A Curio

[Ivich]

I'm pretty sure Sammons gives the name of the newspaper owner when mentioning the law suit.

I wasn't aware of a referee dispute. Thought Earp merely a Celebrity referee. A different source has Earp being the choice of the Club itself.

Your above posts has three different doctors saying yes and one Doctor, the Club doctor who was barred from the dressing room, saying no.

If it's a conspiracy Sharkey and Earp were able to corrupt three doctors (unless you buy into the testicle injection fraud). It is interesting that the Club doctor didn't acuse the other doctors of fraud but instead argued they were duped. Either way he probably didn't make too many friends among his colleagues.

I am not sure what Queen means by a "phalanx" of doctors. But I assume he means many.

What motive Sharkey may have had for refusing the Club doctor I wouldn't try to say; swelling does tend to reach its peak about 12 hours after the injury.

(Leonard's face [Hearns I] looked much worst the next day than it did that night. But I don't know shlt how balls react. )

It was reported that Sharkey "fainted" from the blow. Not a usual reaction for someone taking a hard solar plexus punch.

Corbett, Graciano and 'Devil' Green (Patterson fight) all had their legs collapse from under them and grimaced as they clutched their midsection trying to regain their feet. They then rather quickly regained their composure and were more angry than hurt.

Sharkey fainted dead away and was carried from the ring. We have ask, did Sharkey actually fake fainting and then played opossum as they carried him from the ring, or did he faint dead away from a body blow? Or was there a KO blow to the jaw?

It was Sharkey's home turf so the opportunity for fraud was there. Actually surprised the local judge, at first, ruled against Sharkey. But finally then came around to his way.

Your source says Sharkey didn't get his money until the 17th. That's 15 days later. What could have held back the judge's decision for 15 days? Most of the accounts suggest the doctor examinations (that did happen) happened the next day or soon after.

P.S. Boxrec quotes the Jeffersonville Evening Journal calling out Earp's decision. I will be interested if you could tell me (when you get the book) what newspaper Sammons mentions in his work.

Sharkey claimed he was punched in the testicles not the solar plexus. have Pollack's book onFitzsimmons ,I'll take a look through that.I let ypu know about Sammons.

[Willie Pep 229]

Sharkey claimed he was punched in the testicles not the solar plexus. have Pollack's book onFitzsimmons ,I'll take a look through that.I let ypu know about Sammons.

Yes of course - what made you say that? -- thanks I will wait to hear - enjoy the book - quite a bit on JJ.

[Ivich]

Yes of course - what made you say that? -- thanks I will wait to hear - enjoy the book - quite a bit on JJ.

Your post.
"It was reported that Sharkey "fainted" from the blow. Not a usual reaction for someone taking a hard solar plexus punch.

Corbett, Graciano and 'Devil' Green (Patterson fight) all had their legs collapse from under them and grimaced as they clutched their midsection trying to regain their feet. They then rather quickly regained their composure and were more angry than hurt."

[Willie Pep 229]

Your post.
"It was reported that Sharkey "fainted" from the blow. Not a usual reaction for someone taking a hard solar plexus punch.

Corbett, Graciano and 'Devil' Green (Patterson fight) all had their legs collapse from under them and grimaced as they clutched their midsection trying to regain their feet. They then rather quickly regained their composure and were more angry than hurt."

Right that's why I am saying it was not a body blow but a shot to the balls.

[Ivich]

According to Jeffrey Sammons in, Beyond the Ring, the day after the fight Sharkey was examined by a team of six doctors, three chosen by Sharkey and three chosen by Fitzsimmons' people. The doctors unanimously agreed that Sharkey had been ruptured by the low blow. It was then that the judge voided the injuction holding back the purse.

Earp, who, on the same next day, was attacked by a local newspaper for creating the fix. (The newspaper owner had bet heavy on Fitz) He called Earp corrupt. (By other historical accounts, Earp was corrupt.)

After the doctors decision Earp insisted the newspaper retract its statement or face a defamination suit. The newspaper retracted the accusations.

I wonder why this video offers a different story.

Martin Julian Fitz's manager met Dan Lynch Sharkey's manager to discuss who would referee the contest.Lynch put him off,whereupon Julian made a list of names and gave it to Lynch who vetoed them all without giving any reasons.He then stated the National Athletic Club could decide if they could not come to agreement,San Francisco Bulletin Nov28 1896.
Julian put forward two more names as third man, Hiram Cook and Bill Naughton,Lynch rejected both without giving any reason. Sharkey himself had suggested Cook as referee for his earlier fight with Corbett,now Sharkey objected to Cook.
On the afternoon of the fight Dec 2nd the NAC announced they had selected Wyatt Earp as referee.
Earp had never refereed a big fight and Julian knew little about him ,he accepted the Club's choice, later in the day,according to Julian,"several Eastern and local sporting men,came to me and stated positively that the referee was fixed and that we would not be allowed to win".
Once in the ring Julian strenuously objected to Earp as the referee saying Earp was fixed to make Sharkey the winner.
Julian then stated ,"take anybody in the house,we don't care who but spare us from Earp."
The contract for the fight stated that if the parties could not agree on an official the NAC would decide the appointment.
After a 15 minute argument Fitz stepped to ring centre and said ,"I have given in on all other points I might as well give in on this one."

Sharkey was floored twice in the 1 st round.

Sharkey hit Fitz low in the 3rd rd and was guilty of wrestling tactics.

In the 4th some said Fitz was floored, some that he lost his footing.

In the 5th Sharkey grabbed Fitz by the legs and threw him to the floor, Earp said nothing.Fitz dropped Sharkey again in this round.

The 6th rd Sharkey ignored their agreement not to hit in the clinches and continually did so.Sharkey grabbed Fitz by the hips and tried to throw him. No comment from Earp.

7th rd Sharkey continued to hit on the break away Sharkey grabbed Fitz by the legs again.

8th rd Sharkey pushed Fitz's head back in the clinches and was booed for it as he had been throughout the fight for his dirty tactics." Fitz forcing the fighting,uppercuts Sharkey.Lands straight right on the chin,and left swing on the jaw.
Uppercuts Sharkey who is against the ropes with his left and lands a right on the jaw and a left on the body.
Sharkey falls to the floor,half rises then falls back again and is motionless.
The noise of the crowd is deafening.Danny Needham Sharkey's second jumps up on the platform and yells foul!
And the referee holds up his hand and points to Sharkey."
It was not until after Sharkey had been carried out of the ring,that the decision of the referee was made known to the great number of people,for Wyatt Earp remained only long enough to announce his decision to those in and immediately around the ring.
He then with the utmost speed made his way off the raised platform that constituted the ring,out of the building and beyond the reach of the crowd."

" Fitz paced about like a caged wild beast.He raised his hands above his head and shouted,"the referee has given the fight to Sharkey on a foul.It is nothing but a robbery."

The audience's amazement was so great they were silent for a few seconds .Then there were shouts of"investigation".
Most were quite surprised that Fitz had been disqualified.

Fitz gave a post fight interview.
"He fouled me everytime in the breakaway,and several times tried to throw me by wrestling.Once he tried to throw me over his head..
I feinted with my right for his jaw,then swung my body to the left,and with a left hand shift landed square on his stomach
and he went down.I noticed when he went down he instinctively placed his hands over his stomach,then quickly shifted them to his groin.
The whole plan was fixed up in advance,and Sharkey was coached how to act in case he was knocked out so as to give the referee an excuse to give him the fight on a foul"

For me.given that Fitz was well in front and dominating the fight,what motive would he have for fouling Sharkey?
We know Sharkey fought a dirty fight which he often did,we know Earp never once warned or cautioned him for his tactics.

On balance I think it was a fix,just my opinion.