A Heavyweight Tournament with a Twist: First Round (James Corbett/Max Baer)

Almost impossible to say. Corbett had a style and set of experiences that meshed better with LPR, and he had great stamina. Baer, for his part, also had great stamina, was significantly stronger than Corbett, and shrugged off punches like they were nothing.

Ironically, we have a lot of footage of Corbett (unlike, say, Sullivan), yet we're still shooting in the dark. I'd favor him to beat most fighters in this tournament, but Baer has a skillset that meshes really well with LPR.

I'll go with Corbett, but it's too close to call. Too many unpredictable factors.

 

i'd go with Corbett. He has the speed and cleverness to evade Baer's rather ponderous attack. Also, we was proved in 61 rounds against Peter Jackson that he can go the inhuman route in terms of mental and physical stamina.

 

I can see either winning really.
Baer could fold Corbett in half ,if he can land one of his swings to the body,and we know Corbett could be stopped that way.
Baer was not the precision puncher Fitz was however.
Max did not train with dedication either,would his get out of jail power save the day ,or would Corbett's speed and fleet footed-ness enable him to keep one step ahead of the Larruper?
I don't think Corbett would be able to stop Max even in a marathon fight ,whereas Max would only need to land one big shot himself.
I go with Baer ,ten times the power ,ten times the chin,5 times the strength.
Corbett maybe ten times the agility, 5 times the speed , stamina? Baer went 20 rds with Uzcudun,and Levinsky , give Corbett the edge ,but maybe by not as much as is assumed.
I am thinking Corbett could pull a Charlie Mitchell versus Sullivan here,but then again ,their draw was in heavy mud, which undoubtedly favoured the smaller sprier man.
Baer by ko

 

Loughran-Baer all over again. Tommy was Corbett's favorite boxer in later life, and Jim lived long enough to enjoy seeing Loughran take Maxie to school. Once again, after this was over, poor Max would be having unpleasant dreams of fencing student Corbett repeatedly stabbing him with "lefts...lefts...lefts...that's all I've seen." In an LPR fight to the finish, Baer would be blinded at the end, unable to continue.

 

Baer by early KO


Corbett was garbage.