HOW SHARKEY WENT DOWN

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 104, 23 July 1927, Page 1

HOW SHARKEY WENT DOWN

SLASHING, HARD-HITTING BATTLE VIVID STORY FROM THE AIR A DELIRIOUS crowd of boxing fans parted with control when Jack Dempsey, with a crashing blow, dropped Jack Sharkey to the floor, and out of his claim of the right to fight Gene Tunney in September for the world’s championship. The full story of the fight was taken over the radio at Gisborne by Mr. Ivan O'Meara, who heard a vivid description of the contest as though it had been shouted from his housetop. By Cable. —Press Association. — Copyright.

NEW YORK, Thursday. A CRASHING left hook to the jaw won the match for Jack Dempsey (13st 12|lb) against Jack Sharkey (14st) in the Yankee Stadium, New York. The end came swiftly. The final blow landed as Sharkey was sagging at the knees, and making signals to the referee that the preceding blow—a terrific right to the pit of the stomach —had been low. Dempsey virtually knocked out his opponent while he (Sharkey) stood inA medical man examined Sharkey after the contest, and said there was no evidence that he had been struck a foul blow. Dempsey’s victory sent the crowd of onlookers into a delirious outburst of enthusiasm. Prom start to finish it had been a slashing, hard-hitting battle. Sharkey began the fight as the favourite, there being little money available in support of Dempsey, who, however, had public sentiment with him. The crowd around the ring was estimated at 82,000.

SPECTACULAR FIGHT CROWD FRANTIC WITH DELIGHT DESCRIPTION BY RADIO (Special to THE SUN.J GISBORNE, Saturday. The yelling and cheering of the great crowd at the Yankee Stadium was heard over the radio by Mr. Ivan O’Meara, who (adding another wireless achievement to his record) re ceived the whole story of the spectacular fight, and the delirious scenes •t the ringside. The result of the contest was notified to the Gisborne newspapers practically instantaneously with the decision of the referee. Mr. O’Meara had made special ■ (- rangements to listen-in direct to the ringside broadcast, and his success was complete. The fight started promptly to schedule time, and lasted almost half an hour. Dempsey floored his opponent with a punch that had Sharkey completely beaten. SHARKEY THE FAVOURITE Though most of the money was on Sharkey, the crowd showed all its oldtime preference for Dempsey, who was cheered repeatedly. Dempsey’s popularity was wholly regained when the decision was announced. The ex-champion made a brief speech, in which he thanked the assemblage for the great reception it had given him, and expressed his grati-

fication at again being in the running for the title of world champion. Mr. O’Meara was able to follow the ct { cription of the fight without difficulty, the reception being obtained at almost loud-speaker strength. The final roar of the crowd, “He’s down,” left no scope at all for doubt as to what had happened. SLASHING FIFTH ROUND Here is the story of the closing stages of the fight as broadcast across the Pacific: With the opening of the fifth round, Dempsey looked a little tired, but he landed a left hook to the chin, and Sharkey spat blood as L J * opponent slipped in close for another short right jab to the body. Sharkey met this attack with a right upper-cut, but Dempsey landed two lefts to his opponent’s ribs. Sharkey then led a straight right to the head. Dempsey landed a heavy blow again, but had to take Sharkey’s left four times in succession. Then Dempsey connected with a left to the head, and “the sailor” wobbled. DEMPSEY’S WAITING GAME Coming up for the sixth round, Dempsey again looked a little less fresh than his opponent. He was obviously playing a waiting game. When he did go in, he missed a long left to the head, but a second or two later he shook Sharkey with a left to the chin. “The Sailor,” however, smashed his right heavily on to Dempsey’s jaw, while the latter missed with another long left. Dempsey sailed in again, ramming to the body; but Sharkey was all elbows in defence. He slapped a right to Dempsey’s face, but Dempsey followed up, and the pair bobbed at each other until Sharkey sent Dempsey’s head back with a clean right uppercut to the jaw. This was the cleanest and hardest punch of the fight. Dempsey leaned in, however, pushing Sharkey to the ropes, catching him again coming out with three smashes to the head. Believing that Sharkey had punched Dempsey in the face after the bell had gone, the crowd hooted, but the referee saw nothing wrong. SHARKEY “DID NOT EAT HIM” Dempsey went for his man from the opening of the seventh, round, and Sharkey held as blow upon blow rained on his body. Then the exchampion knocked Sharkey down with a right. Sharkey had no sooner regained his feet than Dempsey suddenly whipped his left into the stomach, and followed with a deadly right to the jaw that sent Sharkey down for keeps. He got to his feet, however, at the count of “nine,” but swayed and fell flat on his facq, as the referee counted him out.