Really Interesting Story

[raidersfan8122]

So as many of you know my grandfather passed away last week. So I go down to my grandmothers 2-3 a week to keep her company. I started to ask her about our background and what not and she told me something very intersting. Now this should be in the boxing section but I know more people on the football aspect then I do the boxing. She told me that we are related to a famous Irish singer by the name of Daniel O'Donnell. I never heard of him and she went on to talk about him for awhile and then she said I got a good one for you. Your late great uncle is Jack Sharkey. My jaw dropped! He was at one the the United States champion. I just thought that this was a pretty intersting story and thought you guys might liek to hear it. I went 36 years without ever knowing that!

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Jack SharkeyStatisticsReal nameJoseph Paul ZukauskasNickname(s)Boston GobRated atHeavyweightNationality AmericanBirth dateOctober 26, 1902(1902-10-26)Birth placeBinghamton, New YorkDeath dateAugust 17, 1994 (aged 91)Death placeBeverly, MassachusettsStanceOrthodoxBoxing recordTotal fights55Wins38Wins by KO13Losses14Draws3
Jack Sharkey (October 26, 1902, in Binghamton, New York – August 17, 1994, in Beverly, Massachusetts) was an American heavyweight boxing champion. He was of Lithuanian descent.
Born in an era when prizefighters, actors and others in the public spotlight adopted an "American-sounding" pseudonym, Joseph Paul Zukauskas (his birth surname is sometimes given as Cukoschay) took the family name of a popular retired Irish boxer and future Hall of Famer, "Sailor Tom" Sharkey (1873-1953).
In 1929, in a fight held in Yankee Stadium, Jack Sharkey knocked out the former light-heavyweight champion, Tommy Loughran to win the United States heavyweight title. His victory earned him the opportunity to fight for the vacant world title against the German contender, Max Schmeling. In their June 12, 1930, championship fight, Sharkey was disqualified in the fourth round after delivering a punch that landed below Schmeling's belt. This is the only occasion in boxing history when the heavyweight championship was won by disqualification.
In October 1931, Sharkey defeated Italian heavyweight, Primo Carnera, and was then given another chance to fight for the title. On June 21, 1932 at the Madison Square Garden Bowl in Long Island City, New York, Jack Sharkey defeated Max Schmeling in their rematch to win the World Heavyweight Boxing Championship in a very controversial split decision.
Sharkey lost his championship on June 29, 1933 in his second fight with Primo Carnera.
He fought Joe Louis on August 18th 1936 and lost by knockout in the 3rd round and retired with a record of 38-14-3 with 13 knockouts.
In 1994, Jack Sharkey was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. He died on August 17 of that year due to respiratory arrest.

[seattlefantillidi]

That is a REALLY cool story and interesting read! Kind of cool to find out when you're related to someone famous!