Looking over his record Baker posted some fine wins . Payne Agramonte Gilliamx2 Bivins Brion Valdes Baksi Wallace Layne x4 Holman Richardson Slade Mederos True he dropped a few , a ko to Henry and a one round blow out to Satterfield, slowed his gallop, plus a stoppage to Moore, but between the middle of 1954 and the end of 1955 Baker was a dangerous force in the Heavyweight division. 6 2" around 210 and a good puncher, he had fast hands and could box a bit. At the end of his career he lost more than he won against the likes of Jackson,Dejohn,Hunter etc but he was a leading heavy for a while . HOW DOES HE DO AGAINST MARCIANO?
We'd be taking each fighter at his best, so the Baker of the early 50s before his hand injuries vs the 1951 one punch knockout artist version of rocky marciano. This would be a good fight. I suspect baker would come out fast trying to impose his size on marciano, but marciano will show baker no fear and come right into him. bakers jab will find its mark early and his elegant boxing skill with his long arms will allow him to build an early lead against much smaller marciano. baker will tie up marciano strongly on the inside and find his outside leverage to score points with straight punches...cutting marcianos eye in round 3. When marcianos punches fall short, baker will make him pay with his jabs. but thats when marciano will get going and his constant hammering away at bakers whole body will start to break bob down mentally and physically.... marciano adjusts to bakers size by getting lower and slips bakers jab more efficiently with weaves and ducks in his crouch and follow up with tremendous to bakers head and body. By round 8, with the scorecards now slightly in marcianos fa vor...Bakers take one final short of do or die and after clinchign marciano leashes an all out aggresive attack where the two trade punches for a good minute. baker lands some solid blows but marcianos just dosnt stop throwing punches...baker tires while marciano continues to throw bomb after bomb until a long looping overhand right from marciano dumps baker on the seat of his pants for a 9 count. baker will get up with heart but flurrish of punches followed by a dip down clockwise left look from marciano puts baker down again. baker gets up one more time but a hard left to the body from marciano, followed by right uppercut to the head, left hook to the head, and a final roundhouse right to the head sends baker down and out cold. Marciano KO 8 Baker is game and his size skills and power pose a problem early for rock, but ultimatly rocky is in a different class and rockys strength ackwardness power stamina tenacity and will will be too much for baker as the fight goes on
Guy was a bit of an enigma. Definitely one of those fighters that had to have it all together to be effective. Almost all but forgotten, sadly.
I would have loved to see Baker take on Joe Louis in 1951. Both 6'2 around 215lb, both formidable jabs, power, and strength. I think edge in experience, chin, technique and skills to louis with edge in youthness, speed and hunger to baker. I like Joe in a close decision.
Much obliged for your blow by blow account ,Don Dunphy lives again! Lucky you visited us Suzie ,I thought this post had fallen on stony ground.
Spot-on evaluation, SQ, 'specially Baker's rarely mentioned brittle paws. Used to train with him at Stillman's Gym, when he was considered a behemoth for the time. Always felt sorry for him: Stillman's was an airless armpit in summer, and Baker sweated like a pig training bundled from head to toe, constantly wincing taking off his wraps after sparring.
Incidentally I just so happened to watch Bob Baker take on Nino Valdes a few days ago in their return match in what was a good fight. After a competitive start by Valdes which saw the fight even after three rounds on my card, Baker took over matters from the 4th round onward and won the fight handily from that point onwards. He controlled Valdes with his jab and effective left hooks and uppercuts in close, Valdes fought back effectively at times but his rallys were few and far between. Had a great long jab though the Cuban did, shame he neglected to use it far too often. Anyway, Bob is one of the more underrated ring mechanics of the last 50 years imo, this guy would have been competitive in any era and was a damn good fighter. He wouldn`t get past Rocky though, but there is no shame there and he would make it competitive before getting taken out.
Baker was a big man with not a little skill. He could go inside, understood how to use his reach and extend his punches. He also had a respectable defense. Stopped by Archie Moore, and KOd by Satterfield, a puncher, and Clarence Henry, another puncher though underrated as such. That's it in over 60 fights. You can get a glimpse of him here against Bob Satterfield in a clip where Suzie Q is thanked as the source. It's a war for as long as it lasts. [YT]WG8kmOgjSPY[/YT]
Awesome! I had no idea that was filmed, do you have it as part of your collection? I would love to purchase this fight off you.
