MAX BAER - What an absolute LEGEND.

The movie portrayal was borderline slanderous. His son thought of suing - imo what they did justified it.

 

I would have thought Ron Howard would have showed a little more respect to Max Baer.... Jim Braddock got plenty of it in the movie....

It is Hollywood though, there has to be a hero and a villain.

 

Baer had power and and a chin unfortunately he was known to be more of a joker than a trainer which was probably his downfall and definetly the reason he didn't learn to box but when it came to sluggin it out there were vey few ever who could match mr Baer.

 

He was a good man.

 

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Actually, if a prime Baer was around today and boxing the same people would still be saying the division needs a saviour and the heavyweight division is at its all time worst. If time travel were possible I think that most of the old timers would lose their mythic status fighting against the current heavyweights. You can read any back issue of Ring magazine going back decades and the recurring theme would be "the heavyweight division sucks".

 

Yeah, that's exactly why they distorted his character so badly. Some suggested, and I think with merit, that they based it more on a movie character he played in The Harder They Fall, who was the sort of scoundrel they portrayed Baer as.

Either way, it was an injustice to Baer to be portrayed in such a historically inaccurate manner.

Here's an interesting article on how his son reacted to the controvery:

http://articles.latimes.com/2007/jan/07/magazine/tm-baer01

 

Yeah, what the heck is it with some of these people? Sure, Baer did not fulfill his true potential - if he'd applied himself, imo, he would have been an ATG - but he did damn good for himself, basically ****ing around most of the time. That he made it as far as he did, while taking training so lightly, shows what amazing natural abilities he had.

 

Tommy V does not know what he is talking about as usual. Baer was a big guy for the time with a very long reach and a lethal right hand and a Chin made out of granite. He was a very good fighter and all of his fights were exciting to watch.

 

He was a great showman in the ring too... I saw footage of a point where Braddock hit him and Max reacted as if he was gonna fall down and then smiled at Braddock. Priceless.:yep

 

Watch Baer on film. He is horribly unskilled. He swings wide haymakers, has awful defense and terrible footwork. He's a great HW because of his ludicrous power and chin. That's about it. The Schmeling fight was likely Baer's most disciplined performance and it was still very close up till Baer managed to land a monsterous right hand. Also, Carnera out-boxed Baer in every round he wasn't KD'd in.

 

Baer was quality entertainment.

I remeber I saw a interview with Baer in his ''training camp'' for the Louis fight I believe.

On the beach.Max and the interviwer lay down on the sand.Max is making a sand castle.

Interviewer:''Max,what's this you're doing?How does this help you for the fight?''

Max:''This thing right here helps me gain wrist muscle and that's why I'm making a sand castle''

Next shot shows Baer working on the speed bad while apparently standing.Camera goes down showing Baer was actually sitting on a tall bar chair.

 

I ****ing hate that movie. If I could murder Ron Howard, God, I so ****ing would. ****ing ginger ****.