As the second and third rounds continued, Sharky (knowing that he had probably lost the first round) had given up the idea that McClelland was going to pull his punches, as Sharky had done in the first round. Sharky began attacking McClelland, but he found that he had to leap while throwing his punches to be able to connect with the head and face of his much-taller opponent. Again in Rounds Two and Three, problems with the protective headgear caused halts in the fight. In the third round, during one of the breaks in the action, Gus Montanaro (who was now in McClelland's corner) attempted to extend the break to give McClelland (who, like Sharky, was exhausted) more of a chance to rest. Sharky responded by walking halfway across the ring, pulling out his mouthpiece, and spitting on Montanaro (to the shock of the in-studio audience). Even Arciprete and Haffner, who knew of the bad blood between Sharky and Montanaro (from a behind-the-scenes battle between groups of Producers at WFAC-TV) were stunned at Sharky's gesture.
