Jake LaMotta challenges Joey Maxim for the light heavyweight crown (1952)

I think Maxim outboxes him for a decision. I don't think Maxim was slow footed. He could move around.

 

Maxim outboxes him for a decision

 

Maxim he'd jab Jake's head off.

 

Maxim looked stationery compared to Robinson, but he easily has the movement required to stay ahead of Jake for the majority of the fight.

The big question is if he has the durability to weather the storm Jake will bring down the stretch.

Maxim was only knocked out once in his whole career, that one time was when he was laying against the ropes, but it was against Curtis Sheppars who was considerably bigger than the Jake.

I pick Maxim on points but by the end of the fight he'll look worse than Jake for my money.

 

Not to mention LaMotta was used up by this time. He wasn't that old but all that punishment as well as the extreme weight fluctuations took it away from him.

 

Maxim only seemed slow of hand and foot vs SRR by comparison. Actually, since his forte was defensive, counter punching and clever boxing, and if you don't count his title winning bout with Freddie Mills, he was largely bereft of a punch, hell...he had to have some speed to go with that cunning. It was, rather, a functional, sneaky kind of speed similar somewhat to Jimmy Young, and not like a Roy Jones, or anyone likewise as flashy and spectacular.

 

Yes, I agree!

 

And a great chin!

 

Lamotta was getting long in the tooth by 52'. I could see a prime Lamotta outworking Maxim but in 52' he was not that guy anymore.

 

Yes, and as Joey Giardello would say, (paraphrased) Maxim was a mover, not a runner.

 

You have to look at the bigger picture, i.e., Maxim's career as a whole to make a more accurate assessment of his speed.

 

I am not certain any version of LaMotta could be expected to wear out Maxim. LaMotta seems subject to tiring himself. I don't think he was a particular stamina freak and Maxim always went a lot of rounds.

The big factor here is that Maxim is so much bigger. He could dry out to 175 but his natural weight was probably in the 180's. In good shape, LaMotta was in the mid-160's. Guys like Murphy and Nardico, who were big for LaMotta, were probably smaller than most that Maxim fought.

I think both men were past their best by 1952, but LaMotta was either further gone, or more vulnerable to age deterioration than the slick Maxim.