Primo Carnera vs. Ernie Schaaf (Longest version now available on youtube)

I must make clear my opinion of Carnera thus far. The first time I saw him, against KO Christner, he may not have looked skilled at all, but certainly appeared a top-notch vehicle for raw power. The second time I watched him was against George Godfrey. Here he looked mediocre to me. Against Jack Sharkey he looked everything that embodied a large, terrible fighter. He was clumsy, uncoordinated, showed in inaccurate, painfully slow, useless jab. Carnera even failed to land powerful blows of his own. The only thing I can say for him is that he showed some heart staying up in the furious 15th round rally of Sharkey's. It is clear to see my degrading view of Carnera.

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1. Given my increasing negative judgment on Carnera, I was impressed from the outset. Carnera was coordinated, careful when he moved, careful when he punched. He threw a more effective (though still quite flawed) jab. He didn't appear like the Carnera of the Sharkey fight who looked like he'd just stepped into a boxing ring for the first time in his life. The round was mostly jab-and-grab from Carnera, but Schaaf did land a jolting left hook near round's end that must have made Carnera even more wary of Schaaf. Carnera.
2. Carnera did what was more natural to him I felt. Slamming away inside with right uppercuts, rather than staying outside, jabbing ineffectively. Still, not a glamorous round for Carnera. Carnera.
3. A round which I felt showed just how far Carnera's jab could go. Here, he actually showed an accurate, a powerful, and a fairly quick jab. If only he would keep it that way. Still, Schaaf would find occasion to land a good power punch, which he carried in either hand. Carnera.
4-6. More of the same. Only, now it seems less significant cuz you're starting to get used to the pattern that's been established. Carnera.
7. Schaaf's first round where he really looks to be in bad shape. He now offered no resistance against Carnera. Carnera.
8. Schaaf actually connected with more punches here, but seemed to be deteriorating physically. Carnera.
9-12. Schaaf's situation only grew dimmer as he was badly exhausted, badly beaten, and being badly outpointed. All three rounds to Carnera.
13. This round evolved like most of the others. A clinch and they break. Carnera jabs and jabs. One particularly powerful left jab snapped Schaaf's head back though, and Schaaf went down. It was one of the strangest things I'd ever seen. At first, Schaaf gave the appearance of a man who was going to attempt to get up, but the life in him slowly left as he sank down on the mat.

Verdict: Certainly not a great fight, but it was an impressive KO. Carnera, as I said, floored and stopped Schaaf with a left jab. Furthermore, it has restored some of my prior hope in Carnera. At least here he appears worthy of some respect. My main problem with Carnera was his jab. Although like in his other fights it often didn't land, or didn't land and accomplish anything, he did improve it so that it both landed and landed effectively enough to take Schaaf apart. A good performance from Carnera.

 

I don't know, I need to study that whole situation more. I will try to get back to you on that one.

 

I thought the fight was close up until the 7th.

 

That's so sad! Griffith-Paret III is one of the best fights I've ever seen and Moore-Ramos is also an excellent fight. The men who were knocked out and died-Paret and Moore-gave as good as they got before they died. I'm not trying to downplay their deaths, but as I see it, Griffith and Ramos, the victors absorbed a lot of punishment themselves.