[1929 - 31 articles] Jim Corbett: No fan of prime Max Schmeling's skills!

I saw one written by him in 1912, and I think the only fighters he wasn't critical of were McFarland and Attell.

 

Schmeling was much more skilled than Corbett.

Corbett's skills relied near totally on his speed.

 

He was also very skilled clincher, but other than that I agree.

 

Corbett was pretty famous after he retired for being a horrible judge of fighters and fights. I wouldnt put much credence in his opinions. He was chronically wrong. In fact there was a famous fight where one of the participants was told Corbett picked against him. When asked why he looked so happy by that prediction he said "If that guy picked against me Im sure to win!"

 

I'm much more impressed with Schmelings skills than I am Corbetts for what its worth.

 

I also find him to be one of the more disingenuous champions, in terms of his testimony about events that he was involved in.

 

Another thing to remember is that the New York press, which dominated printed boxing media in that era, was very biased against foreign fighters. Hell they were biased against US fighters that werent from New York.

 

Then how did he outjab Sharkey? How did he use his left against Louis so well?

I strongly disagree, he was one of the better defensive HWs of his era from what I've seen. He had good head movement and he could fluidly change his stance from crouch to the more upright stance.

 

Which ones exactly?

 

Thanks, that is a reasonable and well-put post.

 

Schmeling's style seems to be widely misunderstood, both then and now.

European scoring of the period discriminated heavily against the jab, so European fighters used to lead with the right hand much more.

Schmeling used his right hand more simply because he fought in the European style, and thus used the right hand as his main lead.

If you led against Schmeling with your jab, he would either counter it with his overhand right, or simply push it aside then counter.

He would then move in using a crouch, throwing his left hook to the body, or switching to the inside.

As his career in the USA progressed, he turned into a bit of a Euro USA hybrid.

People talk about his overhand right, but his uppercut was one of his most dangerous punches, and often the one that ended fights.

 

He landed outstanding right uppercut and left hook combo on Louis at the end of the fight

 

Yes and that was when he wanted to end the fight.

He had been content to cruise to a decision, but when Louis went low, he decided to take the third man out of the fight!

 

All I can say is that James J. Corbett, aka "Gentleman Jim" was completely wrong in his underestimation and low rating of Max Schmeling on the topic of his skills.
I know that by now, most of you are acquainted with this fine video showcasing Max Schmeling's subtle/great skills that he used in dismantling the then undefeated Brown Bomber. No matter how decisively and emphatically Louis avenged this defeat 2 years later, the video show just how skilled Max was...and he certainly didn't just learn these skills after James J's death in 1933.

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I think that the Risko fight gets undersold!

It was Schmaling's first meaningful fight on US soil, and against the man who was generally favored to win the elimination tournament, to replace Gene Tunney as champion!

This was Rikos only stoppage loss in a 142 fight career, with the exception of his last fight in 1940!

Risko was coming off wins over Sharkey and Uzcdun!

Schmeling dropped him in the first, seventh, eight, and ninth rounds.

Although it was a TKO, Risko had to be carried back to his corner!

That showed the USA that the Schmeling had definitely landed!