What If Baer Didn't Fight Braddock..?

Schmeling could 100% beat Baer with a good gameplan.

If he faced the same pathetic version of Baer that Braddock faced aka Clown Baer, I say Schmeling stops him.

 

I think that Schmeling would outpoint that version of Baer. He'd become the first two time HW champion and people would probably look at him differently.

Even better hypothetical scenario is Braddock defending against Schmeling - which he should have done. Max would definitely beat Braddock, possibly stop him.

 

That wasn't going to happen. Schmeling was the deserving fighter to face Braddock, and would have most likely beaten him, but there was a certain Herr Hitler in office in Deutschland, and Schmeling was not going to get the biggest title in sports.

 

I know about that, but sport should be above politics (it usually isn't, but it should be).

 

The early consensus seems to be Max outpoints Baer and I agree with that. Also Braddock never wins the title which would be sad as his comeback was startling from the depths he had fallen to

 

Baer would take Schmeling far more serious than Braddock. Baer was a physical mess at this point, but he was expecting a gimme defense and counting on Braddock just blowing over. Even with his busted hands, Baer might go all out on Schmeling and force a stoppage. Baer would also have a tremendous psychological advantage given how the last fight played out.

Baer is a traditional reactionary counter puncher's nightmare, his punches were so loopy they were difficult to anticipate and react to. Schmeling had considerable trouble judging where those big rights would land and got caught on chin while waiting for a body attack. This match up still favors Baer.

After this...Baer would be looking at Braddock, Louis, and Farr as potential opponents with his hands in rough shape and head drifting further from the game. I feel he could lose to any of them.

 

Then Joe Louis would have fought Max Baer Sr for the title much sooner than he fought James J. Braddock.

 

And that first fight was a sure surprise, that right hand of Max was devastating.

 

I don't think that the initial premise is very plausible to be honest.

Schmeling had been due to face Baer for the title before the Braddock fight, but his backers failed to come up with the funds.

So who does step in if Braddock drops out?

Steve Hamas is out of action, so the realistic options are probably Primo Carnera, Art Lasky and King Levinsky.

Carnera would be the most logical choice on paper, having put together a winning streak since losing the title, but he might have been a politically contentious choice.

Art Lasky was still ranked in the top five, despite losing to Braddock, and was fairly well connected. However his recent loss to Braddock would have made him a contentious choice.

King Levinsky was on a long winning streak, and he might just have got it based on timing.

Charley Retzlaff might just be in the argument (would have made an interesting fight), but he is probably a more credible choice a few months later.

 

Thinking about it, it would have cost Joe his legacy later on, but as it turned out Braddock beat Max Baer Sr.

 

The world was on the brink of the biggest war of all time! Are you a ****ing idiot?