I'm not trying a new approach to this, especially because so many of you said that you didn't want me to change my approach, I'm just adding to it. I'm going to start scoring fights using the 10-point must system, upon suggestion by @shza. The film: This content is protected The fight (when scoring, Baer's number will always appear first): 1. Baer lands several lazy, but occasionally hard punches. 10-9. 4. Terribly slow round. Neither Baer nor Schmeling was effective. Baer threw lazy, worthless punches, and Schmeling barely threw at all. 10-9. 6. Mostly a lot of jabbing going on inside, as well as quite a bit of inside work as well. 9-10. 7. Schmeling outjabbed Baer. Near round's end Baer dug in a couple of hard blows to the body, then to the head. But Schmeling came right back with his own brief barrage to Baer's head. 9-10. 8. Baer lands a few solid flurries, but never for one moment had Schmeling hurt. 10-9. 9. The two spent more time inside in this round than any of the others (of those on film). In addition to that, it was the most action-filled round yet, though that's not a big deal here. Baer seemed to have Schmeling slightly hurt for the first time near the end of the round. 10-9. 10. The round, like most of them, was slow, but the end came suddenly, but not slowly. Baer landed a huge right hand wallop while Schmeling was on the ropes, and the German was certainly hurt by it. He tried to clinch to no effect and was pelted with several hard hooks, both left and right, although for the most part Baer was just striking with huge haymakers, even throwing in a backhand, as Schmeling reeled into a corner. Schmeling continued to take an awful beating. He got out of the corner, but was still vulnerable to Baer and ate two more big right hands. The punishment seemed endless, but Baer ended it at the center of the ring with a big right, a left hook, and a final massive right hand wallop that sent Schmeling crashing to the canvas. The ref allowed Schmeling to continue, though, unwisely. Schmeling got up like a man with concrete blocks tied to his arms. He stumbled as he ran to meet Baer, and had barely continued when he was already reeling into a corner, falling into the ropes, taking a mean right hand on the side of the neck, and being protected by the referee from further punishment. So of the 8 filmed rounds, and the 7 completed ones, I had it 5-2 Baer. I was not impressed with either man. I was confounded throughout the fight that Schmeling was not sharply countering Baer's painfully slow and lazy punches. Schmeling could have had a field day with Baer if he wanted to! Heck, Schmeling barely even kept his jab going the whole fight through. Baer still looked clumsy and lazy as usual, not at all serious about what he's doing. There is one thing going for each man though. This fight is a great testimony to Baer's strength and a great testimony to Schmeling's durability. For Baer to floor and knockout someone as tough as Schmeling, who I think had never been knocked down before (plz correct me if I'm wrong) was truly amazing. For Schmeling to absorb Baer's power for 9 rounds without showing any sign of weakening, and staying up for such a long time against a relentless attack in the 10th was truly amazing, and no less. Quick note: I found it interesting that both Baer and Schmeling used something similar to the cross-arm defense briefly in this fight. Baer more often than Schmeling. Verdict: I'll admit the fight was not half of what I thought it would be. I realize, and have for a few years, that back then, fights often won FOTY on the basis of significance, not necessarily great action. I do understand the significance of this fight for the reasons above. But I did enjoy watching the two fight, however boring the fight was, and I would label the KO a classic KO and a must-see, as well as great film quality.
Schmeling could look great some days and very ordinary other days even though his image was that of a consistent performer. I am also not impressed with this fight. Baer was a monster puncher but Schmeling should have been able to counter him. Have you gotten to Lousi-Baer yet? I think it may be Louis's best performance even though he was only 21 years old when it happened. Louis IMO was a league ahead of anyone that came before him.
One of the best films so far. Clear and seems to be running at the proper speed. The fight was interesting but hardly exciting. Schmeling--I will let Schmeling speak for himself from his autobiography--"my legs were like lead and only rarely did I manage to avoid or neutralize Baer's punches. Standing still, I offered the Californian an easy target." "By the time Baer's corner told him to finish it in the eighth round I could barely hold up my arms." Schmeling's manager Max Machon is quoted "That wasn't a defeat, that was a disaster." Back in his dressing room, "the reporters swarmed in and asked how such a defeat was possible. I didn't have an answer." "In the newspapers of the following day it was reported that I had been way off my form, barely recognizable as the Schmeling of earlier fights. It was the worst defeat of my career." "Max Baer had simply outclassed me as no one had before. I was completely awake and saw practically all of Baer's punches coming. But my body no longer obeyed me. I gave it commands, but it didn't react." "barely recognizable as the Schmeling of earlier fights" certainly sums up my reaction to this film. Schmeling seemed dead tired from the get go. His rights looked to be arm punches. He checked in his boxing skills in the dressing room. I have no idea why, but Schmeling gave as flaccid a performance as Ernie Schaaf did a few months earlier. Baer--that pawing left jab was effective, as was Carnera's against Sharkey in 1931, in keeping Schmeling off balance, even if it was hardly more than a lazy push. Most of his punches were telegraphed. Baer occasionally used an effective cross-armed defense, but looked wide open more often than not. Schmeling could not take advantage. Baer was big for the time, had a top chin, and a big punch, but he was wild and shows little boxing skill. My take is less that Baer was good than that Schmeling was bad. Just to throw out a theory. It was a very hot, humid night. Having twice fought 20 rounds under the sun in Reno, Baer was perhaps able to handle the heat while Schmeling wasn't. *I hope you don't forget Leonard-McClarnin. I am interested in your take on what Leonard shows, even past his prime.
I'd agree that Schmeling left his boxing skills in the dressing room. On the few occasions where he moved on Baer and countered him, he looked good. But for some reason Schmeling fought Baer's fight, nose to nose and in a slugging match where the advantages lay with the very physical Baer.
