Next in the series after Larry Gains and George Godfrey II In three categories Best win: In terms of quality of opponent, and manner of victory Most important win: In terms of historical significance Most spectacular performance: Not really the quality of the win, just a great display of the champion's ability. My picks: Sorry if this is uninteresting, but for all 3, I pick his win over Schmeling. He hadn't lost since being robbed of the title against Sharkey, and is easilly the best fighter overall he beat. I don't think I need to explain the historical significance of someone identifying as Jewish beating a German in the 30s. I imagine a lot of people would pick his Primo fight, and all the knock downs were spectacular. But for me he showed too many of the flaws that were his undoing in that fight. The KO of Pat Comiskey was also impressive, but he was also hit a lot in that one. This content is protected
Baer had lots of flaws, but he was durable and could hit in a time when few else had those attributes. Schmeling was his best win. Carrera, a very good one. I wonder if the Braddock fight was fixed. Baer just let Braddock take his title.
Contrary to his reputation as a sad sack, Baer had plenty of good wins: Schmeling, Galento, Carnera, Tom Heeney, King Levinsky (*3) etc. Finishing Tommy Farr has to rate highly on his list of best wins. I'd also tab the fight where he punched out Hank Hankison's lights. Hankison was a really dangerous bomber as well and Baer knocked him into orbit.
I get the arguments for it, but I'm not convinced. Like I've said, I think you could see a lot of issues in his fight with Primo. I think it was just someone with his head not in it against a tough and determined spoiler, but I'll watch it again for the Braddock thread. If nothing else he did also lose to Farr, who fought Braddock pretty evenly and lost a decision.
I've not finished looking into that fight, as I wanted to do this thread first, but from what I've seen it seems a draw would have been a fair verdict, what I've seen really doesn't point to Farr deserving the victory. I've edited that post since you replied to it, in case you want to reply to anything else I've said.
