Would Max Baer be Undisputed Heavyweight Champ today?

The only top 10 contenders Baer stopped were Schmeling and Galento. Of the current top 10, Wilder stopped Ortiz twice. We will see if he stops more. His career isn't over yet.

 

I think Luis Ortiz might well beat Baer.

 

Looks like the #5 rated Ortiz is fighting the #4 rated Whyte next.

Ortiz might move up to #3 next year.

I don't think Povetkin is going to make it back to the ring after covid. Heard he is really sick.

 

I am not sure how you figure that.

Just of the top of my head Carnera and Comiskey were in the rankings.

 

Obviously if that happens, then Wilder's wins over him appreciate.

 

I would bet the house on it.

One of the reasons for Baer's reputation for power is that he sold out on nearly every punch, leaving him very often in poor position with huge openings. You really can't get away with that style any longer. For all of Wilder's supposed lack of skill, he knows his range and when he is in danger. Sparring partners and opponents have commented on this, that he is unorthodox but hard to hit. I don't see this at all with Baer. Thankfully for him, he had a chin sufficient to most of his competition. When he faced a real puncher and a real athlete in Louis, he got creamed. Ortiz would have a field day with the Max Baer we see on film.

 

He might have, but we cannot grant him the win without stepping into the ring.

 

You know it's not true, right?

 

It's hard to come up with something ridiculous enough that someone won't argue it.

 

There are two main differences between Baer and Wilder:

1. You can't watch Baer in color footage.

2. Baer at least was funny during interviews and had interesting character.

 

Baer stopped the following rated fighters:

Tuffy
Schmeling
Primo
Galento
Comiskey
Levinsky*

*=non title exhibition bout. Champion Baer KOed his rival in 2 to in the rubber match of their series l.

Ben Foord might have been rated when Baer knocked him out.

Baer reportedly put Schaaf out cold at the end of their last bout but he was saved by the bell. It took 5 minutes to get him up.

The Campbell KO was also significant even if neither man was rated.

You are arguing against history. Bear's reputation as a dangerous puncher was rightfully noted by those who witnessed it. You are not privy to secret knowledge or logic to dispute this.

 

Baer also decked a lot of his victims that went the distance with him. He didn't stop some fighters because he was sloppy, not because he lacked power.

 

It is only fair to note, that the support of Baer from his proponents, is somewhat qualified here.

We acknowledge that he had his limitations, and that he would have had problems against these guys.

However when somebody tries to imply that Wilder's resume is better, then we have no choice but to fight his corner!

 

I am not privy to secret knowledge. I'm privy to the same knowledge you are, you just choose to ignore it.

Tuffy Griffiths was not rated in the top 10 when he fought in September 1932. Here are the September 1932 ratings that came out six days before their fight. I don't know why you guys keep saying he was.
https://boxrec.com/media/index.php/National_Boxing_Association's_Quarterly_Ratings:_1932

Also, SORRY, but you're not wedging in an exhibition. (LOL)

My mistake on Pat Comiskey. He was rated eighth when Baer fought him in 1940. I didn't realize the ratings were so awful that year. (Junior Munsell, Pat Comiskey with Tony Galento - a guy with 30 losses/draws - at #1... yikes)

Was Comiskey even in the ratings for 12 whole months? Doesn't look like it.

https://ibb.co/ZVn7rjN

My point stands. Baer didn't "make his name" knocking out contenders, since he stopped the majority of them his last year as a pro.

Two of his three knockouts over "rated" contenders came at the very end of his career (a year when the ratings were by any measure dismal.)

Again, which is why counting "rated" contenders across eras like they were all equal is dumb.

We'll see where Wilder finishes. Too bad he couldn't fight that top 10. (LOL) The lowest guy in the current top 10 is freaking Usyk. How does the #1 rated in 1940 (Galento) do against the #10 rated today (Usyk)? (LOL)

Levels.