Sporting Digest: Boxing

JACK SHARKEY, who was the oldest surviving former world heavyweight champion, died in Boston yesterday, aged 91. Sharkey won the title in 1932, beating Max Schmeling, losing it the same year to Primo Carnera. Joseph Zukauskas, as he was named by his Lithuanian immigrant parents, changed his name in order to fight. He ran a restaurant in Boston and refereed several fights after retiring.

DON KING, the promoter, was barred by a New Jersey state commission yesterday from doing business with casinos in the state after being charged in July on nine counts for an insurance fraud. The ban will prevent him selling pay-per-view rights for the World Boxing Council super-lightweight title fight between Meldrick Taylor and Julio Cesar Chavez on 17 September in Atlantic City.