Ben Foord/British Empire Heavyweight Champion

[Brutu]

1936

Foord -vrs-Jack Petersen

http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=6966



Foord -vrs- Walter Neusel

http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=7040

[Brutu]

1937


Foord-vrs-Tommy Farr

http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=7299


Ben Foord -vrs- Max Baer

http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=7813

[Brutu]

1938


Max Schmeling-vrs-Ben Foord

http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=14137

[Caractacus]

Styles make fights ,
so how do you figure Ben Foord would have done against Joe Louis around 1935-1937?
Was it ever considered back then to match the two?
(and man did Max Schmeling look sharp in the 1938 fight with Foord).

[kaiserbill]

I read in The Fighters by Chris Greyvenstein that Ben Foord was a big, naturally strong fellow who relied on lots of guts and natural athleticism, but who could really have benefitted from better coaching on the finer points.

He was almost 6ft3 and weighed mostly well over 200lbs, which was large for a heavyweight in those days.

Thanks for the videos.

[Caractacus]

most likely he would have been clobbered by Joe Louis too,
but If I was his trainer back then,I would have brought in a specialist to work on his defensive skills some

[kaiserbill]

most likely he would have been clobbered by Joe Louis too,
but If I was his trainer back then,I would have brought in a specialist to work on his defensive skills some

Pretty much.

As said earlier, the little I've read basically said he had loads of guts, and could punch but nobody ever really taught him the finer points of boxing.

That he managed to beat a few decent heavies and become British Empire Heavyweight Champion, as well as go the distance with people like Schmeling, Neusel, Farr etc in spite of that speaks volumes of his courage.

Sad in a way...

And then, of course, a tragic end to his life at 29 years of age...

[dempseyfire]

Foord wasn't a polished boxer but with his great experience did develop a decent, unorthodox skill-set to assist his naturally brawling style. Also was tough as nails. Solid fighter.