Tom Sharkey

 ( Heavyweight Boxers ) 

Thomas " Sailor Tom" Sharkey (November 26, 1873 – April 17, 1953) was an Irish people professional boxer who laid claim to the world heavyweight title by defeating Bob Fitzsimmons on December 2, 1896 in a highly controversial fight. Sharkey's recorded ring career spanned from 1893 to 1904. He is credited with having won 37 fights (with 34 KOs), 9 losses, 6 draws, and 2 no contests. In 1953, Sharkey was named in Ring Magazines list of 100 greatest punchers of all time.

He is notable for his bouts with heavyweight champions James J. Jeffries, "Gentelman Jim" Corbett, and Bob Fitzsimmons, fighting them each twice.

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Early life Sharkey was born in Dundalk, Ireland, on November 26, 1873. His story began when he ran away from home and went to sea as a cabin boy. In 1892, Sharkey landed in New York City and joined the United States Navy. He was eventually deployed to Hawaii where he began his pro fighting career.

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Professional career Standing tall, Sharkey had unusually broad shoulders for a man of his height, and sported a tattoo of a star and battleship on his chest. In 1900, he also acquired a large cauliflower ear, courtesy of a brawl with Gus Ruhlin, that added to his persona.

Sharkey won his first professional bout against Royal Navy heavyweight champion Jack Gardner, who he knocked out in the fourth round on St. Patrick's Day 1893. In 1896, he met his first real challenge when he went the distance with hall of famer Joe Choynski, who later knocked out legendary heavyweight Jack Johnson in an eight-round match, and claimed victory after eight rough rounds. Sharkey followed that fight up by challenging "Gentleman Jim" Corbett. The two met and the fight was ruled a draw after four rounds due to police interference.

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Sharkey vs. Fitzsimmons On December 2, 1896, the San Francisco Athletic Club sponsored a fight at the Mechanics' Pavilion in San Francisco between Bob Fitzsimmons and Sharkey. Unable to find a referee, at the last minute they called on former lawman Wyatt Earp. He had officiated 30 or so matches in earlier days, though not under the Marquess of Queensbury rules. The fight may have been the most anticipated fight on American soil that year. It had been billed for the heavyweight championship of the world, as it was thought that the champion, James J. Corbett, had relinquished the crown.

Fitzsimmons was favored to win, and bets flowed heavily his way. Earp entered the ring still armed with his customary Colt .45 and drew a lot of attention when he had to be disarmed. He later said he forgot he was wearing it. Fitzsimmons was taller and quicker than Sharkey and dominated the fight from the opening bell. In the eighth round, Fitzsimmons hit Sharkey with his famed "solar plexus punch", an uppercut under the heart that could render a man temporarily helpless. The punch caught Sharkey, Earp, and most of the crowd by surprise, and Sharkey dropped, clutched his groin, and rolled on the canvas, screamed foul.

Earp stopped the bout, ruling that Fitzsimmons had hit Sharkey when he was down. His ruling was greeted with loud boos and catcalls. Earp based his decision on the Marquess of Queensberry rules, which state in part, "A man on one knee is considered down and if struck is entitled to the stakes." Very few witnessed the foul Earp ruled on. He awarded the decision to Sharkey, whom attendants carried out as "limp as a rag".

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Sharkey vs. Jeffries Sharkey claimed the heavyweight title until Corbett resumed his fighting career, who was recognized as the champion until he was knocked out by Fitzsimmons in a title bout. Sharkey was involved in another controversial fight when he faced Corbett on November 22, 1898. In this bout, Sharkey manhandled the shifty and elusive Corbett. He threw him to the ground, hit him with hard punches to the body and head and seemed on the verge of victory when one of Corbett's seconds jumped into the ring in the ninth round. The referee disqualified Corbett and awarded the bout to Sharkey.

On January 10, 1899, Sharkey faced another ring legend, the tricky Kid McCoy. Sharkey knocked out McCoy in the tenth round thereby securing a shot at the heavyweight title then held by James J. Jeffries. The two had met previously, fighting a hotly contested 20-round slugfest on May 6, 1898. The decision went to Jeffries in a close fight. Nevertheless, Sharkey vowed to beat the burly Jeffries in the rematch.

The two fought a memorable twenty-five round bout on November 3, 1899, in Coney Island, New York. The match was the first championship fight filmed for motion pictures, and was the first indoor fight successfully filmed. The lights required for the filming were so hot that they burned the hair from the top of both fighters' heads.

Sharkey took the early lead when he battered the larger Jeffries, but Jeffries gained control of the fight in the later rounds and the bout was awarded to him. During this fight, Sharkey suffered a broken nose and two broken ribs, and his left ear swelled to the size of a grapefruit.

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Later life After retiring from boxing, Sharkey operated a saloon and worked as a night watchman and security guard. In 1938, he entered Laguna Honda Hospital in San Francisco, according to newspaper accounts, desperately ill. He died there in 1953 and is buried at Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, California.

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Professional boxing record All information in this section is derived from BoxRec, unless otherwise stated.

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Official record All newspaper decisions are officially regarded as “no decision” bouts and are not counted in the win/loss/draw column.

54	Loss		Jack Munroe	NWS	6	Feb 27, 1904
53	Loss	37–7–6	Gus Ruhlin	TKO	11 (15)	Jun 25, 1902
52		37–6–6	Peter Maher	NC	3 (6)	Jan 17, 1902
51	Loss	37–6–6	Mexican Pete Everett	DQ	2 (20)	May 7, 1901
50	Win	37–5–6	Fred Russell	KO	4 (10)	May 3, 1901
49	Loss	36–5–6	Bob Fitzsimmons	KO	2 (25),	Aug 24, 1900
48	Loss	36–4–6	Gus Ruhlin	TKO	15 (25)	Jun 26, 1900
47	Win	36–3–6	Yank Kenny	KO	1 (25),	Jun 8, 1900
46	Win	35–3–6	Joe Choynski	TKO	3 (6)	May 8, 1900
45	Win	34–3–6	Tom 'Stockings' Conroy	KO	3 (10),	Mar 29, 1900
44	Win	33–3–6	Jack McCormick	KO	1 (20),	Mar 15, 1900
43	Win	32–3–6	Jim Jeffords	KO	2 (10),	Feb 19, 1900
42	Win	31–3–6	Joe Goddard	TKO	4 (6),	Feb 13, 1900
41	Loss	30–3–6	James J. Jeffries	PTS	25	Nov 3, 1899
40	Win	30–2–6	Jack McCormick	KO	2 (6)	Jan 30, 1899
39	Win	29–2–6	Kid McCoy	KO	10 (20),	Jan 10, 1899
38	Win	28–2–6	James J. Corbett	DQ	9 (20)	Nov 22, 1898
37	Win	27–2–6	Gus Ruhlin	KO	1 (25),	Jun 29, 1898
36	Loss	26–2–6	James J. Jeffries	PTS	20	May 6, 1898
35	Draw	26–1–6	Joe Choynski	PTS	8 (20)	Mar 11, 1898
34	Win	26–1–5	Joe Goddard	KO	6 (20)	Nov 18, 1897
33	Win	25–1–5	Punch Vaughn	KO	3 (?)	Aug 16, 1897
32	Win	24–1–5	Tom Parks	KO	1 (?)	Aug 7, 1897
31	Win	23–1–5	Pat McCourt	KO	2 (?)	Jul 30, 1897
30	Win	22–1–5	Joe Craig	KO	1 (?)	Jul 23, 1897
29	Draw	21–1–5	Peter Maher	PTS	7	Jun 9, 1897
28	Draw	21–1–4	Jim Williams	PTS	8	Apr 5, 1897
27	Win	21–1–3	Bob Fitzsimmons	DQ	8 (10)	Dec 2, 1896
26	Loss	20–1–3	Reddy Gallagher	NWS	4	Oct 1, 1896
25	Draw	20–1–3	James J. Corbett	PTS	4	Jun 24, 1896
24	Win	20–1–2	Jim Williams	TKO	7 (10)	Jun 3, 1896
23	Win	19–1–2	Joe Choynski	PTS	8	Apr 16, 1896
22	Win	18–1–2	'Sailor' Charles Brown	KO	1 (?)	Apr 7, 1896
21	Draw	17–1–2	Alec Greggains	PTS	8	Mar 12, 1896
20	Win	17–1–1	John Miller	TKO	9 (?)	Nov 7, 1895
19	Win	16–1–1	William Dunn	KO	1 (?),	Aug 17, 1895
18	Win	15–1–1	Australian Billy Smith	TKO	7 (20)	Jul 25, 1895
17	Win	14–1–1	Martin Mulverhill	KO	20 (?)	Oct 20, 1894
16	Win	13–1–1	Sailor Charles Brown	KO	1 (?)	Aug 21, 1894
15	Win	12–1–1	Jack Marks	KO	1 (?)	Aug 11, 1894
14	Win	11–1–1	Rough Thompson	KO	4 (?)	Aug 4, 1894
13	Win	10–1–1	Jack McAuley	KO	1 (?)	Jul 18, 1894
12	Win	9–1–1	Billy Tate	KO	2 (?)	Jul 18, 1894
11		8–1–1	Nick Burley	ND	3	Jun 21, 1894
10	Win	8–1–1	Jack Langley	KO	8 (?)	Jun 20, 1894
9	Draw	7–1–1	Nick Burley	PTS	9 (8)	May 24, 1894
8	Win	7–1	Rough Thompson	KO	2 (?)	May 14, 1894
7	Loss	6–1	George Washington	KO	? (?)	Feb 7, 1894
6	Win	6–0	Jim Barrington	KO	1 (?)	Sep 10, 1893
5	Win	5–0	John Walsh	KO	2 (?)	Aug 21, 1893
4	Win	4–0	Jim Harvey	KO	2 (?)	May 27, 1893
3	Win	3–0	Jack Langley	KO	4 (?)	May 3, 1893
2	Win	2–0	J. Pickett	KO	2 (?)	Apr 7, 1893
1	Win	1–0	Jack Gardner	KO	4 (?)	Mar 17, 1893

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Unofficial record Record with the inclusion of newspaper decisions in the win/loss/draw column.

54	Loss		Jack Munroe	NWS	6	Feb 27, 1904
53	Loss	37–8–6	Gus Ruhlin	TKO	11 (15)	Jun 25, 1902
52		37–7–6	Peter Maher	NC	3 (6)	Jan 17, 1902
51	Loss	37–7–6	Mexican Pete Everett	DQ	2 (20)	May 7, 1901
50	Win	37–6–6	Fred Russell	KO	4 (10)	May 3, 1901
49	Loss	36–6–6	Bob Fitzsimmons	KO	2 (25),	Aug 24, 1900
48	Loss	36–5–6	Gus Ruhlin	TKO	15 (25)	Jun 26, 1900
47	Win	36–4–6	Yank Kenny	KO	1 (25),	Jun 8, 1900
46	Win	35–4–6	Joe Choynski	TKO	3 (6)	May 8, 1900
45	Win	34–4–6	Tom 'Stockings' Conroy	KO	3 (10),	Mar 29, 1900
44	Win	33–4–6	Jack McCormick	KO	1 (20),	Mar 15, 1900
43	Win	32–4–6	Jim Jeffords	KO	2 (10),	Feb 19, 1900
42	Win	31–4–6	Joe Goddard	TKO	4 (6),	Feb 13, 1900
41	Loss	30–4–6	James J. Jeffries	PTS	25	Nov 3, 1899
40	Win	30–3–6	Jack McCormick	KO	2 (6)	Jan 30, 1899
39	Win	29–3–6	Kid McCoy	KO	10 (20),	Jan 10, 1899
38	Win	28–3–6	James J. Corbett	DQ	9 (20)	Nov 22, 1898
37	Win	27–3–6	Gus Ruhlin	KO	1 (25),	Jun 29, 1898
36	Loss	26–3–6	James J. Jeffries	PTS	20	May 6, 1898
35	Draw	26–2–6	Joe Choynski	PTS	8 (20)	Mar 11, 1898
34	Win	26–2–5	Joe Goddard	KO	6 (20)	Nov 18, 1897
33	Win	25–2–5	Punch Vaughn	KO	3 (?)	Aug 16, 1897
32	Win	24–2–5	Tom Parks	KO	1 (?)	Aug 7, 1897
31	Win	23–2–5	Pat McCourt	KO	2 (?)	Jul 30, 1897
30	Win	22–2–5	Joe Craig	KO	1 (?)	Jul 23, 1897
29	Draw	21–2–5	Peter Maher	PTS	7	Jun 9, 1897
28	Draw	21–2–4	Jim Williams	PTS	8	Apr 5, 1897
27	Win	21–2–3	Bob Fitzsimmons	DQ	8 (10)	Dec 2, 1896
26	Loss	20–2–3	Reddy Gallagher	NWS	4	Oct 1, 1896
25	Draw	20–1–3	James J. Corbett	PTS	4	Jun 24, 1896
24	Win	20–1–2	Jim Williams	TKO	7 (10)	Jun 3, 1896
23	Win	19–1–2	Joe Choynski	PTS	8	Apr 16, 1896
22	Win	18–1–2	'Sailor' Charles Brown	KO	1 (?)	Apr 7, 1896
21	Draw	17–1–2	Alec Greggains	PTS	8	Mar 12, 1896
20	Win	17–1–1	John Miller	TKO	9 (?)	Nov 7, 1895
19	Win	16–1–1	William Dunn	KO	1 (?),	Aug 17, 1895
18	Win	15–1–1	Australian Billy Smith	TKO	7 (20)	Jul 25, 1895
17	Win	14–1–1	Martin Mulverhill	KO	20 (?)	Oct 20, 1894
16	Win	13–1–1	Sailor Charles Brown	KO	1 (?)	Aug 21, 1894
15	Win	12–1–1	Jack Marks	KO	1 (?)	Aug 11, 1894
14	Win	11–1–1	Rough Thompson	KO	4 (?)	Aug 4, 1894
13	Win	10–1–1	Jack McAuley	KO	1 (?)	Jul 18, 1894
12	Win	9–1–1	Billy Tate	KO	2 (?)	Jul 18, 1894
11		8–1–1	Nick Burley	ND	3	Jun 21, 1894
10	Win	8–1–1	Jack Langley	KO	8 (?)	Jun 20, 1894
9	Draw	7–1–1	Nick Burley	PTS	9 (8)	May 24, 1894
8	Win	7–1	Rough Thompson	KO	2 (?)	May 14, 1894
7	Loss	6–1	George Washington	KO	? (?)	Feb 7, 1894
6	Win	6–0	Jim Barrington	KO	1 (?)	Sep 10, 1893
5	Win	5–0	John Walsh	KO	2 (?)	Aug 21, 1893
4	Win	4–0	Jim Harvey	KO	2 (?)	May 27, 1893
3	Win	3–0	Jack Langley	KO	4 (?)	May 3, 1893
2	Win	2–0	J. Pickett	KO	2 (?)	Apr 7, 1893
1	Win	1–0	Jack Gardner	KO	4 (?)	Mar 17, 1893

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Notes references

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