Has anyone got any information on Joe Baksi. His style of fighting, his background, any info. I hear he was one of the leading heavyweights through the 1940s. He has a decent record. Anyone seen him fight on film (or live !) ?
I have not seen film of him. He seems to have been the George Chuvalo of the 1940's, extremely strong and tough. He was stopped only once, on cuts by Ezzard Charles, in over 70 fights. Baksi was about the same size as Chuvalo, 6' 1" and 210 lbs. He was considered in line for a fight with Joe Louis until he blew a decision to Ole Tandberg.
From the writings I've seen that reference him, I get the impression Baksi was a fairly good puncher with decent skills, though maybe a bit of a plodder, and he seems to have had an extremely strong chin. He was a little on the bigger side for his era, being 6'1" and 210+ pounds. I think he was somewhat vulnerable to being outboxed by the slickster types; boxers like Walcott, Charles and Oma handled him pretty soundly. He had his share of major wins in 1943-47, beating the likes of Mauriello, Nova, Savold, Dorazio, Mills and Woodcock, but also losses to Walcott, Savold, Dorazio, Oma and Tandberg. In addition to the loss to Tandberg blowing him a potential title shot, I believe he was also considered a likely candidate for Louis' next title challenger in 1945 before he lost to Walcott, in an upset that marked the first major win of Jersey Joe's mid-'40s comeback run.
Film exists of Baksi´s fight against Woodcock. He looks a tough guy and gives Woodcock a terrible beating. Woodcock was on the floor several times, and should have been stopped long before the fight ended. Woller
yeah bruce really takes a beating in this fight.i've a few woodcock fights on film and he looked a very good fighter especially against gus lesnevich who was light heavy champ at the time.
Yeah, thanks for the comments. That's good to know Baksi has survived on film. I've got Woodcock V. Mills on DVD, and Woodcock looked very good. I remember reading somewhere about Baksi destroying Woodcock, and shocked the Brits who had hoped Woodcock was a future world champion.
Oh, yes- in fact, this was probably nothing compared to the disappointment a couple years later when Louis retired and the BBBC put Woodcock in with Lee Savold (who was inactive, thought to be past his prime, and had lost to Woodcock in his previous fight) for the "World Heavyweight Title," seemingly handing him at least a version of the world championship and a sanctioning claim at recognition, only for Savold to soundly outbox him and then open a sickening gash over his eye, prompting a referee stoppage.
Hi Guys I'm his grandson and we just put my grandmother to rest next to him this weekend. Am looking for any and all footage/pics/press clippings anyone has of him/them. Am trying to get everything we have in the family together too and happy to share. Offline happy to tell a few stories my grandmother related about the whole Tandberg thing and why my grandfather never fought Louis.... R
rhealy, I saw your Grandpa fight ringside 4 times. Against, Lee Oma, Lee Savold and Tami Mauriello at MSG in the mid-1940s. He won all three bouts, each one was a war..I also saw your Grandpa in I believe his last bout losing to Bob Baker at Eastern Pkwy Arena. He was a big burley guy,and very strong...P.S. One thing I recall about him. At Stillman's gym Joe was dressed up like an English dandy, leather gloves and all.I think he just returned from a bout in Britain. :hi:
there is quite a big peice written about joe baksi in jack solomans book. He brought baksi over to the UK to fight woodcock and mills.
Burt, he was a big guy - when I was 7 and my brother was 6 we were in his backyard and got him to toss us up over his head and catch us - he did it for 1/2 hr! choklab thanks for the tip on Jack Solomon's book. Here is a tidbit for you. My grandfather had bought my grandmother Anne a fur coat. Since there was an insane luxury tax in Britain after the war, the English promoter asked Solomon to have her bring one for his wife. Someone tipped off British customs and Solomon told her to wear both constantly and interchangeably and say they were hers. You can see this in the British Pathe films. The British customs guys wanted to take them both anyway. My grandfather "convinced" them it was a bad idea.
Sonny's jab - Woodcock was too small and didn't have the reach. They shouldn't have let him fight Joe, my grandfather. My mom has some photos of the fight. Looked like a slaughterhouse, and Gram always said they should have ended it earlier. He took a pounding. On the Tandberg issue, she blamed bias on the part of the Scandinavian judges. It was the general opinion Gramp had scored more points. Later back in the States he was made an offer to throw a fight, then get a rematch, win that then get a shot at Louis, which would be won on technical terms no knock out. He and his people thought the deal stunk and they didn't take it.
