The Max Schmeling Scenario

Schmeling has a solid chance of beating anyone close to his size, once you go above 200 lbs however Max becomes much more unproven. He seemed to struggle with Baer’s weight and height advantages.

The best heavyweight fighters I’d favour him over on his best night would probably be smaller ones like Langford and Marciano.

 

That Max Baer fight… I’m going to need to watch it, it’s always confused me how someone so smart like Schemling lost to Maxie who wasn’t as bad as people have written on the tin but I wasn’t sure he was that good. It’s been a bit. I’ll see if I can come up with anything.

 

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Glad I watched it again. 13:34 is pretty crafty for Old Maxie. You guys might find this interesting. @greynotsoold @cross_trainer

 

I’m curious, how do you think Max exploits early HW Evander’s flaws and beats him?

 

He lost because it was a period in his career when he was generally underperforming, possibly due to depression from being robbed out of his title reign from what I read. Remember he also lost to Hamas around the time he lost to Baer, then when he rematched Hamas later on he beat him so brutally he ended the guy's career. I don't think that Schmeling would lose to Baer.
After the Baer loss, the Germans thought Neusel would take him and become the new face of boxing in Germany but Max proceeded to school him and get himself back in the game.

 

That punch at 20:42 would have knocked out an elephant, even the ring microphone got it clearly.

 

When he wanted to be? I don’t fully agree with that. I think Max always did what he could he’s a thinking, feeling person who doesn’t want to be hurt - if there was a move to make he’d make it. However what you said about “only needing to do it once” Maxie did some really unexpected, rough and odd things in there. It wouldn’t surprise me that some of those things hurt Schemlimg because he was off guard (confused?) Baer hit so hard it’s possible he never fully recovered during the bout.

 

I do believe really big heavyweights would pose a problem for Max. He was a light heavy for nearly half his career. For his era I could see him beating Braddock, Farr, Gains (whom he lost to very young, I believe a teenager and whom he was going to offer a rematch to as champion). He lost to Baer but it wasn’t the slaughter some say it was, it was fairly competitive at times, until late. Past his era, some will say sacrilege but with footage to study I think he would be a nightmare for Marciano. Patterson’s speed would pose problems but at same time I think his chin fails him against Max. Max could punch. I don’t think he really beats anyone great once Ali comes around and the division gets bigger. I could see him beating Quarry and Norton. Especially if Max gets to train in the updated manner they did with better equipment and weight training etc.
Max had a potent right hand, and was durable with great stamina. Also a clinical smart fighter. A little slow off foot (his hands were quick) and a little smallish are the knocks against him.

 

Conceivably I could see him beating someone as highly regarded as Foreman. Not that I’d ever favour it. But it’s not out of the question either, IMO.

 

An interesting article by the associated press before Schmeling-Baer in 1933

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Schmeling's stamina and power were were specifically praised, and people loved watching his fights. He drew Dempsey-like crowds in Europe, the most attended heavyweight match in Europe to this day is Schmeling vs Neusel with 102,000 people in attendance.