times in
his long career, Walker has
turned defeat into victory by
sheer will power and heart.
Walkers winning personality
may disturb the mental poise OF
Sharkey if the fight goes along
toward the tenth round. Mickey
is great finisher. Fight follow
ers will always remember the
amazing rally he staged the night
six years ago when he lost to
Harry Greb at the Polo Grounds
1t wasn't good enough to win. but
it drew the admiration of even
Greb'S most loyal adherentS.
Walker displayed this same
quality in other battles, notably
when he boxed Dave Shade foT
the welterweight crown in 1925
which he won, and again in
Chicago when he took the middle
weight diadeni from Tiger Flow