The Wasp — 1896 — page 1069: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical comic sequence depicts a staged "contest" between **Bob Fitts (Sharkey) of Australia** and **Tom Whaley (of anywhere)** — likely referring to boxer James J. Jeffries or a contemporary prizefighter nicknamed "Sharkey." The joke mocks physical culture competitions and boxing matches of the era. Panel one shows "The Sack" (a money bag), suggesting the contest is financially motivated rather than athletic. The subsequent panels show a violent fight with referees calling fouls, concluding that "Whaley wins on a foul" — implying the match is rigged or fixed. The satire critiques the legitimacy of early 1900s boxing promotions and "physical culture" spectacles as corrupt entertainment rather than genuine athletic competition.