Max Schmeling is overrated and/or his resume is dependent on the Louis win

Another point is that the original poster is naming heavyweights that did not enter the top ten until after Max retired (last bout before returning in 1948 was 7/1939). BOTH Abe Simon AND Buddy Baer did not enter the top ten until 1940.

 

If his standing is dependent upon the Louis win, that is one hell of a cornerstone. He was brilliant that night. In my opinion, one of the best performances ever.

 

You can say this of many champions, certainly not most.

You certainly can't say it of most fighters who were not the champion.

 

You hear a lot of present-day athletes (mostly in team sports) attribute their success to having faith in the "process," and I think that is always a necessary element of success in almost any endeavor. Schmeling's performance in the Louis fight is the best example of this I know of. He took one heck of a lot of punishment, especially in the first three rounds, but he persevered, stuck with his plan throughout, and finally wore Louis down. As far as I have ever heard, he figured it all out on his own without the help of a coach or a whole staff of coaches like athletes have today. I've probably watched the first Louis-Schmeling fight more than any other. It was my first big expense as a boxing memorabilia collector in the late 1970s when I purchased a brand new 16mm print that broke the bank. It still holds my interest for the full 12 rounds today.

 

I owned that 16 mm print as well.

 

I’ve watched the whole 2nd fight vs Sharkey and as the legend goes they wuz robbed! Scmelimg very impressive in that fight. The only thing I can’t resolve is Baer fight how could he be really good if he was so pathetic against Baer? Baer was a stud physically for his era but nothing more than a glorified club fighter skill wise.

 

As well as Carnera vs Sharkey 1 in 16 mm. I bought them both in the early to mid 1970’s from a private dealer.

 

Schmeling overtrained for Baer. Even with that he did mount a bit of a comeback hurting Baer with a huge right hand mid fight. This was probably Baers finest performance mind you.

My father was a big Schmeling fan back in those days. He hitchhiked from the Scranton PA area to Schmelings training camp on Berkshire Valley Road in Jefferson NJ. It was raining as he walked into the camp to find Max was taking the day off. He approached Schmelings manager Joe Jacobs asking if he could meet Schmeling as he was his favorite fighter. Response?

“Who do you think you are that you could meet Max Schmeling?”

My father turned around immediately and began the long trek
back home. As he walked by a lake adjacent to the training camp he saw Schmeling fishing. Instead of stopping to meet his (former) hero my Dad kept walking and told me he wished right then and there that Baer would beat him.

 

Canera Sharkey looks like it could be a fix. But never know think Sharkey had slipped a bit.

 

Carnera vs Sharkey 1 was a wonderful performance by Sharkey as he won a 15 round decision. Sharkey knocked Carnera down with a huge left hook. Carnera stood up almost immediately but then went back down on one knee to get the extra seconds rest. Sharkey immediately ran across the ring vehemently demanding to the referee that Carnera must be disqualified. Sharkey had more DQ decisions on his record than any other past heavyweight champion.

 

Lots of interesting input and arguments made here.

Just wanted to say regarding the Baer fight, Max Baer fought pretty dirty in that fight. Lots of illegal back hands that weren't called.

Honestly, I always thought Schmeling was the type of fight who could excel against other skilled boxers (like he did against Louis 1), but his game was thrown off by the awkward dirty style Baer utilized.

 

That’s fair but do not think he should be rated near the top of the list for that era ?