Stop tearing down this magnificent trailblazer in the squared circle

Schmeling was a good man and a good fighter. What's not to like?

 

I don't know, he's one of my favorites.

 

Better than Frazier's over Ali ? Ali's over Foreman? No chance!!!!

Who are Schmelings 3 top kos?

 

Schmeling over Louis is definitely in the same tier. "No chance" - yeah, not really.

Who cares which are his 3 top KOs? What does it has to do with him being underrated fighter?

That said - Louis, Stribling and Hamas are very good KO wins. Louis alone gives him edge over most fighters.

 

I don't think he is an underated fighter ,in fact he might be a trifle overated.

 

Almost nobody has him in top 20 HW list.

 

Schmeling unfortunately gets lumped in with Hitler and the Nazi's. Especially prior too the 2nd Louis fight, when Hitler used his fame to support his agenda... Schmeling suffered from that association though he wasn't a Nazi or didn't support them.

 

Probably depends on whether you're talking "greatness" or head-to-head.

 

This is my summary of Baer as well. He was physically in tremendous condition, as strong as they come and nobody could deny that he could really punch. His chin was excellent too.

But that's where my accolades stop. His technique was awful and his dedication to winning minimal. He was as likely to strike a bodybuilding pose in the ring as he was to try throw punches. His footwork was, in a nutshell, not good. I see him as the Wilder of his times with the caveat that Wilder is serious about winning and Baer was not.

 

Off topic Lads but is it my imagination or does Schmeling look kinda like Jack Dempsey?

 

Some writers noted that at the time.

 

Lol. I don't remember so I was probably on the Guinness, and I missed it. Maybe it was in the back of my head all along lol

 

Because there are a number of paradoxes all wrapped up in one fighter!

That is why!

He did everything wrong except win, and he was one of the richest and most colorful fighters in the history of the sport!

 

Baer was a barroom brawler with boxing gloves, had a iron chin, strong as a bull, awesome power, and a murderous long range overhand right, he had that killer instinct but he also hated that about himself and had too big of a heart. But he did have some very noticable short comings, he had no defensive skills, he wasn't spectacular at putting punches together, no footwork or head movement, telegraphing every punch and very one dimensional, he made it work for him in his era, and he was probably the most natural born fighting man until foreman. If he had that fire in him he had in the schmeling fight and kept that throughout his whole career he'd probably go undefeated.

 

His grave is in Sacramento as well, I’ve visited it, very nice cemetery he was laid to rest in