the first time Schmeling defeated Uzcudon he was still a very capable fighter on a 6 bout win streak and his Baer win still ahead of him. The next two bouts 5 and 6 years later were definitely at Paulino’s end. Yes Walker was a middleweight still a tough out at heavy as no one was able to do it. Kind of like a James toney - easy to dismiss but not many ppl could get rid of him the way Max did.
Yes Stribling fought some questionable bouts in the south and his record somewhat padded but still he was proven to be incredibly durable by any measure.
I know you think very little of Carnera, and wonder if you'd agree that Uzcudin is his best win after Sharkey. (Not trying to set up a point, just curious about your opinion.)
Not only was Uzcudun relevant as a contender when Schmeling defeated him the first time, but the fight was the semi-final fight to the tournament which was to decide Tunney's successor to the heavyweight championship. It was the fight which decided that Schmeling was a finalist. Schmeling fought Sharkey for the title in Max's very next fight. Had Uzcudun defeated Schmeling, he would have been the one claiming the right to fight Sharkey for the title rather than Schmeling.
Read some of the politics threads in the Lounge and you'll probably be able to piece things together. He's still here in spirit though.
I mean, you can do but if you look at Frazier's résumé, it's clearly better than Schmeling's. Including outside of FOTC/Louis 1. Wins over Bonavena 2x, Quarry 2x, Ellis 2x, Chuvalo, Mathis, Foster, Machen and Bugner is better than Schmeling's list of scalps.
Sure, that's why I said Frazier should be ranked higher. That said, Schmeling beat Sharkey, Uzcudun twice, Hamas, Stribling, Risko, Neusel - is it that much worse than Frazier wins? I think that Frazier has a bit more depth on his resume, but the difference isn't enormous.
I'd personally say yes, it is a big disparity. I'd also pick the FOTC Ali over the Louis that Schmeling beat. Frazier was also much more consistent. That being said, I see your point on Schmeling being underrated.
Charles, Walcott, and Patterson would be competitive fights as these men are within the range of the men Schmeling competed against. As far as I can tell, Ben Foord at 207 lbs. was the heaviest man Schmeling fought. Max plodded to an uninspired 12 round decision against Foord. Baer was 203 but was a "bigger" man in most ways than Foord. Schmeling looked awful against Baer. So I don't see at all figuring Schmeling beats the modern big guys. It is at best a shot in the dark, claiming that size would not matter. But it did matter for Max in his career and so I can't see him handling guys like Ike and Cooney regardless of being the better p4p fighter. As for Charles, Walcott, and Patterson, I think all edge Max at their best versus his best. That said, none have a resume win to match the KO of a young Louis.
