Where can we rate Max Schmeling?

I agree with the top 20-30 Consensus. But, how about this for some sobering thoughts (or arguments):

His best win is against the greatest fighter ever, in his prime. Joe Louis made lots of excuses, but the reality is, their is not a fighter in the world on this particular night, who could have beaten Joe Louis. Young Louis would have blasted out Ali, Foreman, Frazier, Marciano, Dempsey, Jeffries or anyone else. Nobody holds a win over an opponent better than he does.

In fact, he is 1-1 with the man most list as the greatest ever.

He is also 1-1 with Jack Sharkey, who beat the man many see as the second greatest ever (or at least a top 5) Jack Dempsey for the majority of his fight, until he was hit low. On both their best nights, Schmelling came out on top.

The all time great Mickey Walker, who was ducked by no less than Sugar Ray Robinson, the man most say is pound for pound the greatest ever tried to step up to heavyweight (and dont forget that Schmelling himself was only a light heavy for much of his career) and although Walker smashed other top contenders, Schmelling belted him around the ring.

Scmelling did get overconfident and lose against Baer, but Baer was on his game, and when on his game, Baer was every bit as good as George Foreman, for his time. Schmelling despite being stopped took Baer to the limit. That was a huge feat.

Schmellin was stopped in a round by Joe Louis but he had no interest in fighting for a nutty Leader, whose facist beliefs did not sit well with Max and who had more to gain by losing than winning. I am not calling it a fix, but the win means nothing, there was no desire.

Schmelling launched a foreman style comeback. After 8 or 9 years off, he was still competitive with world ranked German fighters.

In these circumstances, you can rank Schmelling where you want.