Sharkey v. Scott

With an expression of trepidation and constraint, Phil Scott, so-called heavyweight champion of England, got into a ring in Miami and sat down on a stool while his manager laced up his gloves. In the opposite corner Jack Sharkey, American contender, scowled ferociously and worked his gum-protector around in his mouth. It was a moment which had been preceded by weeks of intensive but not enthusiastic ballyhoo. Scott had looked very bad in training. Slow and clumsy, he had been upset several times by mediocre sparring partners. Sharkey, in fine condition, had been working as though every sparring bout were a real fight. Now at the referee's signal he rushed out of his corner and met Scott, chasing him around the ring. For a round Scott boxed nicely. In the third round Sharkey, overanxious and savagely aggressive, swung a left hook which landed on Scott's hip, below the belt. The Englishman slid quickly to the floor, screwed up his face, claimed a foul. Referee Lou Magnolia ordered Sharkey to his corner, helped Scott up and examined him. Because Scott has claimed fouls in eight previous fights it was more or less taken for granted that he would try it in this one. Before the fight, as evidence of good faith, Scott's manager had persuaded the local boxing commission to instruct Magnolia that neither man should be allowed to claim the fight on a foul unless, in the referee's opinion, he was hurt so badly that he could not continue. Applying this odd rule to the situation in hand, Magnolia had the doctor examine Scott, then questioned him.

"How do you feel, Phil?" Scott shook his head. "Do you think you can go on?" "I don't know," said Scott faintly. "If you get two minutes rest, will you try to go on?"

"I guess so--I'll try." When the time had been taken out for the suggested rest, Sharkey hit Scott hard in the stomach and Scott dropped his arms and slid part way down the ropes, keeping himself off the canvas by bracing his feet.

"Will you stand up?" screamed Sharkey. "I can't Jack--you hit me low." Having made sure that Scott would not go on, Magnolia raised Sharkey's hand and gave him the fight, disqualifying Scott for refusing to fight. Said Gene Tunney, a spectator, "Scott quit." Said loquacious James Johnston, manager of Scott and friend of Manhattan's Mayor Walker: "First they send Sharkey to his corner for fouling my boy, and then they take the fight away and give it to Sharkey. What am I up against? . . ." Said Referee Magnolia: "If Johnston makes any of his accusations to me in person I'll hit him. Scott is the yellowest bum I ever saw. For 10-c- I'd take him into any cellar and give him a licking myself."

Sharkey is now free to fight Max Schmeling, German heavyweight, in June for the championship of the world. Estimated loss to Madison Square Garden in promoting the Scott fight: $75,000.

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