Today I was reading Boxing News and they had an article about Max Baer and his villain side. I know his portrayal in Cinderella Man was largely panned as making him seem like too much of a bad guy. However, they cited a 2024 book : Then The World Moved On: The Brutal Truth Behind the Max Baer-Frankie Campbell Fight The article discussed the author Catherine Johnson's research into that fatal fight and discussed some darker details of the fatal fight and some other behavior from Baer that points to him maybe being closer to the portrayal in Cinderella Man I have not read the book and am unsure of any other books by that author. It seems like she did some solid research based on the Amazon description: "A variety of original source materials going back a century, were thoroughly investigated and meticulously pieced together, among them newspapers, court transcripts, medical records, genealogical, archival, federal, state, and local records, along with psychological analysis and brain trauma study, as well as interviews with Campbell's family members, former pro fighters, and boxing historians. Along with over 1400 cited sources, over 150 rare photos, illustrations, and fight advertisements, the book also discusses the legendary men who made California a boxing mecca in the early Twentieth Century, and the popular venues where fights were held. Woven artfully into the narrative, is how the context of the times, the Golden Age of American Sports, the Roaring Twenties, Prohibition, and the Great Depression, affected the sport, and the lives of the men who molded the game." Amazon. "Then the World Moved On: The Brutal Truth Behind the Max Baer-Frankie Campbell Fight." Product description. Accessed May 22, 2024. https://www.amazon.com/Then-World-Moved-Baer-Frankie-Campbell/dp/B0DFJLKLHM. Has anyone read this book? Is the Baer vs Campbell fight controversial besides the fact that it produced a fatality?
She was on here for a bit when her book first came out. Its on my buy list but im really backed up with my books right now. She's on Facebook and she said as listed above that she was extremely meticulous in her research and that the real Baer was intact much closer to Ron Howard's portrayal without Howard even realizing it. The man sounds like a psychopath according to her. Ill read it eventually.
Is Catherine Johnson the same person who used to post on various boxing forums/websites (this one, boxrec, etc.) as "Maxie's Gal" years ago (also sometimes signing herself "Cat") and had a Max Baer website? She certainly had a strong interest in the Baer-Campbell fight. But back then she was very much in love with Maxie. I wonder if it is the same person. I'm quite sure it must be.
I've just read the book now. I think I can confirm Catherine Johnson was "Maxie's Gal" on these forums a few years ago. And had the maxbaer.org website. She's done an impressive complete 180 degree turn regarding Max Baer.
She's a very good researcher. She used to have a website dedicated to Max Baer called maxbaer.org. Loads of information there, primary sources, etc.. Now defunct. https://www.boxingforum24.com/threads/maxbaer-org-1st-year-anniversary-and-major-updates.18720/ She was known as "Maxie's Gal" on this forum and on boxrec forum. Seemed like a nice lady.
People have long criticized Max Baer for being a foul dirty fighter. His 'killer instinct' wasn't doubted much at the time, after the Campbell fight and after his other top victories (Schmeling notably). But he's also been criticized for being a "clown" and a "playboy" and not taking it seriously, and being a "quitter" or not having a real fighter's "heart". This could all be true.
Check out the podcast “The Boxing Movie Podcast.” Here you’ll hear Catherine Johnson’s motivation for writing the book on Baer, well worth hearing. Must be at least 18 months ago. I did a post on it at the time recommending it, which elicited some outrage from fans of The Clown Prince of the Ring!
I can't say her book lowered my regard for Max Baer as a fighter. Being a remorseless killer isn't a weakness for a boxer, it's a strength perhaps, uncomfortable as that might be for some.
I recall her mentioning that she had thousands of first hand sources in her book, is that accurate? How has it impacted your view of Baer as a person?
There are 1,402 citation references, yes, mostly contemporary newspapers. It hasn't impacted my view of Baer as a person. I suppose he was a flawed human being. But there's a lot of subjectivity involved in taking a wholly negative or a wholly positive interpretation of him and his actions. Boxing is a crazy business, especially in those days, and with some very wild people in it. If many champion boxers are narcissistic, hedonistic, selfish and sometimes sadistic in their youthful primes, that shouldn't surprise anyone. If Max Baer was one of them, that doesn't surprise me.