Max Baer vs big strong hitters

His reflexes.

His chin didn't hurt either.

See the Wilder comparison!

 

I did say, with some skill, too, tbf. Galento was a big hitter with a chin but he had little skill. He hung with Baer for a while in a sloppy slugfest but eventually Baer ripped him up, and well he should have since Galento's fight plan was to walk face first into every punch Max could throw. Schmeling was Baer's best win, and normally I'd have put money on a guy like Schmeling to beat Baer ... except for he seemed to have the same plan Galento had had

 

Are you new here? These guys like to pretend that even the crudest sluggers, maulers, and brawlers from the first half of the 20th century had underrated skills, footwork, and ring smarts. Or how else would they have won titles and beaten ranked contenders? The way some of tell it, Max Baer combines the best of both Foremans with a little bit of Larry Holmes thrown in for good measure.

 

Larry Holmes looked at that sort of swishing back-and-forth punch Baer did and thought "I gotta get me some of that". But alas, the Easton Assassin never did learn that technique lost to the mists of time.

 

I've argued that Baer was largely a triumph of physicality over skill for quite a long time now. He was generally larger and much more powerful than the guys that he faced.

 

Yes. Baer had fast hands, was good at catching punches on the inside, and great at rolling punches.

Baer didn’t struggle with size or power, but he did seriously struggle with crafty fighters that had quicker hands than him, which is why he lost to Farr, Loughran, Braddock, and Nova.

Baer’s handspeed advantage, superior timing, and defense would neutralize Ruddock, Lyle, and Williams.

 

This. Baer’s handspeed and timing made Carnera’s size and reach a nonfactor just like Ruiz’s handspeed and timing did to Joshua.

 

Except when he wasn't!

Carnera was not the best fighter of the era, but he could beat the Levinsky's and Loughran's who populated the rankings, by sticking his jab in their face, and leaning on them when they got in close.

Baer just turned him in to toast, because when he got an opening, his right found his mark without even thinking about it!

This guy had god given reflexes.

Damn shame he never learned to box!

 

You'd be surprised. There are plenty of people who consider them to be extremely evenly matched, and several posters have picked Baer to beat him in past head-to-head matchups.

 

Foreman admired Baer, and even replicated his cross armed defense, later in his career!

 

What other qualities did he have?