Irish Heavyweight Contenders
Posted: 28 Jun 2006, 00:38
There have been a few Irish-Americans who have held the crown, or even challenged for the crown, the most notable names were John L. Sullivan, James J. Braddock, Jack Sharkey.
The only native born Irishmen to ever challenge for the title was:
#1- Jem Roche
#2- Tom Sharkey
Roche, is a puzzling pugilist to me at least, as his record is so short, and it appears that his very first pro fight was for the title against Tommy Burns. It leads me to the conclusion that in his pro debut, and was declared the champion of Ireland, that Roche must have been a bare-knuckle boxing champion of that country, and fought Jefferies in his first Marquis of Queensbury match up---I only draw to this conclusion as BoxRec.com does not count London Prize Ring rules battles. He never really became a success as a Marquis of Queensbury fighter.
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Tom Sharkey, no relation to later title holder Jack Sharkey, was arguably the most dirtiest Heavyweight fighter of his time, using his head, shoulders, elbows---anything short of an iron maiden---to his advantage. In a time when knockout victories were rare, he once knocked out 19 men in a row in four rounds or less! Standing only 5'8" Sharkey was a powerfully built man, even by today's standards. He faced James J. Jefferies for the title going the distance, but failing to take the title away from "The Boiler Maker"---Jefferies would always say that Sharkey was the toughest opponent that he ever had. Many considered him to be an uncrowned champion.
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It has been well over 107 years that an Irishman has faced off for the title of Heavyweight Champion---now the challenger is 6'6" 270 pound giant Kevin McBride, whose TKO of Mike Tyson shocked the world. McBride realises how big a deal this is, as he said "Hopefully, third time is the charm!"
Though nobody really gives him a chance at all against WBO champion Sergai Lehoyavich, one must remember how many doubted his chances when he faced Lamon Brewster...and how many doubted McBride as well, and as open as the division is today, and as inconsistant the "big men" are, maybe the Irishman with his big heart, and even bigger dreams, against such big odds, may prevail.
The only native born Irishmen to ever challenge for the title was:
#1- Jem Roche
#2- Tom Sharkey
Roche, is a puzzling pugilist to me at least, as his record is so short, and it appears that his very first pro fight was for the title against Tommy Burns. It leads me to the conclusion that in his pro debut, and was declared the champion of Ireland, that Roche must have been a bare-knuckle boxing champion of that country, and fought Jefferies in his first Marquis of Queensbury match up---I only draw to this conclusion as BoxRec.com does not count London Prize Ring rules battles. He never really became a success as a Marquis of Queensbury fighter.
********************************************************
Tom Sharkey, no relation to later title holder Jack Sharkey, was arguably the most dirtiest Heavyweight fighter of his time, using his head, shoulders, elbows---anything short of an iron maiden---to his advantage. In a time when knockout victories were rare, he once knocked out 19 men in a row in four rounds or less! Standing only 5'8" Sharkey was a powerfully built man, even by today's standards. He faced James J. Jefferies for the title going the distance, but failing to take the title away from "The Boiler Maker"---Jefferies would always say that Sharkey was the toughest opponent that he ever had. Many considered him to be an uncrowned champion.
**********************************************************
It has been well over 107 years that an Irishman has faced off for the title of Heavyweight Champion---now the challenger is 6'6" 270 pound giant Kevin McBride, whose TKO of Mike Tyson shocked the world. McBride realises how big a deal this is, as he said "Hopefully, third time is the charm!"
Though nobody really gives him a chance at all against WBO champion Sergai Lehoyavich, one must remember how many doubted his chances when he faced Lamon Brewster...and how many doubted McBride as well, and as open as the division is today, and as inconsistant the "big men" are, maybe the Irishman with his big heart, and even bigger dreams, against such big odds, may prevail.
