Fight by Fight: James J. Braddock

[HomicideHenry]

Probably no boxer was more beloved during the height of the Great Depression than the former Light Heavyweight title challenger who personified the triumph of the human spirit against insurmountable odds.



James Braddock, who from the Loughran fight until his unretirement in '34 had fought 33 times and 19 of those were losses (as well as 2 NC's & 1 draw) and was considered completely washed up universally by all fans & critics.

He was oftentimes fighting injured, malnurished, and hardly training. Most of his days & nights were spent looking for work trying to keep his growing family off the streets.

After a horrible showing against Abe Feldman, he was forced into retirement by the New York Commission. With his biggest source of income seemingly gone forever Braddock, a very proud man, went on public assistance although it broke his heart.

Nearly a year later, Braddock's manager Joe Gould managed to get the commission to uplift Braddock's suspension on a "one fight only" basis. On two days notice Braddock was put into the ring with Primo Carnera's sparring partner Corn Griffin--- the fight was perceived as a lamb being led to the slaughter.

Somehow, all that time off & working on the docks had made Braddock not only healed but stronger too. To the shock of the MSG crowd, Braddock kayoed Griffin in the third round despite his opponent being younger, more active, and considered the next big prospect.

What happened next would be called the greatest comeback in boxing history as Braddock managed to defeat top contenders John Henry Lewis, who would later become Light Heavyweight champion, & Art Lasky to get a shot at seemingly invincible Max Baer.

Baer who had stopped Carnera in 11 rounds the same night that Braddock kayoed Griffin, was deemed too much of a threat to Braddock--- and he'd come in as a 10-1 favorite over the Irishman.

Braddock had to sign a special agreement with the NYSAC to even allow the contest to transpire, as most thought that Baer could possibly kill him.

For his part, Braddock took the fight very seriously. He even hired Baer's ex-trainer to formulate the best strategy possible for beating the champion. Baer, on the other hand, didn't take the contest too seriously.



The Braddock/Baer fight would be called "the greatest upset since Corbett defeated Sullivan" by the press, and even in 2015 RING MAGAZINE listed it among the top ten greatest upsets in the sports history.

Braddock wouldn't defend the title until two years later--- largely because of politics as Max Schmeling had defeated Joe Louis for the #1 contendership and because of war with Germany the sporting public was afraid the championship would trade hands and Hitler would use the title for political propaganda.



Schmeling and Braddock were indeed scheduled to fight on September 26th, 1936 but on August 18th Braddock pulled out because of the familiar hand injury that plagued him for most of his career.

In the interim of rescheduling with Schmeling, Braddock opted to defend against Louis--- primarily because Louis's team promised Braddock $300,000 plus 10% of Louis's purses over the next decade. Braddock would be set up for life.



Joe Louis, the first black Heavyweight champion since Jack Johnson, defeated Braddock in the 8th becoming the first and only man to ever stop the Irishman by knockout. Braddock had dropped Louis in the first, but from that point on it was all Louis.



Braddock, not wanting to go out on a loss, had one more fight--- the following year against Welshman Tommy Farr, winning a somewhat controversial ten round split decision. Farr, who had lost a decision to newly crowned Joe Louis prior to this, goes down in history as one of the British Isles toughest tests.