Could Max Baer Get A KO Over Berbick?

Berbick defeated and basically retired John Tate , gave a prime Larry Holmes a pretty tough fight, beat up a then undefeated Greg Page on the Holmes Cooney undercard, beat Davd Bey, Mitch Green and Pinklon Thomas ... he matched Baer in size, strength , stamina and proved it against much better, bigger men ... Maybe a highly motivated Baer catches him but more than likely Berbick mauls him to a decision ..

 

Berbick was tough no doubt I'm just not sure he can do the frenetic pace Baer brings.

 

I think it's possible yes.

Whilst Berbick was normally fairly durable he could be caught early big punchers.

I can excuse the Tyson loss as Tyson during that time was a H2H monster.

But Berbick was also stopped in 1 round by Mercado.

So if Baer comes out aggressively and doesn't let Berbick get into the fight. Then it's possible that Baer could get rid of him early before he warms up.

But if Baer doesn't finish Berbick in the first few rounds then I wouldn't favour him to stop Berbick after that.

 

The problem with all these scenarios where Max is competitive with Berbick is that Baer was a ludicrously horrible boxer. I mean, he looks like someone who barely sniffed the inside of a gym. The openings he presented were galore. He overcommitted on punches, leaned over on his jab, found himself off balance, followed his opponent like a mug, kept his head straight on line...

Now, if you want to argue that Max was brought into the 1970's and received decent training and guidance... given his obvious physical gifts, you could have a theoretic argument that he could perform well.

 

Good points. I made the point earlier he had strong basics but looking back am completely wrong about that. He was incredibly unorthodox, yet beat many classical boxers whilst utilising this 'style'.

 

I really don't see the stylistic similarity.

 

Yes because his power and chin allowed him to get away with this, against all but the best.

 

Baer could hit very hard. Berbick was a nutter and would try and trade . He gets sparked early . Like the Mercado fight !!

 

Who did Baer finish in the first few rounds ? Love Max as a legendary character but really all he had going was size and power proven mostly against cruiserweights .. the back hands and round house punches are painful to watch .. that said if Berbick charged him and made him fight it might play to Max as he could take a shot and Berbick while stroking was not a huge puncher .. Maybe Max unloads .. possible ... a fun fight ..

 

Hi Buddy.
For what it's worth nether do I, Jack managed Bear for a while, up to and during the Louis fight, legend has it that Bear was a shaking wreck in the dressing room minutes before he had to leave, and refused to go, Dempsey " you either fight Louis in the ring or me in here " sounds like Dempsey.
stay safe janitor, chat soon.
Mike.

 

And many of "the best" of his day wouldn't be prelim guys in the 1980's.

Baer got a lot of his power by loading up like he was going for high score on an arcade punching machine. Even basic Berbick would spark him for one of those wind-ups. There's a reason fully ONE THIRD of his victories were against guys with losing records or debuting.

 

Berbick was a world champion.

 

If Max doesn’t lay Trevor out in the ring he still might do so in the car park afterward with a flying leap and kick from the bonnet of a car.

Max was The Magnificent Screwball after all, so I wouldn’t discount the possibility.

 

Baer brings a frenetic pace?

Not at all.

 

I'm not having a good day explaining myself, am I? You are right, he didn't fight at a bell to bell frenetic pace but his attacks were quick, two handed, unorthodox and intense.