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

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


  1. HistoryZero26

    HistoryZero26 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Depends if the fight is at HW or LHW. At LHW he'd lose them all but at HW he might escape with a winning record. The problem with this group is 3 of them are LHWs and he'd have a harder time outboxing those guys even at HW. But he should beat Schmeling and Walcott. While I wouldn't favor him against the other 3 if he fights all 3 I do think he gets 1.

    Braddock was a considerably better fighter against HWs then LHWs. He had much of the skill of other LHW transplants but had power and size they simply lacked. At LHW he struggled to win decisions but at HW he'd have struggled to lose them. At 190-195 pounds he would have been a force to be recknoned with but people barely got to see that Braddock and the little they did see gets written off as a fluke. He might not have been better than Baer at his best but other than him and Louis I generally pick him against HWs of his day including Schmeling. Braddock is like a Schmeling who chose to stay at LHW another few years.
     
  2. klompton2

    klompton2 Boxing Junkie banned Full Member

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    You do realize he literally ducked Schmeling and left him waiting on the scales at the weigh in. No way in hell Braddock beats Schmeling and everyone knew it. He lost to tons of HWs way worse than Schmeling.
     
  3. Reinhardt

    Reinhardt Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    My thoughts as well,
     
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  4. HistoryZero26

    HistoryZero26 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    He ducked Schmeling to fight Louis?
     
  5. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    I will mix things up a bit here.

    I think that he would probably have beaten Walcott, if the fight had happened in the time frame where it was possible.
     
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  6. apollack

    apollack Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I'd favor all of them to beat Braddock, but I'd give him a chance against Schmeling because Max, like Braddock, could be an in-and-outer with off days, and also, Schmeling at times could be a bit chinny, while Braddock had a solid chin. We know that unpredictable things happen in boxing, so there always is a chance, like Braddock beating Baer, of an upset. Guys have good nights and off nights, train harder for some fights and less so for others. There is an impact regarding where they are in their careers, age, inactivity, weight, motivation, etc.
     
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  7. HomicideHank

    HomicideHank I believe in the transmigration of souls Full Member

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    Yes. They didn't want him to potentially lose the title to a German.
     
  8. HomicideHank

    HomicideHank I believe in the transmigration of souls Full Member

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    The only real off-nights he had was three losing/drawing performances in 1933-34. Outside of that he was pretty consistent.
    Also Schmeling was not 'chinny'. He was only knocked down by Max Baer and Joe Louis at his best.
     
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  9. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    I think it was more the case that Louis's people made him a better offer.
     
  10. Journeyman92

    Journeyman92 Barrios is a bandit robber - Psalm 144:1 Full Member

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    A new opponent enters the fray.
     
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  11. Melankomas

    Melankomas Prime Jeffries would demolish a grizzly in 2 Full Member

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    Yes. Losing to the face of American boxing was much more preferable than being the guy who lost the title to the face (kind of) of Nazi Germany’s boxing.
     
  12. apollack

    apollack Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Schmeling got stopped by Max Diekmann in 1924 (retired after 4), Larry Gains in 1925 (in 2 rounds), Gypsy Daniels in 1928 (in 1 round), Max Baer in 1933 (10), and Joe Louis in 1938 (1).

    Schmeling had decision losses to Jack Taylor in 1925, Jack Sharkey in 1932, Steve Hamas in 1934, along with the aforementioned stoppage losses, and draws with Jimmy Lygett and Leon Randol in 1925, Max Diekmann in 1926, and Paulino Uzcudun in 1934.

    He had some so-so performances against several guys who weren't world beaters, so I can see how Braddock might have a chance with him. Not saying he would have beaten him, but it wouldn't shock me either if he did. Braddock beat the guy in Baer who beat Schmeling. Of course that doesn't always necessarily translate in a meaningful way. But it does indicate to me that the fight could very well be close and competitive.

    I think Braddock took on Louis over Schmeling primarily as a result of economics.
     
    Last edited: Feb 26, 2024
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  13. Glass City Cobra

    Glass City Cobra H2H Burger King

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    Max Schmeling L UD
    Jersey Joe Walcott L UD or Late round TKO
    Archie Moore L UD
    Ezzard Charles L UD
    Rocky Marciano L Late round TKO

    Braddock doesn't belong in the same area code as these fighters. He got by on his cageyness, solid chin, and heart and managed to become a one hit wonder champ due to a perfect set of circumstances against the right opponent.
     
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  14. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    Braddock was stopped once due to a cut, by Lou Scozza, before he met Joe Louis.

    He was pretty darn durable.

    However if he had defended his title against Max Schmeling, I could well see that as ending in his second stoppage loss.

    Schmeling had a track record of stopping very durable fighters.

    It was often a prolonged process, but he picked them apart.
     
  15. HomicideHank

    HomicideHank I believe in the transmigration of souls Full Member

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    Those KO losses were from when he was a younger fighter, before he was at his best.
    He was winning the Baer fight before he got put out - not to mention the roughousing tactics Baer used throughout the fight. He was robbed in the Jack Sharkey fight, won 2 out of his 3 fights with Uzcudun and he beat up Hamas in the rematch ending his boxing career in the process. Context matters.
    I don't necessarily disagree with your point I definitely think that Braddock would've held his own, I do think he would've been outpointed.
     
    Last edited: Feb 26, 2024
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