Braddock Defends Against Schmeling Before Louis

Most likely outcome. Braddock is tailor made for Schemling. A wild swinging arm puncher, there to be hit against a counter punching great that had a great right hand.

 

Thanks. I did not know this.

 

Boxing should be boxing. It’s the media that adds politics to it or the fighters. In the ring it’s a sport. Glad Louis got his shot because of that weird instance he may never have gotten one.

 

OK, so we are assuming that Schmeling beats Braddock to reclaim the title, then retires and sails off into the sunset.

That is is going to leave Braddock and Louis as the #1 and #2 contender at least initially.

Louis obviously isn't going to give up, but what does Braddock do?

Does he retire, or does he try to get the title back, or at least cash out against Louis?

In the real timeline he became the #2 contender after beating Tommy Farr, so he likely could hold onto his ranking long enough to be the other man in the ring if he wants it.

Putting all this together, it probably ends up being Braddock Louis for the title anyway, it's just that in this timeline it it for the vacant title.

The other would card in all this is Tommy Farr.

After Braddock refused to defend his title against Schmeling, there was talk of Schmeling Farr being held for the vacant title.

This suggests to me that if Braddock does retire after losing to Schmeling, we might well be looking at Louis Farr for the vacant title.

It is coming back to Louis one way or another, but there would always have been that lingering question.

Could he ever have beaten Schmeling?

 

I would favor Schmeling to win a decision or late stoppage as I feel his skill set was superior to Jim Braddock’s. But Braddock’s winning streak up to winning the title was to be taken seriously and therefore he should be given a live chance

 

Didn’t they try to make Braddock vs Schmeling as an eliminator for a shot at Baer and Max refused?

 

Then again that lingering question could have been temporary. Max might have returned to the United States, eventually, for a big payday against Joe, lifting the cloud over Louis.

And, in that case, the lingering question would become WHEN?

 

Hilarious!

Braddock was a tough SOB for sure. But his skills and athleticism were down in the bottom of the division's history of elites.

 

skinny little 190 pounders

 

Eh, Braddock was actually kinda big, 6-3 according to some tales of the tape. And he fought north of 210 at times. He certainly had the frame to add muscle.

 

Braddock's record weighing over 185 is 3-1 against Louis, Lewis, Max Baer and Farr. He was an unprecedented combination of size, skill and power at the HW division. Tunney

How is a 6'2 guy who started his career 23-0 at LHW the least skilled? Moorer started 22-0 and is often cited as most skilled. Braddock fought Loughran, Lewis, Farr, Gainer, Schaaf, Billy Jones and Shucco. Sure he lost most of these fights but these are are all some of the best HW or HW adjacent fighters ever.