Thanks Rez, this one seemed perfectly timed as all those "Was Joe Louis any good?" type threads just seemed to pop up on classic.
I have seen the film about Braddock but this highlights/breakdown popped this casuals cherry on seeing the man in the flesh, keep them coming.
Greetings all! I'm a little ignorant here. One question that always puzzled me (and I've googled, etc. and can't seem to find an answer) is why Braddock remained inactive for almost two years before defending against Joe? I'll never criticize a new Champ for taking one or maybe two 'cheap paydays' as long as he gets back to business! Why didn't Jimmy fight anyone after Baer during that period???
As I understand it, Braddock's people knew that the Cinderella Man's coach could turn back into a pumpkin at any time, so they were determined to make the most money while they could. In the three months after Braddock took the title from Baer, Joe Louis had KOd both Primo Carnera and Baer, making him the top contender. Schmeling was making a successful comeback, so Joe and Max were matched for June 1936, with the winner to meet Braddock for the title in September, 1936. The expectation was that Louis would win and set the stage for a big money title fight. But when Schmeling upset Louis, that threw the title picture into pandemonium. Rightfully, Schmeling deserved the shot, but the powers that be wanted no part of that. So then began a year of behind the scenes shenanigans designed to protect Braddock and avoid Schmeling. In Louis' autobiography, he tells of one of his handlers (Roxborough, I believe) who was picked up and taken for a ride, gangland style, to meet Joe Jacobs, Braddock's manager. Anticipating a Louis victory, Jacobs wanted a share of Louis in return for giving the Bomber the coveted title shot. Roxy refused, so Joe Jacobs went to Mike Jacobs and arranged that deal of ten percent of all heavyweight title promotions over the next ten years. (Contrary to popular belief, this was not 10% of Louis' purses, but 10% of Mike Jacobs'.) Schmeling came to New York to weigh-in for the 'phantom fight' of June 3, 1937, when he was supposed to fight Braddock, hoping the ruling commissions would declare the title vacant when Braddock did not show up. They did not, and Louis KO'd Braddock on June 22, but not until after the latter floored Joe in the first round in a game effort to hold on to his title. Schmeling would have to wait yet another year to meet Louis for the title. One question I've always had about this is why was Louis not matched against Braddock following his spectacular victory over Baer?
I don't know enough about it, but did Jim Braddock and brain trust want to sit on the world heavyweight title for awhile? Of course, Braddock had to wait and get the biggest payday possible for a title defense. It is doubtful if Braddock would get another chance for such a payday if he lost the title while getting a relatively small purse. - Chuck Johnston
Cinderella was was a fictional female princess. How can the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world be called that!!?
