How did Jack Roper get a title shot?

zojo · Post by **zojo** » 25 Feb 2003, 18:07

He had a losing record going into his fight with Joe Louis? How did he earn a title fight?

Have there been any others with losing records fighting for a title?

Tomato-Can · Post by **Tomato-Can** » 25 Feb 2003, 19:25

Two less deserving challengers were Pete Rademacher and Rafael Lovera. Both fought for a world title in their pro debut. There have been a couple other fighters who fought for a world title with losing records but their names escape me right now. They were both smaller than featherweight.

Jaclem · Post by **Jaclem** » 26 Feb 2003, 21:55

In 1939 Joe Louis was the most sensational fighter to come along in years. He had fought only in the midwest and East so naturally Californians were eager to see him. His handlers liked to keep him busy for conditioning and of course purses so they looked for a fighter in Los Angeles to contend for the title. No one expected him to win, but Roper was a veteran near the end of his career and had fought a lot of good fighters in the past, so he seemed as good a choice as any. Louis knocked him out in the first and picked up a purse of just under $35,000. This was before the later so-called Bum of the Month tour, but was said to have inspired it...for Louis to go into different cities around ther country and fight the best known heavyweight in each.

Now....my impersonation of the Double Flexx Fungi: Hey Tomato Can you think yourt such a smart ass buty the thredd asks about contgenders with loosing records and yew say Radymaker well your dumb holliness Radymaker was UNDEFEATED when he chalenged pattysun sew how cum you can sasy he hadd aloosing record!!!! Haw Haw Haw.

Tomato-Can · Post by **Tomato-Can** » 26 Feb 2003, 22:25

Jaclem...Anny more potss like tat and yuo will be baned!

Jaclem · Post by **Jaclem** » 05 Mar 2003, 02:48

really not worth bringing this to the top, but I think it's funny. Just remembered that Roper, when asked what went wrong when he got kayoed in first by Louis, said "I zigged when I should have zagged."

Another post Louis kayo comment, though not intentionally funny, was when Eddie Simms, in Cleveland, got up from a Louis knockdown and was asked by the referee if he was all right, said, "Hey, let's go up to the roof and take a little walk."

Bard of Boxrec · Post by **Bard of Boxrec** » 14 Mar 2003, 10:32

zojo, wrote:He had a losing record going into his fight with Joe Louis? How did he earn a title fight?

Have there been any others with losing records fighting for a title?

In recent years I am puzzled how Howard Clarke (British boxer who was not even british standard, merely area standard) got a shot at fernando vargas.

How did Jack Roper get a title shot?

How did Jack Roper get a title shot?

Re: How did Jack Roper get a title shot?