Louis v. Ali opposition.

Max Schmeling was far, far ahead of 'enry in terms of both skill and resume.
beating, Risko, Uzcudun (2 or three times or however you look at it), Sharkey (x2), Stribling, Walker, Neusal, reversing his loss to Hamas (his one questionable loss), Thomas, Dudas, Hueser,and that is not even including Joe Louis, should make everyone think about putting him Top 20 at least on their lists. He is arguably the third best fighter of his era (1928-1956) so of course he is not worse than Cooper.

That being said, he had no chance of doing anything in the rematch against Louis. Fighting in Yankee Stadium of all places, as a German, as a (unjustly) symbol of Nazi power in 1938, when he was past his best, there is no fighter who ever had to fight under conditions that stacked against him. Not Jack Johnson, not Ali, nobody. He had death threats from White Supremicists (who saw him as anti American) and he was a white guy fighting Joe Louis, that's how much he was hated.

That Max Schmeling was a dead man walking into Yankee Stadium. There is a great book about it called Beyond Glory.

Max had more than his share of bad breaks. He was first punched in the groin to win his title by Sharkey, in the rematch he did enough to win but was jobbed on the decison. He fought Max Baer at Baer's absolute best. And despite his reputation these days, a focused Baer at his best was a killer. By beating Louis, he should have gone against Braddock for the title, didn't happen, he could have easily been the first champion to win the title back. He still has people today who think of him as a Nazi. Bad luck of being born a German and fighting in the age of the thirties. But, if it wasn't for the conditions of a war torn, post WWI, he probably would not have become a fighter anyway. Both a product, and victim, of his era.

Sorry to ramble. Schmeling was better than Cooper. But Max was not Max that night. Nothing against Louis either, who I think beats him anyway, one sidedly.