Can someone who has maybe seen a few of his fights and has a good knowledge of his career let me know how good this guy was? Guy had a record of 54-13-2 by the age of 24. Only 4 people he didn't avenge his loss against, all fighters who he didn't get a rematch against. Never KO'd bar his last fight which he ultimately died from. Notable wins include Baer, Loughran, Stribling, Braddock, Galento. My knowledge of this guy is limited I have looked at his record pretty closely and read a little about him but it's hard to find a whole lot outside of his fight vs Carnera and his death. Also I have only been able to find limited fight footage, just against Carnera where he was likely suffering from brain injuries. This guy really interests me I would appreciate it if anyone knows anything more about him and how good he could have been if it wasn't for the Baer fight and the influenza and brain swelling before the Carnera fight which presumably led to his death.
He was prety good. One of the better contenders of the era, and would likley have fought for the title if his life had not been cut short.
Well if you take away his health issues, I'd say he beats Carnera assuming he isn't paid off which means he would get a shot at Sharkey for the title. Do you think he wins that fight?
Given that Sharkey clearly had a bit of an off night against Carnera, I would not rule out Schaf lifting the heavyweight title.
Sharkey lost 6 of his last 8 fights including the Carnera bout so I reckon Schaaf would have a very good chance of being heavyweight champion. He could have held on to it for a while to as after Carnera won the title the next 4 challengers for the title were: Uzcudun - You'd expect Schaaf to win. Loughran - Tough fight but Schaaf was 2-2 against him so it's definitely winnable. Baer - Tough fight but Schaaf was 1-1 beating him convincingly then losing narrowly and dramatically. Winnable Braddock - A hard fight against a hungry Braddock but Schaaf beat him the only time they met. Very winnable. He gets through these challengers and he faces 21-0 Joe Louis. I love re-writing history.
Please remember that Sharkey actually held a large piece of Schaafs contract and was de facto his manager so no vhance of a Sharkey v Schaff world title fight. Woller
Well Schaaf and Sharkey were to my understanding good friends and I believe I read that Sharkey acted as a mentor for Schaaf and the Carnera fight was for a shot at the title, would Sharkey really have denied his friend a shot at the title which he had earned? I doubt it.
I'd love to see more footage of this guy. One of the better contenders of the Louis era if we go on resume.
I think he is more "pre Louis era", but if he had not been killed he might well have crossed swords with Louis.
Same. All I can find are a few minutes of footage from the Carnera fight which isn't really any use at all in determining how talented and skilled he was because of his condition in that fight.
Sadly a forgotten great. Very under appreciated fighter. Also had the scalps of guys like Risko, Uzcudun, Winston and Dynamite Jackson on his ledger. The symptoms of post influenza killed him more than Carnera or Baer. His brain was still swollen from his bout with the bug and he should never have been allowed in the ring that night. I believe a healthy Schaaf likely beats Carnera and may well become champ until he meets Louis. At 24 he likely had at least 6 more prime years left and would have added to an already impressive resume.
I think a little too much has been made of the Baer fight. By all accounts it was a bad KO, but how much punishment Ernie took in that fight is difficult to ascertain, as he had the fight won before the KO. Moreover, how much lasting effect the KO had on him is again difficult to know. Before the Carnera fight he knocked out the excellent Stanley Poreda who was coming off wins over Schaaf, Carnera and Loughran. So there didn't appear to be anything lingering. Maybe just a hard career and like everyone here has mentioned, the post flu going into the Carnera debacle.
Yes he lost a majority deciscion to Baer in the rematch and was knocked clean out by a punch with just 2 seconds remaining the bell saved him but I wonder if not for the last second knockdown if he may have won that fight as well. He was only officially stopped in the Carnera bout where he should not have been in the ring. Seemed to have good boxing ability and good chin. Definately underrated.
