How well does a 1935 James J. Braddock do against the following

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by HomicideHank, Feb 25, 2024.


  1. HomicideHank

    HomicideHank I believe in the transmigration of souls Full Member

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    Braddock versus

    Max Schmeling
    Jersey Joe Walcott
    Archie Moore
    Ezzard Charles
    Rocky Marciano
     
  2. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    His incredible heart might enable him to hang in there for a while with some of those guys but I wouldn’t favor him to beat any of them
     
  3. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    He ain't beating any of those dudes.
     
  4. Melankomas

    Melankomas Prime Jeffries would demolish a grizzly in 2 Full Member

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    Loses to all, I think Braddock may be the worst fighter to ever hold heavyweight gold.
     
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  5. Shay Sonya

    Shay Sonya The REAL Wonder Woman! Full Member

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    I only give the best version of James J. Braddock a chance against Archie Moore. I believe he definitely loses to the rest of them. On his best day, I think Jimmy could win a decision over Archie.
     
  6. HomicideHank

    HomicideHank I believe in the transmigration of souls Full Member

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    I disagree I like his chances against Moore, Walcott and Charles they definitely lost to worse fighters than him. I do feel Schmeling and Marciano would outpoint him or KO him late. He was a very game fighter.
     
  7. Pedro_El_Chef

    Pedro_El_Chef Active Member Full Member

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    A smart fighter with a good jab, good timing, good power and a great chin, and he was bigger than all the guys mentioned but not by much. He has the potential to make the distance against all of them. Only Marciano and Schmeling maybe knock him out, and that makes him especially annoying to deal with for the less powerful guys like Charles.
    Considering he held a controversial decision over John Henry Lewis and Tommy Farr, it's not at all inconceivable he could get such decisions over Walcott, Moore or Charles.
    Gives them all a tough fight.
     
  8. Melankomas

    Melankomas Prime Jeffries would demolish a grizzly in 2 Full Member

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    I’ve never seen him as someone on the level of the fighters you’ve listed. His greatest achievement was beating Max Baer when Baer was more in a mood to goof off than anything, and also giving Joe Louis a decent fight. He also did beat JHR, but he wasn’t very formidable at heavyweight.

    Still, nothing I see suggests he’d have much of a shot at actually beating Walcott, Moore or Charles.
     
  9. HomicideHank

    HomicideHank I believe in the transmigration of souls Full Member

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    Fair enough.
    I don't think Moore, Charles and Walcott would have fared as well against a prime Louis as he did.
     
  10. robert ungurean

    robert ungurean Богдан Philadelphia Full Member

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  11. ikrasevic

    ikrasevic Our pope is the Holy Spirit Full Member

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    From the occasion, I also think like this. Archie Moore was the only one on the list who was not a heavyweight champion.
    1:4
     
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  12. BCS8

    BCS8 VIP Member

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    Watching extensive Looney Tunes cartoons has led me to believe that Braddock could beat any of them if a piano fell on his opponent during the ringwalk.
     
  13. klompton2

    klompton2 Boxing Junkie banned Full Member

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    He loses to all of them.
     
  14. Ney

    Ney Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I’d give him a decent chance to beat Moore & maybe Schmeling …I can’t even favour him there, though. The rest would all get him.
     
  15. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Weirdly, I think his best chance would be against Charles, it's just a hunch though, I think that "deployed" styles - John Holman, Nino Valdes, Harold Johnson - could give him pause at HW and upset his rhythm a little bit in excess of the quality of opponent. That said he butchered Valentino and outclassed Maxim and i'm assuming you mean prime versions. Prime for prime, i'd need long odds to consider Braddock so that's that. From best chance to worst:

    Slight chance of a major upset:
    Ezzard Charles
    Jersey Joe Walcott

    On an off night he might get a decision over naughty Johnny Foreigner:
    Max Schmeling

    More chance of Douglas beating Tyson:
    Archie Moore
    Rocky Marciano