Jimmy Sharman


James "Jimmy" Sharman was an Australian boxing troupe and entertainment impresario. His son also worked with him and taking over from as father in 1955, and becoming a professional rugby league footballer.
Sharman was born in Narellan, New South Wales, the fifth of thirteen children to James Sharman and Caroline Brailsfield, he established a boxing tent in 1911 at Ardlethan near Temora. The tent visited 45 to 50 shows each year. His son, Jimmy Sharman Jr, took over the business in 1955. The tent formed part of the Australian Show landscape until 1971, when regulations barred boxers fighting more than once a week. A member of the "Showmans Guild of Australasia", he then turned to dodgem cars in partnership with Garry oneill Reg Grundy.

Jimmy Sharman junior

Sharman junior was born, as James Michael Sharman in 1912 at Narrandera, New South Wales. He attended his first Sydney Royal Easter Show in 1926 working in his father's tent.
Sharman junior played rugby league for Western Suburbs Magpies. He was in Western Suburbs' 1934 premiership win against the Eastern Suburbs. In 1938 he became First Grade captain. He retired after 7 seasons in 1939 to become a journalist, taking over the boxing tent from his father in 1955. Sharman played 45 games between 1935 and 1939, scored 12 tries and kicked 11 goals. He died in April 26, 2006, aged 94. He was awarded life membership in 1998.

Jimmy Sharman's Boxing Tent

Many famous boxers worked in the Sharman tent, including:
The Black Irish Man Aboriginal
Famous Indigenous Australians to work in the tent include:
Some boxers came from the Cherbourg Aboriginal mission, near Nanango, Queensland.

Legacy

In 2003 the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales honoured Sharman Jr. with the title of "Show Legend".

In popular culture