Tom Sharkey's astonishing 50-year rivalry and friendship with Jim Jeffries is one of boxing's most fascinating relationships.

Brutal in the ring, they toured the carnivals later - and then worked together.

Their 25-round world title fight at Coney Island was one of the most compelling encounters ever seen inside a ring.

It sparked a friendship which would last until the two men died a few weeks apart in 1953.

On Jeffries’ death Sharkey – then in hospital and gravely ill himself – was heard to say, “Well, I finally beat him.”

This friendship features heavily in I FOUGHT THEM ALL and is at the heart of my screenplay about Sharkey's life.