Dempsey vs Sharkey

[HOUDINI563]

I did quite a bit of original research regarding this bout. I heard from many that Dempsey hit Sharkey in the balls to allow him to win by ko. When you hear something for so many years the tendency is to believe it as fact.

However nothing could be further from the truth.

First the referee absolutely stated immediately after the bout that Dempsey landed three right uppercuts to the pit of Sharkeys stomach all of which were NOT low.

When you watch the film you see Dempsey throw three right uppercuts to Sharkeys body. Thus the referee described them perfectly. These were very quickly thrown blows thrown in rapid succession. You can clearly see the first two blows and they land on the beltline. Not in the groin. Not in Sharkeys balls. The third right uppercut you don’t see but their is no evidence it would be any different from the previous two. The referee was in perfect position to see that blow and he stated it was not low.

Fast forward to the next day the film of the fight was shown to the reporters who watch the fight at a Yankee stadium. You then see newspaper headlines “Film of fight shows body blows were legal?

So why did the decades pass with the ongoing idea that Dempsey hit Sharkey flagrantly low? Answer is very interesting.

In those days a sportswriters opinion on who would win a fight was considered very important. Huge bets were won or lost based on these predictions. Those who picked Sharkey had an easy out by proclaiming they would have been correct save those low blows. Benny Leonard was one who wrote periodic newspaper articles concerning the bout leading to his prediction the day of that Dempsey had no chance of winning and he went on and on about it. What did Leonard see? Three flagrant blows to Sharkeys groin. Never happened!

Not to say some really thought they saw low blows. Without instant replays a crowd of tens of thousands of people may believe they see many things in a bout so fast and furious.

Another point made is that the crowd loudly booed the result. Untrue. Dempsey received an ovation unlike every heard at fights end. The crowd erupted in cheers shaking the entire stadium as the ko blow landed and Sharkey was counted out.

[aboutfkntime]

I did quite a bit of original research regarding this bout. I heard from many that Dempsey hit Sharkey in the balls to allow him to win by ko. When you hear something for so many years the tendency is to believe it as fact.

However nothing could be further from the truth.

First the referee absolutely stated immediately after the bout that Dempsey landed three right uppercuts to the pit of Sharkeys stomach all of which were NOT low.

When you watch the film you see Dempsey throw three right uppercuts to Sharkeys body. Thus the referee described them perfectly. These were very quickly thrown blows thrown in rapid succession. You can clearly see the first two blows and they land on the beltline. Not in the groin. Not in Sharkeys balls. The third right uppercut you don’t see but their is no evidence it would be any different from the previous two. The referee was in perfect position to see that blow and he stated it was not low.

Fast forward to the next day the film of the fight was shown to the reporters who watch the fight at a Yankee stadium. You then see newspaper headlines “Film of fight shows body blows were legal?

So why did the decades pass with the ongoing idea that Dempsey hit Sharkey flagrantly low? Answer is very interesting.

In those days a sportswriters opinion on who would win a fight was considered very important. Huge bets were won or lost based on these predictions. Those who picked Sharkey had an easy out by proclaiming they would have been correct save those low blows. Benny Leonard was one who wrote periodic newspaper articles concerning the bout leading to his prediction the day of that Dempsey had no chance of winning and he went on and on about it. What did Leonard see? Three flagrant blows to Sharkeys groin. Never happened!

Not to say some really thought they saw low blows. Without instant replays a crowd of tens of thousands of people may believe they see many things in a bout so fast and furious.

Another point made is that the crowd loudly booed the result. Untrue. Dempsey received an ovation unlike every heard at fights end. The crowd erupted in cheers shaking the entire stadium as the ko blow landed and Sharkey was counted out.

you are not the first to make that comment

good post

[ShoulderRoll]

That was an interesting match. Sharkey seems to have dominated and was winning the fight.

Then he dropped his hands and complained to the ref about a low blow and Dempsey crushed him with a left hook.

Wish the film was a little clearer.

[HOUDINI563]

It was Sharkeys fight the first five rounds but he increasingly became weary of Dempseys power punches to his body. You can see Sharkey bending way over at the waist in an effort to avoid body shots in round 6.

Sharkey later stated:

“Dempsey would come at you in a little ball. When he hit you on the shoulder he broke your shoulder. When he hit you to the body it felt as if his fist came out your back. When he hit you on the hip he dislocated your hip. I never thought anyone could hit that’s hard.”

[HOUDINI563]

If you heard all this before you heard it from me. Many of these details were lost to time. I never heard them anywhere until I spent months reviewing newspapers accounts the weeks before to the weeks after the bout.

[louis54]

Dempsey rules

[Willie Pep 229]

There is an old Dempsey story that goes . . . Dempsey was refereeing a fight between a couple of ham and eggers . . . between rounds one kid's corner man called Dempsey over and complained his guy was being hit low . . . Dempsey suggested that his guy should hit low back a couple of times, that would likely make the other guy stop.

[Willie Pep 229]

A lowering of the foul line, introduction of mouth guards, and a new aluminum kidney belt! All courtesy of Dempsey-Sharkey.


Article:

[Mooshashi]

Anyone who chose to fight with Dempsey on the inside gets what he deserves. He was a monster with uppercuts and body shots. He didn't beat Willard by getting up on his toes and boxing....or Firpo or whoever else.

[HOUDINI563]

The evidence is within the film. The first two body blows can clearly be seen landing on the beltline. The last one you can’t see but these were three very fast consecutive blows one after the other. No hesitation.