Max Baer's Potential

He could definitively have done more with what he had, but one way or another Joe Louis is coming for him eventually.

 

IMHO Max Baer could have been the definitive number 2 of the HW category in the 30s, but by no means number 1.
So with the same training, the same diet, the same rest, the same coach, the same... Joe Lewis is number 1 and Max Baer is number 2 in the HW category in the 30s.

 

I think Max could have had a longer reign as Heavyweight Champion, with proper, consistent training and a better attitude about it. His reign may have looked something like this (?):

1934: Wins title from Primo Carnera.
1934: Successfully defends against Jack Sharkey.
1935: Successfully defends against James J. Braddock.
1935: Successfully defends against King Levinsky.
1936: Successfully defends against Max Schmeling.
1936: Successfully defends against Bob Pastor.
1937: Loses title to Joe Louis.

 

It’s worth considering that he seems to have had a different outlook on what constituted, “success.” He made money beyond his wildest dreams as a boy, got out of the sport with both it & his brains intact, & generally had a blast, come what may in his career. He was looking at the bigger picture of life, not a legacy in Boxing.

No right or wrong here, just worth noting.

 

That is a scary thought for all of Max Baers peers at the time. No matter your significance, no matter how hard you work or who you beat Joe Louis is still coming for you like an asteroid hurtling towards the heavyweight scene.

 

He did very well with what he had. But I order to be a long reigning all time great he needed sharpening on fundamentals particularly in the areas of jabbing, defense, and footwork

 

Surprised that no one has mentioned Frankie Campbell.

 

I agree. I was just about to bring that up. He was never the same after killing him, and it definitely inhibited him either consciously, or unconsciously.

He genuinely felt terrible after that, and would dedicate a percentage of every one of his paycheck's to Campbell's family.

On a separate note, Sylvester Stallone claims he is the reincarnation of Frankie Campbell.

 

Exactly, Campbell's death completely traumatised him, his attitude to the sport changed and it's hard to know the kind of career he might have had if that tragedy had not happened. Add to that the impact of the public response after Ernie Schaaf died.

As to Stallone do you mean that Stop Or My Mom Will Shoot is not the dumbest thing that he's come out with?

 

Max went very far with what he had.

I guess the less he had (or displayed) leaves it open to far more speculation and “reaching” as to what he might’ve been - which may be giving him far too much benefit of the doubt.

Of course he could’ve better adopted the fundamentals - like a jab for one thing, as has been mentioned.

Still, he didn’t appear that naturally fast with the hands and we might’ve at least seen a better display of other more natural attributes like reflexes etc.

Primarily Max was blessed with raw physical equipment, height, reach, granite chin and a powerful right hand.

For all his years in the game, one might’ve thought that he couldn’t help but look less crude than he did at times.

 

What else was he supposed to do? Being heavyweight champion of the world is pretty big accomplishment...especially when you became champion when there were 8 world champions in all of boxing. As opposed to now when there are 8 champions of every weight class, for each of however many sanctioning bodies there are.

 

Max Baer could have been the monster that people seem to think he is. Physically he was built like a superhero. Big power, fantastic chin. His downfalls were poor boxing skill and a lack of a killer mentality. He basically coasted through most of his matches on sheer physicality. If he'd been trained up like a Golovkin or a Klitschko or a Holmes I think he could have beaten Louis.

 

He could have vastly improved his technique but he had big problems mentally as some have stated. His heart wasn't overly in boxing. If his heart was in boxing, he went hard and he made improvements to his technique he would have been a great fighter, no doubt. That's a lot to add however.

 

He was a big strong fella with a sturdy chin and big right hand.
With what he had he went a long way he maybe could have went further if someone had developed his skills and all round game.