What if Braddock defended against Schmeling first ?

Schmeling was really cheated out of the shot at Braddock. The fight was close to going ahead a couple of times in 1937.
The NY commission even declared the title vacant at one point when it was clear that Braddock would not go ahead with his obligation to match Schmeling first.

 

Yes he was.

 

This is true,

Braddock gave the world a glimpse of what he truly had, and what he might have done had his career path been handled differently minus injuries, and whatever other obstacles prevented him from reaching his pinacle point early.. A well trained and managed Braddock could have given Schmeling some trouble.. I'd personally still have to favor Max however. Both men were tough as can be, so that's not even an issue. But I think Schmeling's technical abilities as a boxer-puncher would enable him to build a points lead on James. He was just a tremendously gifted technician with a nice blend of power, stamina, mobility and other essentials... Schmeling's chin was questionable to some extent.. But then again, Braddock's power was not exactly stellar.

 

Baer was no more Jewish than Dempsey ... it was all marketing ... that being said his win over Schmeling was far and away the biggest of his career and pretty much inexcusable on the part of Schmeling except to show that he really was an inconsistent fighter ...

 

Baer was just the better fighter, head to head against Schmeling. Schmeling was probably at his peak, but he simply didn't have the style and tools to beat a peaking Baer.
Styles make fights, that's what makes ALL fighters inconsitent to some extent.
No big shame for Schmeling in losing to someone as good as Baer.

 

I honestly think that even if Schmeling had been the champion and Louis the challenger, Schmeling would have wanted the fight in America.

He operated in America for most of his career, and would have wanted the fight to be there to generate a bigger gate.

 

America was where the biggest money was but the Reich was a huge part of Max's agenda at that time and they wanted a huge bout for Germany ... what Max personally wanted would not have necessarily been the driving force ...

 

If Braddock was confident at all of beating Schmeling, then he wouldn't have stiffed him like he did.

 

IT was ALL about money ... there was much bigger money for Braddock v.s. Louis and then a Louis-Schmeling rematch .... Braddock was a tough s.o.b. and was not scared of anyone ...

 

I had heard somewhere that apparently the deal with Louis involved Braddock receiving roughly 10 percent of Louis's future earnings for the rest of his career, should he sign to fight him instead of Schmeling. If this is true ( and again this is just hearsay ) then that would explain it.

 

:think

 

based on resumes , Braddock is at least on par with Schmelling and even this is only due 2 1 win by Schmelling over another overrated fighter .
Schmelling was a 1 trick pony , 1 must not forget that both men also fought Max Baer . Braddock would have probably remained a champion if he defended vs Schmelling .

 

I would say Schmeling would beat Braddock 8 out of 10 times. Braddock was really just a good journeyman with a solid chin and will.


He wasn't very big, strong, fast or skilled. I have seen Braddock vs. Baer. It looks like Baer either tanked it, or just decided to give his title up without a fight. I have also seen Braddock vs. Loughran, and its not very close.


Braddock did manage to floor Louis and win another round on my card before slowing down and getting caught, but that's really an indication of Louis not being the Superman history paints him to be.


I would be hard pressed to pick more than 2 Ring Magazine/Lineal champs that Braddock would be favored to beat.

 

Not this myth again .... :roll:

Yep, should be noted that the fight was close until the stoppage and Schmeling, according to Baer, had Baer hurt himself but didn´t see that opportunity. The better man that night won, a rematch might have looked differently.

Hush, back to your cave, troll.

 

The Schmeling who battered Louis was ready to be a world champion.

I don't think Braddock, even at his best, had what it took to clearly turn him away.

I'd take Schmeling in a competitive but clear decision. Just the finer fighter.

People do argue the differing results between Louis and Baer, but I submit this:Baer quite literally clowned away entire rounds against Braddock. Threw less than 20 punches and mugged while getting punched at times. Against Max, he was in rare form.

And Schmeling beat the Louis that beat Braddock, or the closest Louis to it. He hadn't yet gained the form in which he battered Schmeling.