What was the nickname of the reigning, retired heavyweight champion at the time of the Fitzsimmons vs. Sharkey Heavyweight Championship boxing match?
Fitzsimmons vs. Sharkey The Fitzsimmons vs Sharkey Heavyweight Championship boxing match between Bob Fitzsimmons and Tom Sharkey was awarded by referee Wyatt Earp to Sharkey after Fitzsimmons knocked Sharkey to the mat. Earp ruled that Fitzsimmons had hit Sharkey when he was down, but very few witnessed the purported foul. The fans at the December 2, 1896 fight in San Francisco booed Earp's decision. It was the first heavyweight championship fight since James J. Corbett, the prior champion, had retired from boxing the year before. The fight may have been the most anticipated fight on American soil that year.
Peter Maher (boxer) Peter Maher (born 16 March 1869, in Gunnode, Tuam, County Galway, Ireland – 22 July 1940 in Baltimore, Maryland) was an Irish boxer known for his powerful punch. Early in his career Maher won the 1888 Middleweight Championship of Ireland, and the 1890 Heavyweight Championship of Ireland. After moving to the United States he won the 1895 Heavyweight Championship of the World match by knocking out Steve O'Donnell in the first round. In 1896 Bob Fitzsimmons defeated Maher in a fight in Coahuila de Zaragoza, Mexico, and took the Heavyweight title.