On February 10, 1933 - Ernie Schaaf, a top heavyweight contender was killed following a fight against future world champion Primo Carnera. Schaaf suffered a brutal beatdown and was knocked out in the thirteenth round, fell into a coma and was declared dead four days later. Schaaf had fought Max Baer a year ago and had suffered a loss via majority decision. Baer had taken a real beating in that fight and had possibly suffered brain damage. A further year ago, Schaaf had won a ten round points decision against Tony 'two tons' Galento, a dirty fighter in an aggressive brawl. Schaaf dominated this fight, but some observers felt that Galento's blows to his jaw may have been the beginning of his fatal fall. There is even a case for influenza consuming Schaaf's life. R.I.P. Ernie Schaaf (1908-1933). So, who killed Schaaf? Carnera? Baer? Galento? Or Influenza?
From what we know, I’d say a combination of Baer, Carnera and the flu (making him vulnerable in the Carnera fight). He likely suffered some permanent brain damage from the Baer fight if accounts of him having headaches thereafter are accurate. From that point on, it may have been a matter of time and Carnera merely being the guy who happened to be in front of a more vulnerable Ernie (due to flu) and subjecting him to a beating because Schaaf was a tough customer who would not go gently into that good night —- or maybe if he fought Carnera without influenza he survives and it’s someone else a bit further down the road who happens to be in the right place at the wrong time for Ernie.
Schaaf was beaten up pretty good and was in recovery from Baer's big right hand, Galento's sweeping left hand and Carnera's relentless jab.. but then came the flu.. Ernie's immune system had already been so low that once the flu stepped in, well.. If you had done a poll I would have voted for a combination of all of it.
I am not saying Carnera was the only killer and Baer and Galento certainly added to the affair....but it happened with Carnera....you must keep in mind that PC did not try to injure fighters seriously but he was a strongman and had the huge heavy looking hands that IMO he threw without max power and seemed to fight light and quick instead of strong and powerful.....the point is he very well could have caught Schaff and really done damage....especially a sick man....it was also discovered he had meningitis along with the flu and still went 13 rds man what a tough SOB I am the first to say Carneras career had alot of help from shadowy figures....but a man that size can hurt an average sized man badly
From his first sparring session to the last punch by Carnera - they all had a part. Fighters all deserve much more than we could afford to give.
Influenza was main culprit never should have been in the ring that night. There used to be some detailed articles on this that I can no longer find.
I don't think he," suffered a"brutal beat down ,"against Carnera. Going from memory, the punches that stopped him didn't look that powerful at all.
Carnera would straighten you if he was with us today. You’re a weak slanderer sir words are for those of inaction, weakness, vulnerability and so he says nothing of your kind - he was saintly and one of the most piercing thinkers of the age. His defence was “‘marvellous” - Benny Leonard that’s a quote from a great man not a great wuss like you, it has a double, triple or quadruple meaning extended to his mind, soul and heart he was pure. To quote the philosopher king RM “When Carnera won the title, there were celebrations everywhere. It gave every Italian a sense of pride and hope.” I doubt you have pride and hope in yourself let alone such excess that you could be sharing it with your entire people.
I wouldn't put much thought in the Galento theory as reports state that Schaaf gave him a going over. But it really could have been a combination of things. After the Baer knockout (actually we'll call it the Baer knockdown as the bell rang preventing the KO) Ernie was back in the ring 7 weeks later and actually had 3 fights before the Carnera fight and no telling how much sparring in between. One cannot rule out that very busy schedule and the fact that they often carried an injury back then to avoid a postponement. But prior to the Carnera fight he took on sizzling hot prospect Stanley Poreda, who was coming off wins over Loughran, Carnera and Schaaf himself. Here is the writeup on Schaaf-Poreda II: "Ernie Schaaf has evened another old score. Schaaf advanced another big step in his comeback campaign last night when he stopped Stanley Poreda in the 6th round of a 10 round bout in MSG. Schaaf floored Poreda four times before referee Arthur Donovan halted hostilities after 23 seconds of the 6th. After the 1st round, Poreda never had a chance with the New Englander. Early in the 2nd round, Schaaf caught the Jerseyman flush on the chin with a smashing right and Poreda went down. Instead of taking a count of nine, Poreda came up at four, took a fearful lacing and went down once more just as the bell came to his rescue. Stanley got through the 3rd round with a minimum of difficulty, but two solid rights to the head sent him down for nine in the 4th round. Schaaf belabored his opponent in the 5th and then floored him with a savage right cross in the 6th round. That was the final punch for the referee stepped in and halted the uneven struggle." -Associated Press Reading the Poreda encounter, it didn't look like Ernie had any after-effects from the Baer fight. Although I hadn't heard he was suffering from headaches post Baer, I would still lean towards the issue with the flu that caused a swelling in the brain. But one of boxing's mysteries.
One night at the RAH I spoke to Larry Gains about Carnera,when I asked him about his power he said he wasn't a puncher..That doesn't mean he wouldn't knock me sparko though! lol. I'm not big on pride.
