Sharkey, Jack

▪ 1995

      (JOSEPH PAUL ZUKAUSKAS), U.S. boxer (b. Oct. 26, 1902, Binghamton, N.Y.—d. Aug. 17, 1994, Beverly, Mass.), dethroned Max Schmeling as heavyweight champion of the world in a controversial 15-round split decision (June 21, 1932) but lost the title on June 29, 1933, when Primo Carnera knocked him out with a powerful uppercut in the sixth round of their bout. Sharkey, who named himself after pugilist Jack Dempsey and former heavyweight "Sailor" Tom Sharkey, was also a sailor before he entered the ring. His punishing body blows helped him defeat top-ranking boxers and earned him the chance to fight Dempsey on July 21, 1927. In that contest Sharkey led for the first seven rounds but was decked by Dempsey while complaining to the referee about a supposed low body blow. In his first attempt in 1930 at the heavyweight crown, Sharkey lost to Schmeling on a foul. Sharkey's subsequent 1932 victory over Schmeling was unpopular, and his loss to Carnera was questioned because of Carnera's links to the underworld. During boxing's golden era Sharkey also fought Joe Louis, who knocked him out in the third round. Sharkey was the only boxer ever to fight two sets of champions who had never faced each other in the ring—Dempsey and Schmeling and Dempsey and Louis. Sharkey hung up his gloves after his loss to Louis. Nicknamed "the Boston Cob," Sharkey had a career record that included 55 bouts, with 38 victories (14 by knockout), 13 losses, 3 draws, and 1 no-decision. He was inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame in 1980 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1994.

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▪ American athlete

byname of  Joseph Paul Zukauskas  

born Oct. 26, 1902, Binghamton, N.Y., U.S.

died Aug. 17, 1994, Beverly, Mass.

      American world heavyweight-boxing champion from June 21, 1932, when he defeated Max Schmeling (Schmeling, Max) in 15 rounds at Long Island City, N.Y., until June 29, 1933, when he was knocked out by Primo Carnera (Carnera, Primo) in six rounds in New York City.

      Sharkey, who named himself for a former leading heavyweight, Sailor Tom Sharkey, was, like his prototype, a sailor before entering the ring. He became prominent in 1926–27 with victories over championship contenders Harry Wills, Mike McTigue, and Jim Maloney. He was perhaps at his best in a controversial defeat by Jack Dempsey (Dempsey, Jack) in New York City, July 21, 1927; Dempsey knocked out Sharkey in the seventh round while Sharkey was protesting an alleged foul blow.

      In his first chance at the heavyweight championship in 1930, Sharkey lost to Schmeling on a foul. His subsequent victory over Schmeling was unpopular, many observers thinking that the loser deserved the win. Sharkey's loss of the title was also a matter of controversy: Carnera was widely believed to be backed by gangsters, who were suspected of fixing the fight. Sharkey retired from the ring in 1936. From 1924 to 1936 he had 55 bouts, winning 38, of which 15 were by knockouts.

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