Benny Leonard calls Primo Carnera's defense "Marvelous"

Three things.

Baer's best punch was the one that he was most susceptible to, and Baer knew this.

He ultimately didn’t have the power to keep Baer off him, or the durability to withstand his onslaught.

He was unlucky to injure his ankle early in the fight.

 

He lacked the ring smarts, defensive skills, counterpunching abilities, and reflexes needed to avoid being punched flush in his unprotected face by a crude, wide-swinging, face-first slugger. Other than that, he was marvelous! The epitome of what a superheavy should be.

 

That's fair enough.

However, assuming you're referring to Baer's telegraphed right-hand, as his best punch, why was Carnera not able to defend against this far more effectively than he actually did?

From the first round, Carnera kept his hands low and seemed determined to close the distance for Max; constantly moving towards Baer; skipping back as necessary but not, in my opinion using his size to defend himself. The first right-hand from Baer that connected was quite an obvious one and Carnera not only invited it but also more or less stood static to take it. Had he even tried to defend against it; even just to take the edge off it, I could more readily agree with your first point.

Was his size and reach not enough to keep Baer at bay, as Leonard had believed it would be? Carnera seemed unable to keep a jab going from a stance that would have maximized his reach advantage. This allowed Baer to close the distance at will, at which point Carnera seemed quite incapable of throwing any close range punches.

The ankle injury was unlucky (I am not sure exactly when it occurred). However, the pattern of the fight seemed to have been already established and the damage to Carnera already done, by the end of the first round.

 

This encapsulates it wonderfully but deniers wont agree .
The earth is flat!!!

 

Are you familiar with the term HOGWASH?.

 

I'm just trying to be fair, mcvey.

 

The bad misfortune of meeting two punchers who were not hand cuffed! What happened in the Leroy Haynes fights?

 

And I'm just trying to be honest!

 

How could he land it if Carnera had this wonderful defence!

 

Can you imagine it Leonard had Carneras wingspan!




Buying suits off the rack would have been impossible!

 

I know, LOL. Brutally so!

 

Excellent analysis with some great points.

 

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