The Forgotten Champion
Throughout Boxing history era's have been separated by champions with such prestige talent and Potential GOAT staus that fantasy matchups, philosophical debates, accumulate into us fight fans drooling over the mysterious 'Era vs. Era' contest. But what about the champion in between the above mentioned Era's, a Champion that is well known to the pugilistic world and has the talent and the skills in his own right but because of the success of the champ before him and the one after is often lost on the shuffle.
A few Examples below.
Ali vs. Tyson (Larry Holmes)
Robinson vs. Leonard (Carlos Monzon)
Jack Dempsey vs. Joe Louis (Max Baer)
Let's look at the last one on the list. Max Baer, now like it or not Max Baer was the most famous boxer during the 'Depression' era of the early 1930's. born on February 11, 1906 in Nebraska. 6'3 220lb with a barrel chest and 32 inch waist, Baer was a quite a specimen.
Charismatic outside the ring with money, fame and a touch of early Hollywood noire. He was the Ali of showmanship some 40 years earlier than the Greatest.
Inside he was a talented fighter with knockout power in either hand. He also had a tendency to joke around and act a fool in the build up to fights and during them.
'Clown Prince', 'Madcap Maxie', or 'The Livermore Larupper' whichever name people.associated him with he is regarded
by some as one of the greatest punchers in the heavyweight divisions history, Baer is unfortunately best remembered for two reasons.
1. The Cinderella Man.
2. The Death of Frankie Campbell.
Again to Baer's somewhat bad luck, the story of the Cinderella Man especially in the media was tailored for his opponent James J. Braddock and his own rags to riches story.
The 2005 movie depicted Baer as a savage brutal prizefighter with no remorse for killing a previous opponent. Max Baer's son and many family members claimed Baer until his death was deeply depressed by the death of Campbell, even donating a shares of purses of x4 of his fights following the bout to Frankie Campbell's widow.The Baer family sued the Films producers and won.
The Frankie Campbell Fight
On August 25, 1930 Baer fought Frankie Campbell, a quick fast fighter with knockout power who like Baer was an up and coming contender. Max Baer was 20yrs old and had an impressive record of his own at the time (24-3 19ko's)
Baer entered the bout in a different frame of mind, he was enraged. His friend and trainer, Tillie“Kid” Herman, had switched allegiance just before the contest to become Frankie Campbell’s chief second. Nothing much happened in the first four rounds of the fight, a questionable slip by Baer in round 2. Max and Frankie battled on even terms, taking two rounds each. As Baer came out for the fifth round, Tillie Herman jeered him and a devil was let loose.
Baer chased and punched Campbell to the ropes. Frankie was suddenly trapped and would undoubtedly have fallen in normal circumstances from the big right cross that thundered off his chin. But his suddenly limp body had no place to collapse and rest. That blow alone was believed to have knocked Campbell out, but many more blows followed. Baer kept firing and struck his hapless opponent with at least another half dozen full-blooded shots to the head.
Referee Toby Irwin, one of the most experienced officials in the game and an ex-fighter, was seemingly oblivious to Campbell being out. Curiously, Frankie’s seconds appeared to be similarly hypnotized by the crashing burst of violence. There was no fluttering towel, no shouts and yells from them to stop the fight.
The anguished cries to halt the slaughter came from the crowd of 15,000, gasping at the blood that pumped from Frankie’s nose and mouth before he finally hit the deck.
Campbell was moved to the Mission Emergency Hospital in San Francisco and later to St Joseph’s, where he died the following day.
Baer, even at that early stage in his career, was being hailed as one of the greatest punchers the heavyweight division had ever seen. We can only theorize on how he felt about that.
The tragedy affected greatly affected Baer, so much so that he lost four of his next six fights
Also dontated a majority of the latter fight purses to Campbell's widow.
Tragey, Victory and Dempsey.
Baer considered retiring after Campbell’s death. He reconsidered, and made his way to the east coast for his New York debut against Ernie Schaaf. Schaaf outboxed Max on his way to an easy decision victory.
“I couldn’t catch him so I couldn’t hit him' I want to fight him again. Next time I’ll catch him.” -Max Baer
2 years and 10 straight victories past and the two fought for a second time this time he did catch him. With just under ten seconds left in the fight, Max caught Ernie with a punch some say was the hardest he ever threw. Schaaf went down and out. Many believe that punch was responsible for the damage that resulted in Schaaf’s death in his next fight against Primo Carnera.
Former Heavyweight Champ Jack Dempsey took him under his wing, and Dempsey believed he had hit the jackpot, Baer with his Athleticism, Power, Solid Chin and Hollywood Glitz would surely draw money. If only he could stop the clowning and unleash the beast inside.
Growing up Baer Idolized Dempsey, he even tried patterning himself after him. As evident in Baer's early fights. Throughout this period Dempsey often spared with Baer to help him prepare and was his unofficial fight promoter.
The Jewish Hero.
Only one man stood in the way of Baer and the Heavyweight title, Max Schmeling.
Schmeling had previously lost the Heavyweight crown in a widely disputed split decision loss in 1932 to Jack Sharkey.
With the Nazi-party and its leader Adolf Hitler gaining power along with fearful anti-Semitic tendencies, the majority of the Jewish population in America feared a backlash from this. Schmeling although not an ally of Hitler was seen as a celebrity puppett of the Nazi's plans for global dominance.
The two met on June 8th 1933 in front of a packed Yankee Stadium. Baer had a Jewish father, but didn't practice the religion, even so this didn't stop the promoters including Jack Dempsey hyping the fight as the Nazi revolution vs the Jewish History, both fighters played along with vastly different consequences.
Baer was viewed as a hero, fighting for his family's heritage and religious faith
Schmeling reluctantly assumed the role of the prejudicial Nazi.
This was further sensationalised by Baer entering the ring wearing the Star of David (the symbol of the Jewish identity) on his shorts.
During the bout Schmeling was easily beaten for the first 9 rounds, and was pounded by the bigger man until the fight was halted at 1:51 in the 10th round.
Baer continued to sponsor the Star of David by wearing it on his shorts for the remainder of his career. He was now the No1 contender.
World Heavyweight Champion.
Jack Sharkey had lost the title to the massive Primo Carnera, the fight seemed unlikely given Primo's suspect chin and Baer's brawling style coupled with ferocious finishing ability Carnera's handlers were in no hurry to set up a defence against Baer. Instead they opted for two less 'risk' defences both 15round decision wins against much smaller opposition (Paulino Uzcudan, and Light Heavyweight great Tommy Loughran)
Carnera agreed to face Baer.
The fight took place on June 14, 1934, Baer floored Carnera 11 times before the fight finally ended in the 11th round. Baer himself visited the canvas twice, on one occasion he was carried by the huge momentum of his own punch, then instead of jumping back to his feet, Baer crawled toward Carnera pretending to be a predator stalking its prey. The crowd was on its feet and loved every minute of it. Max Baer was the Heavyweight Champion of the World.
His title reign was over within a year. Baer was outpointed by huge underdog James Braddock over 15 rounds
While I won't divulge too much into the Cinderella Man story, as many reading this will know the story more than the other events in Baer's career. It has to be noted that the 2005 film did make many historical inaccuracies, but Max Baer being under-trained, less focused, and spending the majority of the fight clowning were certainly true
- "Max undoubtedly paid the penalty for underestimating his challenger beforehand and wasting too much time clowning around in the fight, if only he hadn't trained like he was fighting a bum" - Hall of Fame trainer Ray Arcel.
The Brown Bomber.
Losing the title to Braddock didn't hinder his popularity. He was still worth box office gold
That was until he ran into the future Heavyweight champion undefeated Joe Louis. Baer knew the risks for the fight,
Louis threw more punches, was quicker and was technically better then him, but Max knew hit could hit harder and take more potential punishment then Joe.
Bigger issues arose, both his hands were still damaged from the Braddock fight, doctors advised him that his right hand needed immediate surgery because all his knuckles were broken, and would need 9 months to recover, knowing he only had three months (Baer was under contract with Madison Square Garden and were only offering 3 month window for the Louis fight).
Max was worried by Louis but moved ahead to face it. There was nothing else to do if he wanted his title back.
Just like he did against Max Schmeling, Baer trained seriously for the bout. He practically lived at the gym, ran five miles every morning, pounded the speed and heavybags
But his hands were still limiting him.
The fight took place at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 24, 1935. A little over 15 months after winning the title.
A cagey opening round saw a cautious Baer struggling to land flush on his more skilled counterpart.
Baer found success in round two landing several body shots. The meticulous Louis, however, kept to his own fight plan, landing lefts and rights to Baer’s head. Max caught Louis with that looping overhand right of his flush on the chin. The pain in in Baer's hand shot all the way up his arm to his shoulder. He had never felt pain like that before. The famous punch that had stopped many foes for Baer had little effect on Louis. It was the begining of the end.
Things got worse in round three. Baer threw a lot of punches but missed most of them, while Joe was landing at will. Louis dropped Baer for the first time in his career. He got up and walked into another barrage and hit the canvas again. The bell ultimately saved Baer but only delayed the inevitable.
Between rounds Jack Dempsey (who was in Baer's corner) told him he was doing great,
and that Joe had hardly touched him, to which Baer jokingly replied "You better watch the referee then, as he's besting the he'll outa me"
Louis was in full control in the 4th round as Max was dropped twice more before he was stopped.
A chorus of boos rang out as Louis had his hand raised, fans accused Baer of being a failure, and heartless. Never before had bare had to hear the word gutless.
it wasn't until Years later that the public was made aware of just how helpless Baer was against the Brown Bomber. To think if he would have had those 9 months to have the surgery and fully recover.
Decline and Retirement.
Although financially secure the fast money and celebrity status was too much to walk away from, he spent money faster then he earned it. Bear's father (Jacob Baer) bought Max annuity with a solid insurance company with the prize money he received against Louis, this would pay Baer and his wife $2500 a month beginning when he turned 50 years old. The actual figure Baer earned for the fight was $100 there wasn't complaint from Max as he knew his father was looking out for his well being.
Baer fought for a further 6 years but never received another title shot. In 1940 World Heavyweight champion Joe Louis apparently ducked another meeting with Baer. One solid right from a fully fit and ready Max and Louis’ promoter, Mike Jacobs, might have lost his meal ticket altogether, Jacobs didn’t want to take another chance with Baer.
19-0 over lesser opposition followed, mostly from the south of USA. In 1939 Prospect Lou Nova became the only man other than Louis to stop Baer. Nova repeated this in feat in 1941, Baer was soundly beaten in these contests and retired shortly after.
After his prizefighting career ended Baer turned his hand to acting, subsequent roles included 'Africa Falls' and 'Over She Goes'. His last film, “The Harder They Fall” in 1959, put Max up on the big screen, and.he shared top billing with the likes of Humphrey Bogart and Rod Steiger.
Casual fans will link him to Actor Craig Bierko who portrayed him in the Cinderella Man movie
Real fight fans will remember the fun loving joker who never seemed to be far away from tragedy, who possessed all the tools but lacked the mental focus to ever hit the success that many expected of him. Like a fatally flawed template of George Foreman: bigger and more powerful than everybody else but missing the vital components of dedication and consistent hunger that was needed.
How great could he have been, we remember the wasteful defeats as much as the thrilling victories. That warm glow we feel for Braddock is mared by the frustration of watching Baer throw away his chance of becoming one of the elite all time Heavyweights.
We watch in awe Louis and his stinging precise jab, meanwhile knowing that Baer could have done so much before the anti-climactic end to there bout.
Max Baer at his best was a revelation, wild, arrogant and destructive. When he rose up in anger, he made other heavyweights look as small as children and other punchers look positively ineffectual. In that respect, the flashes of brilliance was overshadowed by the larking and clowning
Nonetheless Baer’s impact on the equally flat heavyweight boxing scene during the 30's was nothing short of terrific.
Max Baer died of a heart attack at the age of 50 in 1959. He even joked with the doctor who was trying to save him by downplaying what was happening. Which pretty much sums the man up.
Many stories are around about Max Baer as the funny man or the joker, but I often wonder what if Baer would have let go of the clown and became the feared Champion he was meant to be.