Max Baer will not be the first and not the last Champ who will find out sometimes defending the title is harder than winning it.
Imagine a prime Baer who developed his jab and defense Foreman level power *and greater mobility. Would have been unreal.
There was speculation at the time that he threw the fight to avoid being tied up with the MSG promotional contract which he was unhappy with. Had he defeated Braddock he would have been bound to it for longer. By losing he was freed up and some theorized that he intended to throw the fight, get out of the contract, then come back and win the title without the MSG contract.
Who said anything about excuses? This was one of the biggest upsets of all time, so presumable we should try to explain it? Any explanation for that level of upset, can be construed as an excuse!
Most of the fighters of the times had another job bedsides being a prize fighter. Baer wasn't unique in that respect and whatever he did on the radio is no excuse for not trying in the ring. I do agree with the others, he didn't try vs Braddock, and likely tanked the fight, for what reason we will never know.
Apparently making too much money from side gigs is a valid excuse--oops, I mean, "explanation" for him but not for others.
What was unique about him, was that his acting arguably became more important than his boxing to him!
Baer did have a strange attitude to the game. He's the only fighter I've ever seen lose a fight and look more cheerful about it than the man who beat him. This content is protected
Idk, maybe find an interview or ask his shrink? Not sure why it matters 90 years later. Baer had a history of being a clown and not training his hardest. Why can't it be that simple? He got distracted from all his side gigs and wasn't truly commited.
I understood that the purpouse of this forum was to discuss boxing history! The world seldom is that simple!
The idea that Baer didnt have the heart to defend his title against a C level opponent like Braddock is laughable. Baer, unmotivated or not trying (or both), nearly beat Braddock. Thats how limited Braddock was. The idea that Braddock beat Baer on heart is ridiculous hollywood tripe. He beat Baer on activity and it wasnt a whole lot more activity at that.
