Anybody conversant in American common tradition has heard the identify Wyatt Earp and followers of the film Tombstone might consider they know all in regards to the man. However there’s one a part of Earp’s biography that has pale from public consciousness, that being his position as a controversial boxing referee. Even these conversant in Earp most likely don’t know he refereed skilled fights, for he’s best-known now as a gunfighter and lawman of the Previous West, and numerous tales have been penned and movement photos produced showcasing Earp’s position within the notorious “Gunfight on the OK Corral.” However when he died in 1929 on the age of eighty, Earp was maybe most remembered not for being a quick draw, however for being a referee who helped repair a serious heavyweight combat.
The 12 months was 1896. Then 48, Earp had given up gun combating, although he had cashed in on his infamy by writing a number of articles for Hearst publications about his Previous West exploits. He additionally had a repute as one thing of a small-scale boxing official, having boxed as an adolescent and refereed fights in each America and Mexico, largely bouts at railroad or buffalo-hunting camps. However out of nowhere he obtained the possibility to supervise a serious, high-stakes battle between two of the perfect within the recreation.
Battle legends Bob Fitzsimmons and Tom Sharkey have been set to throw down at Mechanics’ Pavilion in San Francisco. This was no small-time affair, no buffalo-hunting camp combat, however a big-league showdown that introduced with it main consideration, simply as premiere fights do at the moment. Former champion James “Gentleman Jim” Corbett had just lately retired (although he could be again quickly sufficient) and a brand new prime heavyweight was wanted to fill the void. Boxing was unlawful in San Francisco, however that didn’t matter. Some ten thousand followers crammed the sector with everybody who was anybody paying the steep ticket value of ten bucks to see this historic scrap stay and in-person. And the person in control of the motion was to be Wyatt Earp.
The Nationwide Athletic Membership, the pressure behind the occasion, requested Earp to referee and Wyatt reportedly refused at first. The combat was being promoted as for the heavyweight championship of the world (a controversial proclamation, as boxing was politicized again then, as it’s at the moment), and the previous lawman feared he won’t be as much as the problem as a result of his restricted expertise. However such a glittering supply was arduous to refuse and so Earp walked into the ring on December 2, 1896 to referee a excessive profile bout. However not everybody was comfortable about it.
Controversy erupted even earlier than the opening bell with multiple particular person warning Fitzsimmons and his camp that Earp had agreed to throw the combat to Sharkey. This prompted “Ruby’s” supervisor, Martin Julian, to enter the ring earlier than the beginning of the competition and, citing all of the chatter of a repair, demand that somebody change Earp as referee. At this level Wyatt supplied to withdraw however Sharkey’s staff insisted that he was the person for the job and they’d not again down.
However that wasn’t the one notable pre-fight growth. Police captain George Whitman didn’t appear to thoughts an unlawful combat happening in San Francisco, however he did thoughts the truth that Earp had entered the ring with a revolver bulging from inside his coat. Wyatt calmly handed over his weapon earlier than the match obtained underway.
The bout itself was reportedly enjoying out as many had anticipated it to, with the shrewd technique and thunderous energy of Fitzsimmons, aka “The Preventing Blacksmith,” getting the higher of Sharkey’s aggressiveness and brute power. A intelligent tactician and a devastating puncher who had knocked out the esteemed Peter Maher in a single spherical earlier that 12 months, “Ruby” was taking Sharkey to highschool. However in spherical eight he threw a physique shot which despatched Sharkey to the ground. There “Sailor Tom” writhed and held his groin. Sharkey’s staff instantly argued their fighter was the sufferer of a low blow, whereas Fitzsimmons discovered the entire affair amusing. That’s, till Earp declared Sharkey the winner, through disqualification.
To say the group went wild seems to be an understatement. However the 1000’s at Mechanics’ Pavillion that evening have been shocked not solely by the combat, however by the choice of the referee, Wyatt Earp. For sure, it was not an incident that was simply forgotten. The media was throughout it, and Earp was smeared as being in on a repair that assured Sharkey was victorious. A New York Herald artist even drew a likeness of Earp that was past unflattering, with a cartoon cowboy sporting an over-sized sombrero pointing a gun at Fitzsimmons whereas handing a bag of money to Sharkey. Actually not the stuff of a Hollywood film.
Nobody can rightly say whether or not Earp mounted the combat, made the correct name, or was merely an unwitting participant in a world-class rip-off. The truth that Sharkey wouldn’t be seen by a health care provider till the day after the combat solely makes issues extra suspicious. Nonetheless, one didn’t essentially must pay Earp off with a purpose to reap the benefits of his providers. Once more, the person was most definitely not certified to ref a combat at such a excessive degree. What’s extra, there’s the inconvenient indisputable fact that Earp had supplied to give up his duties to another person earlier than the combat ever began.
For his half, Earp defended his actions as being completely legit. “I felt I did what was proper … and feeling so, I care nothing for the opinion of anyone,” he advised The Examiner. “I noticed the foul blow struck as plainly as I see you, and that’s all there’s to it.”
Sadly for Earp, the controversy and smears lasted till after his dying. It took many years for that chaotic night to depart the general public consciousness and for the picture of the towering western determine we all know at the moment to emerge, free from the whiff of ring scandal. — Sean Crose
