Johnny Risko vs. Jack Sharkey (2nd meeting)
Johnny Risko 194 lbs beat Jack Sharkey 191 lbs by SD in round 15 of 15
- Date: 1928-03-12
- Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, USA
- Referee: Kid McPartland 9-4
- Judge: George Kelly 7-8
- Judge: Stuart Douglas 6-4
"Johnny Risko cuffed and clouted his way to a surprising, but decisive victory tonight over Jack Sharkey in a 15 round mauling match. It was a battle of no particular thrills and only one spill. From the viewpoint of the crowd, the most exciting prospect occurred in the first few moments of the 10th round when Sharkey backed into a corner, went down to one knee after taking two stinging lefts to the head and slipping as he tried to dodge. A third left delivered by Risko landed as the sailor was on his knee, but it was an unintentional blow and did no particular damage. Sharkey was much the better boxer of the two. In the few rounds he won, he had Risko missing wildly. Risko won because of his aggressiveness, but he also outpunched and outgamed the Boston sailor." -Associated Press
- Unofficial AP scorecard - 9-6 Risko
- Attendance - 10,943
- Gate - $100,901
Post fight comments
- "I can lick Tunney too. Three years ago, when I was just out of the amateurs, Tunney beat me to a decision. I'm experienced now and I'd do better. He's a great champion, but I can whip him." -Johnny Risko
- "Risko hit me down there several times. They didn't amount to much, but they made me step back and say things when I should have been in there fighting. I shook him badly at times, but what could I do when he wouldn't open up? You can't knock a man out by hitting him on the elbows." -Jack Sharkey