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Max Baer (boxer)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Max Baer Sr.
Baer c. 1935
Born
Maximilian Adelbert Baer

(1909-02-11)February 11, 1909
Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
DiedNovember 21, 1959(1959-11-21) (aged 50)
Hollywood, California, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Other namesThe Livermore Larupper Madcap Maxie
Children3, including Max Jr.
Statistics
Weight(s)Heavyweight
Height6 ft 2+1⁄2 in (1.89 m)
Reach81 in (206 cm)[1][2]
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights81
Wins68
Wins by KO51
Losses13

Maximilian Adelbert Baer Sr. (February 11, 1909 – November 21, 1959) was an American professional boxer and the world heavyweight champion from June 14, 1934, to June 13, 1935. He was known in his time as the Livermore Larupper and Madcap Maxie.[3][4][5] Two of his fights (a 1933 win over Max Schmeling and a 1935 loss to James J. Braddock) were rated Fight of the Year by The Ring magazine. Baer was also a boxing referee, and had occasional roles in film and television. He was the brother of heavyweight boxing contender Buddy Baer and father of actor Max Baer Jr. Baer is rated #22 on The Ring magazine's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time.

Early life

[edit]

Baer was born on February 11, 1909, in Omaha, Nebraska,[6] to Jacob Baer (1875–1938) and Dora Bales (1877–1938). His father was the son of Jewish immigrants from Alsace-Lorraine and his mother was of Scottish descent.[7] His elder sister was Frances May Baer (1905–1991), his younger sister was Bernice Jeanette Baer (1911–1987), his younger brother was boxer-turned-actor Jacob Henry Baer, better known as Buddy Baer (1915–1986), and his adopted brother was August "Augie" Baer. For a while Jacob Baer worked for the Graden Mercantile Company as the manager of their meat-packing plant [8] in Durango, Colorado.

Move to California

[edit]

In May 1922, tired of the winters that aggravated Frances' rheumatic fever and Jacob's high blood pressure,[9] the Baers drove to the milder climate on the West Coast, where Dora's sister lived in Alameda, California.[10] Jacob's expertise in the meat business led to numerous job offers in the San Francisco Bay Area. While living in Hayward, Max took his first job as a delivery boy for John Lee Wilbur, who ran a grocery store and bought meat from Jacob.

The Baers lived in the Northern Californian towns of Hayward, San Leandro and Galt[10] before moving to Livermore in 1926. Livermore was ranch and cowboy country, surrounded by tens of thousands of acres of open land on which large cattle herds grazed and provided fresh meat to the local area. In 1928, Jacob leased the Twin Oaks Ranch in Murray Township, where he raised more than 2,000 hogs and worked with daughter Frances' husband, Louis Santucci.[10] Baer often credited his work carrying heavy carcasses of meat, stunning cattle with one blow, and working at a gravel pit for the development of his powerful shoulders (an article in the January 1939 edition of Family Circle reported that Baer also took the Charles Atlas exercise course.)[11]

Professional boxing career

[edit]

Baer turned professional in 1929, progressing steadily through the Pacific Coast ranks. A ring tragedy little more than a year later almost caused Baer to drop out of boxing for good.

Frankie Campbell

[edit]

Baer fought Frankie Campbell on August 25, 1930, in San Francisco in a ring built over home plate at San Francisco's Recreation Park for the unofficial title of Pacific Coast champion. In the second round, Campbell clipped Baer and Baer slipped to the canvas. Campbell went toward his corner and waved to the crowd, thinking that Baer was getting the count. In response, Baer got up and flew at Campbell, landing a right to Campbell's turned head which sent him to the canvas.

After the round, Campbell said to his trainer "Something feels like it snapped in my head", but he went on to handily win rounds 3 and 4. As Baer rose for the 5th round, Tillie "Kid" Herman, Baer's former friend and trainer, who had switched camps overnight and was now in Campbell's corner, savagely taunted and jeered Baer. In a rage and determined to end the bout with a knockout, Baer soon had Campbell against the ropes. As he hammered him with punch after punch, the ropes were the only thing holding Campbell up. By the time referee Toby Irwin stopped the fight, Campbell collapsed to the canvas. Baer's own seconds reportedly ministered to Campbell, and Baer stayed by his side until an ambulance arrived 30 minutes later. Baer "visited the stricken fighter's bedside", where he offered Frankie's wife Ellie the hand that hit her husband. She took that hand and the two stood speechless for a moment. "It was unfortunate, I'm awfully sorry", said Baer. "It could have been you," she replied. She forgave him.[12]

At noon the next day, with a lit candle laced between his crossed fingers, and his wife and mother beside him, Frankie Campbell was pronounced dead. Upon the surgeon's announcement of Campbell's death, Baer broke down and sobbed inconsolably. Brain specialist Dr. Tilton E. Tillman "declared death had been caused by a succession of blows on the jaw and by any struck on the rear of the head" and that Campbell's brain had been "knocked completely loose from his skull" by Baer's blows.[13]

Ernie Schaaf

[edit]

The Campbell incident earned Baer the reputation as a "killer" in the ring. This publicity was further sensationalized by Baer's return bout with Ernie Schaaf, on August 31, 1932. Schaaf had bested Baer in a decision during Max's Eastern debut bout at Madison Square Garden on September 19, 1930.

An Associated Press article in the September 9, 1932, sports section of the New York Times describes the end of the return bout as follows:

Two seconds before the fight ended Schaaf was knocked flat on his face, completely knocked out. He was dragged to his corner and his seconds worked on him for three minutes before restoring him to his senses... Baer smashed a heavy right to the jaw that shook Schaaf to his heels, to start the last round, then walked into the Boston fighter, throwing both hands to the head and body. Baer drove three hard rights to the jaw that staggered Schaaf. Baer beat Schaaf around the ring and into the ropes with a savage attack to the head and body. Just before the round ended Baer dropped Schaaf to the canvas, but the bell sounded as Schaaf hit the floor.[14]

Schaaf complained frequently of headaches after that bout. Five months after the Baer fight, on February 11, 1933, Schaaf died in the ring after taking a left jab from the Italian fighter Primo Carnera. The majority of sports editors noted,[15] however, that an autopsy later revealed Schaaf had meningitis, a swelling of the brain, and was still recovering from a severe case of influenza when he touched gloves with Carnera. Schaaf's obituary stated that "just before his bout with Carnera, Schaaf went into reclusion in a religious retreat near Boston to recuperate from an attack of influenza" which produced the meningitis.[16][17] The death of Campbell and accusations over Schaaf's demise profoundly affected Baer, even though he was ostensibly indestructible and remained a devastating force in the ring. According to his son, actor/director Max Baer Jr. (who was born seven years after the incident):

My father cried about what happened to Frankie Campbell. He had nightmares. In reality, my father was one of the kindest, gentlest men you would ever hope to meet. He treated boxing the way today's professional wrestlers do wrestling: part sport, mostly showmanship. He never deliberately hurt anyone.[18]

In the case of Campbell, Baer was charged with manslaughter. Baer was eventually acquitted of all charges, but the California State Boxing Commission still banned him from any in-ring activity within the state for the next year. Baer gave purses from succeeding bouts to Campbell's family, but lost four of his next six fights. He fared better when Jack Dempsey took him under his wing. [citation needed]

Max Schmeling

[edit]

Boxing has found in Max Baer the kind of fighter who can bring the game back to the old days—the days when big men fought to knock each other out...So I believe that boxing's comeback now rests right on Baer's shoulders. He is only 24 years old, he's the biggest, strongest man fighting today, and he hits with terrible power.

Jack Dempsey,
former world heavyweight champion[19]

On June 8, 1933, Baer fought and defeated German heavyweight and former world champion Max Schmeling at Yankee Stadium, by technical knockout. Schmeling was favored to win and was Adolf Hitler's favorite boxer. The Nazi tabloid Der Stürmer publicly attacked Schmeling for fighting a non-Aryan, as Baer's father was Jewish, calling it a "racial and cultural disgrace."[20]

Although the Great Depression, then in full force, had lowered the income of most citizens, sixty thousand people attended the boxing match.[20] NBC radio updated millions nationwide as the match progressed. Baer, who was of half Jewish descent, wore trunks which displayed the Star of David,[21][22] a symbol he wore in all his future bouts. During the match, he dominated the rugged Schmeling into the tenth round, when Baer knocked Schmeling down and the referee stopped the match.[22] Columnist Westbrook Pegler wrote about Schmeling's loss, "That wasn't a defeat, that was a disaster", while journalist David Margolick claimed that Baer's victory would come to "symbolize Jewry's struggle against the Nazis."[20] Baer became a hero among Jews and those who despised the Nazis.[23]

Film star Greta Garbo considered Baer's defeat of Schmeling to be a "mini victory" over Nazism, and she invited Baer to visit her while she was filming Queen Christina in Hollywood.[24] However, Baer's presence on the set was considered a "sacrilege" in Hollywood, as even MGM studio's head, Louis B. Mayer, wasn't allowed on Garbo's set, since she demanded total privacy while acting.[25] Their friendship led to a romance, which lasted until he returned to New York to train for his next match against Primo Carnera.[24]

World Heavyweight Champion

[edit]

On June 14, 1934, at the outdoor Madison Square Garden Bowl at Long Island City, New York, Baer defeated the huge reigning world champion Primo Carnera of Italy, who weighed in at 267 pounds. Baer knocked down the champion 11 times before the fight was stopped in the eleventh round by referee Arthur Donovan to save Carnera from further punishment. All the knockdowns occurred in rounds one, two, ten and eleven, which Baer thoroughly dominated. The intervening rounds were competitive. There is some dispute about the number of knockdowns scored, as Carnera slipped to the canvas on several occasions and was wrestled to the canvas other times. Despite this dominant performance over Carnera, Baer would hold the world heavyweight title for just 364 days.

James J. Braddock

[edit]

On June 13, 1935, one of the greatest upsets in boxing history occurred in Long Island City, New York, as Baer fought down-and-out boxer James J. Braddock in the so-called Cinderella Man bout. Baer hardly trained for the bout. Braddock, on the other hand, was training hard. "I'm training for a fight, not a boxing contest or a clownin' contest or a dance," he said. "Whether it goes one round or three rounds or ten rounds, it will be a fight and a fight all the way. When you've been through what I've had to face in the last two years, a Max Baer or a Bengal tiger looks like a house pet. He might come at me with a cannon and a blackjack and he would still be a picnic compared to what I've had to face." Baer, ever the showman, "brought gales of laughter from the crowd with his antics" the night he stepped between the ropes to meet Braddock. As Braddock "slipped the blue bathrobe from his pink back, he was the sentimental favorite of a Bowl crowd of 30,000, most of whom had bet their money 8-to-1 against him." [citation needed]

Baer "undoubtedly paid the penalty for underestimating his challenger beforehand and wasting too much time clowning." At the end of 15 rounds Braddock emerged the victor in a unanimous decision, outpointing Baer 8 rounds to 6 in the "most astounding upset since John L. Sullivan went down before the thrusts of Gentleman Jim Corbett back in the nineties." Braddock took heavy hits from Baer but kept coming at him until he wore Max down. [citation needed]

The fight was featured in the 2005 film Cinderella Man. Baer was portrayed by Craig Bierko and Braddock was portrayed by Russell Crowe.

Decline and retirement

[edit]

Baer and his brother Buddy both lost fights to Joe Louis. In the third round of Max's September 1935 match, Louis knocked Baer down twice, the first time he had ever been knocked to the canvas in his career. A sizzling left hook in the fourth round brought Max to his knee again, and the referee called the bout soon after.[26][27] It was learned weeks later that Baer fought Louis with a broken right hand that never healed from his fight with James J. Braddock. Max was virtually helpless without his big right hand in the Louis fight. In the first televised heavyweight prizefight, Baer lost to Lou Nova on June 1, 1939, on WNBT-TV in New York.

White Heavyweight Champ

[edit]

Baer was awarded a belt declaring him the "White Heavyweight Champion of the World" after he scored a first-round TKO over Pat Cominsky in a bout at Roosevelt Stadium in Jersey City, New Jersey, on September 26, 1940, but it was a publicity stunt. The fight was not promoted as being for the white heavyweight championship, and Cominsky would not have won the belt had he beaten Baer.

The belt was a publicity stunt dreamed up by boxing promoters who were trying to pressure promoter Mike Jacobs into giving the ex-world heavyweight champion a rematch with current champ Joe Louis. Jacobs did not give Baer another bout with Louis.[28] Baer retired after his next fight, on April 4, 1941, when he lost to Lou Nova on a TKO in the eighth round of a scheduled 10-rounder at Madison Square Garden. Nova did get a shot at Joe Louis, losing to the champion by TKO in the sixth round of a scheduled fifteen-round bout held at the Polo Grounds in New York.

Career statistics

[edit]

Baer boxed in 84 professional fights from 1929 to 1941. In all, his record was 71–13. Fifty-three of those wins were knockouts, making him a member of the exclusive group of boxers to have won 50 or more bouts by knockout. Baer defeated the likes of Ernie Schaaf, Walter Cobb, Kingfish Levinsky, Max Schmeling, Tony Galento, Ben Foord and Tommy Farr. He was Heavyweight Champion of the World from June 14, 1934, to June 13, 1935.

Baer was a 1968 inductee into The Ring magazine's Boxing Hall of Fame (disbanded in 1987) and was inducted to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1995. He was inducted to the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2009. The 1998 Holiday Issue of Ring ranked Baer #20 in "The 50 Greatest Heavyweights of All Time". In Ring Magazine's 100 Greatest Punchers (published in 2003), Baer is ranked number 22.

Acting

[edit]
Baer and Jean Howard in The Prizefighter and the Lady

Baer's motion picture debut was in The Prizefighter and the Lady (1933) opposite Myrna Loy and Walter Huston. In this MGM movie he played Steven "Steve" Morgan, a bartender that the Professor, played by Huston, begins training for the ring. Steve wins a fight, then marries Belle Mercer, played by Loy. He starts seriously training, but it turns out he has a huge ego and an eye for women. Featured were Baer's upcoming opponent, Primo Carnera, as himself, whom Steve challenges for the championship, and Jack Dempsey, as himself, former heavyweight champion, acting as the referee.[29]

On March 29, 1934, The Prizefighter and the Lady was officially banned in Germany at the behest of Joseph Goebbels, Adolf Hitler's Minister of Propaganda and Public Entertainment, even though it received favorable reviews in local newspapers as well as in Nazi publications. When contacted for comment at Lake Tahoe, Baer said, "They didn't ban the picture because I have Jewish blood. They banned it because I knocked out Max Schmeling." Baer, along with his brother Buddy, enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force when World War II began.[30]

Baer acted in almost 20 movies, including Africa Screams (1949) with Abbott and Costello, and made several television guest appearances. A clown in and out of the ring, Baer also appeared in a vaudeville act and on his own TV variety show. Baer appeared in Humphrey Bogart's final movie, The Harder They Fall (1956), opposite Mike Lane as Toro Moreno, a Hollywood version of Primo Carnera, whom Baer defeated for his heavyweight title. Budd Schulberg, who wrote the book on which the movie was based, portrayed the Baer character, "Buddy Brannen", as bloodthirsty, and the unfounded characterization was reprised in the movie Cinderella Man.

In 1950, Baer teamed up with another titleholder, friend and Light Heavyweight champion (1929–34) and boxer-turned actor/comedian, Maxie Rosenbloom. Together, the two starred in four slapstick comedy shorts for Columbia Pictures (produced by the makers of the Three Stooges comedies)[31] and one feature film, Skipalong Rosenbloom (written by Rosenbloom, uncredited). The team embarked on a comedy tour, billed as "The Two Maxie's". Baer would also take the stage at Rosenbloom's comedy club on Wilshire Blvd, Slapsy Maxie's, which was featured in the film Gangster Squad. Baer and Rosenbloom remained friends until Baer's death in 1959.[29]

Baer additionally worked as a disc jockey for a Sacramento radio station, and for a while he was a wrestler. He served as public relations director for a Sacramento automobile dealership and referee for boxing and wrestling matches.

Family

[edit]

Baer was married twice, first to actress Dorothy Dunbar (married July 8, 1931 – divorced October 3, 1933) and then to Mary Ellen Sullivan (1903–1978) (married June 29, 1935 – his death 1959), the mother of his three children: actor Max Baer Jr. (b. 1937), best known for playing Jethro Bodine on The Beverly Hillbillies, James Manny Baer (1941–2009), and Maudie Marian Baer (b. 1944).

At the time of his death on November 21, 1959, Baer was scheduled to appear in some TV commercials in Los Angeles before returning to his home in Sacramento.

Death

[edit]
Baer refereeing a match between George Godfrey (left) and Hank Hankinson, 1937

On Wednesday, November 18, 1959, Baer refereed a nationally televised 10-round boxing match in Phoenix. At the end of the match, to the applause of the crowd, Baer grasped the ropes and vaulted out of the ring and joined fight fans in a cocktail bar. The next day, he was scheduled to appear in several television commercials in Hollywood, California. On his way, he stopped in Garden Grove, California, to keep a promise he had made thirteen years earlier to the then five-year-old son of his ex-sparring partner, Curly Owens. Baer presented the now 18-year-old with a foreign sports car on his birthday, as he had said he would.[32]

Baer checked into the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel upon his arrival on November 19. Hotel employees said he looked fit but complained of a cold. As he was shaving on the morning of November 21, he experienced chest pains. He called the front desk and asked for a doctor. The desk clerk said that "a house doctor would be right up." "A house doctor?" he replied jokingly, "No, dummy, I need a people doctor".

A doctor gave Baer medicine, and a fire department rescue squad administered oxygen. His chest pains subsided and he was showing signs of recovery when he was stricken with a second heart attack. Just a moment before, he was joking with the doctor, declaring he had come through two similar but lighter attacks earlier in Sacramento, California. Then he slumped on his left side, turned blue and died within a matter of minutes. His last words reportedly were, "Oh God, here I go."[32]

Funeral

[edit]

Baer's funeral in Sacramento was attended by more than 1,500 mourners. Four former world boxing champions appeared and Joe Louis and Jack Dempsey were among the pallbearers. The cemetery service was concluded by an American Legion honor guard recognizing Baer's service in World War II. Baer's obituary made the front page of The New York Times. He was laid to rest in a garden crypt in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Sacramento.

Legacy

[edit]

There is a park named for Baer in Livermore, California. There is also a park named for him in Sacramento. He was honored by the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame in 1988.

Baer was an active member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles. When Max died of a heart attack in 1959, the Eagles created a charity fund as a tribute to his memory and as a means of combating the disease that killed him. The Max Baer Heart Fund is primarily to aid in heart research and education. Since the fund started in 1959, millions of dollars have been donated to universities, medical centers and hospitals across the United States and Canada for heart research and education.

Selected filmography

[edit]
Carnera, Loy and Baer in The Prizefighter and the Lady

Portrayed in:

TV guest appearances

[edit]

Professional boxing record

[edit]

All information in this section is derived from BoxRec,[33] unless otherwise stated.

Official record

[edit]
81 fights 66 wins 13 losses
By knockout 51 3
By decision 15 8
By disqualification 0 2
Newspaper decisions/draws 2

All newspaper decisions are officially regarded as "no decision" bouts and are not counted in the win/loss/draw column.

No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
81 Loss 66–13 (2) Lou Nova TKO 8 (10), 2:18 April 4, 1941 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
80 Win 66–12 (2) Pat Comiskey TKO 1 (10), 2:39 September 26, 1940 Roosevelt Stadium, Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.
79 Win 65–12 (2) Tony Galento RTD 7 (15) July 2, 1940 Roosevelt Stadium, Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.
78 Win 64–12 (2) Babe Ritchie KO 2 (10), 1:10 September 18, 1939 Fair Park Stadium, Lubbock, Texas, U.S.
77 Win 63–12 (2) Big Ed Murphy KO 1 (4), 1:40 September 4, 1939 Silver Peak, Nevada, U.S.
76 Loss 62–12 (2) Lou Nova TKO 11 (12), 1:21 June 1, 1939 Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York, U.S.
75 Win 62–11 (2) Hank Hankinson KO 1 (10), 0:48 October 26, 1938 Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
74 Win 61–11 (2) Tommy Farr UD 15 March 11, 1938 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
73 Win 60–11 (2) Ben Foord TKO 9 (10) May 27, 1937 Harringay Arena, London, England
72 Loss 59–11 (2) Tommy Farr PTS 12 April 15, 1937 Harringay Arena, London, England
71 Win 59–10 (2) Dutch Weimer KO 2 (10), 1:30 October 19, 1936 Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
70 Loss 58–10 (2) Willie Davies PTS 6 October 8, 1936 Platteville, Wisconsin, U.S.
69 Win 58–9 (2) Tim Charles KO 4 (6) October 6, 1936 Coliseum, Evansville, Illinois, U.S.
68 Win 57–9 (2) Andy Miller NWS 6 September 21, 1936 Sheldon, Iowa, Iowa, U.S.
67 Win 57–9 (1) Bearcat Wright NWS 6 September 14, 1936 Des Moines Coliseum, Des Moines, Iowa, U.S.
66 Win 57–9 Cowboy Sammy Evans KO 3 (6) September 7, 1936 Elks Hall, Casper, Wyoming, U.S.
65 Win 56–9 Cyclone Lynch KO 3 (6) September 4, 1936 Rock Springs, Wyoming, U.S.
64 Win 55–9 Al Gaynor KO 1 (6) September 2, 1936 Lincoln Field, Twin Falls, Idaho, U.S.
63 Win 54–9 Don Baxter KO 1 (6) August 31, 1936 Memorial Ball Park, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, U.S.
62 Win 53–9 Al Frankco KO 2 (6) August 29, 1936 Recreation Park, Lewiston, Idaho, U.S.
61 Win 52–9 Cecil Myart PTS 6 August 25, 1936 Multnomah Stadium, Portland, Oregon, U.S.
60 Win 51–9 Nails Gorman TKO 3 (6) August 24, 1936 Armory, Marshfield, Wisconsin, U.S.
59 Win 50–9 Bob Williams KO 1 (6), 3:00 July 24, 1936 Ogden Stadium, Ogden, Utah, U.S.
58 Win 49–9 Cecil Smith PTS 4 July 17, 1936 Convention Hall, Ada, Oklahoma, U.S.
57 Win 48–9 Junior Munsell KO 5 (6), 0:45 July 16, 1936 Tulsa Coliseum, Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
56 Win 47–9 James Merriott KO 2 (6) July 13, 1936 Avey's Open-Air Arena, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
55 Win 46–9 Buck Rogers KO 3 (6) July 2, 1936 Sportatorium, Dallas, Texas, U.S.
54 Win 45–9 Wilson Dunn TKO 3 (6) June 24, 1936 Tech Field, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
53 Win 44–9 George Brown TKO 4 (6) June 23, 1936 Tyler, Texas, U.S.
52 Win 43–9 Harold Murphy PTS 6 June 19, 1936 Pocatello Armory, Pocatello, Idaho, U.S.
51 Win 42–9 Bob Fraser TKO 2 (6) June 17, 1936 Ada Co. Fairgrounds, Boise, Idaho, U.S.
50 Win 41–9 Tony Souza PTS 6 June 15, 1936 McCullough's Arena, Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
49 Loss 40–9 Joe Louis KO 4 (15), 3:09 September 24, 1935 Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York, U.S.
48 Loss 40–8 James J. Braddock UD 15 June 13, 1935 Madison Square Garden Bowl, Long Island City, New York, U.S. Lost NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring heavyweight titles
47 Win 40–7 Primo Carnera TKO 11 (15), 2:16 June 14, 1934 Madison Square Garden Bowl, Long Island City, New York, U.S. Won NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring heavyweight titles
46 Win 39–7 Max Schmeling TKO 10 (15), 1:51 June 8, 1933 Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York, U.S.
45 Win 38–7 Tuffy Griffiths TKO 7 (10), 0:58 September 26, 1932 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
44 Win 37–7 Ernie Schaaf MD 10 August 31, 1932 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
43 Win 36–7 King Levinsky PTS 20 July 4, 1932 Dempsey's Bowl, Reno, Nevada, U.S.
42 Win 35–7 Walter Cobb TKO 4 (10) May 11, 1932 Oakland Civic Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S.
41 Win 34–7 Paul Swiderski TKO 6 (10) April 26, 1932 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
40 Win 33–7 Tom Heeney PTS 10 February 22, 1932 Seals Stadium, San Francisco, California, U.S.
39 Win 32–7 King Levinsky UD 10 January 29, 1932 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
38 Win 31–7 Arthur De Kuh PTS 10 December 30, 1931 Oakland Civic Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S.
37 Win 30–7 Les Kennedy KO 3 (10) November 23, 1931 Oakland Civic Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S.
36 Win 29–7 Johnny Risko PTS 10 November 9, 1931 Seals Stadium, San Francisco, California, U.S.
35 Win 28–7 Santa Camarão KO 10 (10) October 21, 1931 Oakland Civic Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S.
34 Win 27–7 Jack Van Noy TKO 8 (10) September 23, 1931 Oakland Civic Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S.
33 Loss 26–7 Paulino Uzcudun PTS 20 July 4, 1931 Race Track Arena, Reno, Nevada, U.S.
32 Loss 26–6 Johnny Risko UD 10 May 5, 1931 Public Hall, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
31 Win 26–5 Ernie Owens KO 2 (10) April 7, 1931 Keller Auditorium, Portland, Oregon, U.S.
30 Loss 25–5 Tommy Loughran UD 10 February 6, 1931 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
29 Win 25–4 Tom Heeney KO 3 (10) January 16, 1931 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
28 Loss 24–4 Ernie Schaaf UD 10 December 19, 1930 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
27 Win 24–3 Frankie Campbell TKO 5 (10) August 25, 1930 Recreation Park, San Francisco, California, U.S. Campbell died of injuries sustained from the fight.[34]
26 Win 23–3 KO Christner KO 2 (10) August 11, 1930 Oaks Ballpark, Emeryville, California, U.S.
25 Loss 22–3 Les Kennedy PTS 10 July 15, 1930 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
24 Win 22–2 Ernie Owens KO 5 (10) June 25, 1930 Oakland Civic Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S.
23 Win 21–2 Buck Weaver KO 1 (10) June 11, 1930 Oakland Civic Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S.
22 Win 20–2 Jack Linkhorn KO 1 (10) May 28, 1930 Oakland Civic Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S.
21 Win 19–2 Tom Toner TKO 6 (10) May 7, 1930 Oakland Civic Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S.
20 Win 18–2 Ernie Owens PTS 10 April 22, 1930 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
19 Win 17–2 Jack Stewart KO 2 (10) April 9, 1930 Oakland Civic Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S.
18 Win 16–2 Tiny Abbott KO 6 (10) January 29, 1930 Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S.
17 Loss 15–2 Tiny Abbott DQ 3 (10) January 15, 1930 Arcadia Pavilion, Oakland, California, U.S.
16 Win 15–1 Tony Fuente KO 1 (10) December 30, 1929 Arcadia Pavilion, Oakland, California, U.S.
15 Win 14–1 Chet Shandel KO 2 (10) December 4, 1929 Arcadia Pavilion, Oakland, California, U.S.
14 Win 13–1 Tillie Taverna KO 2 (10) November 20, 1929 Arcadia Pavilion, Oakland, California, U.S.
13 Win 12–1 Natie Brown PTS 6 November 6, 1929 Arcadia Pavilion, Oakland, California, U.S.
12 Win 11–1 Alex Rowe KO 1 (6) October 30, 1929 Arcadia Pavilion, Oakland, California, U.S.
11 Win 10–1 Chief Caribou TKO 1 (6) October 16, 1929 Arcadia Pavilion, Oakland, California, U.S.
10 Win 9–1 George Carroll TKO 1 (6) October 2, 1929 Arcadia Pavilion, Oakland, California, U.S.
9 Win 8–1 Frank Rudzenski KO 3 (6) September 25, 1929 Arcadia Pavilion, Oakland, California, U.S.
8 Loss 7–1 Jack McCarthy DQ 3 (6) September 4, 1929 Arcadia Pavilion, Oakland, California, U.S.
7 Win 7–0 Al Red Ledford KO 2 (6) August 8, 1929 Arcadia Pavilion, Oakland, California, U.S.
6 Win 6–0 Benny Hill PTS 4 July 31, 1929 Arcadia Pavilion, Oakland, California, U.S.
5 Win 5–0 Benny Hill PTS 4 July 24, 1929 Arcadia Pavilion, Oakland, California, U.S.
4 Win 4–0 Al Red Ledford KO 1 (4), 2:02 July 18, 1929 Oak Park Arena, Stockton, California, U.S.
3 Win 3–0 Tillie Taverna KO 1 (4), 2:01 July 4, 1929 Oak Park Arena, Stockton, California, U.S.
2 Win 2–0 Sailor Leeds TKO 1 (4), 1:30 June 6, 1929 Oak Park Arena, Stockton, California, U.S.
1 Win 1–0 Chief Caribou TKO 2 (4) May 16, 1929 Oak Park Arena, Stockton, California, U.S.

Unofficial record

[edit]
81 fights 68 wins 13 losses
By knockout 51 3
By decision 17 8
By disqualification 0 2

Record with the inclusion of newspaper decisions in the win/loss/draw column.

No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
81 Loss 68–13 Lou Nova TKO 8 (10), 2:18 Apr 4, 1941 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
80 Win 68–12 Pat Comiskey TKO 1 (10), 2:39 Sep 26, 1940 Roosevelt Stadium, Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.
79 Win 67–12 Tony Galento RTD 7 (15) Jul 2, 1940 Roosevelt Stadium, Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.
78 Win 66–12 Babe Ritchie KO 2 (10), 1:10 Sep 18, 1939 Fair Park Stadium, Lubbock, Texas, U.S.
77 Win 65–12 Big Ed Murphy KO 1 (4), 1:40 Sep 4, 1939 Silver Peak, Nevada, U.S.
76 Loss 64–12 Lou Nova TKO 11 (12), 1:21 Jun 1, 1939 Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York, U.S.
75 Win 64–11 Hank Hankinson KO 1 (10), 0:48 Oct 26, 1938 Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
74 Win 63–11 Tommy Farr UD 15 Mar 11, 1938 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
73 Win 62–11 Ben Foord TKO 9 (10) May 27, 1937 Harringay Arena, London, England
72 Loss 61–11 Tommy Farr PTS 12 Apr 15, 1937 Harringay Arena, London, England
71 Win 61–10 Dutch Weimer KO 2 (10), 1:30 Oct 19, 1936 Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
70 Loss 60–10 Willie Davies PTS 6 Oct 8, 1936 Platteville, Wisconsin, U.S.
69 Win 60–9 Tim Charles KO 4 (6) Oct 6, 1936 Coliseum, Evansville, Illinois, U.S.
68 Win 59–9 Andy Miller NWS 6 Sep 21, 1936 Sheldon, Iowa, Iowa, U.S.
67 Win 58–9 Bearcat Wright NWS 6 Sep 14, 1936 Des Moines Coliseum, Des Moines, Iowa, U.S.
66 Win 57–9 Cowboy Sammy Evans KO 3 (6) Sep 7, 1936 Elks Hall, Casper, Wyoming, U.S.
65 Win 56–9 Cyclone Lynch KO 3 (6) Sep 4, 1936 Rock Springs, Wyoming, U.S.
64 Win 55–9 Al Gaynor KO 1 (6) Sep 2, 1936 Lincoln Field, Twin Falls, Idaho, U.S.
63 Win 54–9 Don Baxter KO 1 (6) Aug 31, 1936 Memorial Ball Park, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, U.S.
62 Win 53–9 Al Frankco KO 2 (6) Aug 29, 1936 Recreation Park, Lewiston, Idaho, U.S.
61 Win 52–9 Cecil Myart PTS 6 Aug 25, 1936 Multnomah Stadium, Portland, Oregon, U.S.
60 Win 51–9 Nails Gorman TKO 3 (6) Aug 24, 1936 Armory, Marshfield, Wisconsin, U.S.
59 Win 50–9 Bob Williams KO 1 (6), 3:00 Jul 24, 1936 Ogden Stadium, Ogden, Utah, U.S.
58 Win 49–9 Cecil Smith PTS 4 Jul 17, 1936 Convention Hall, Ada, Oklahoma, U.S.
57 Win 48–9 Junior Munsell KO 5 (6), 0:45 Jul 16, 1936 Tulsa Coliseum, Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
56 Win 47–9 James Merriott KO 2 (6) Jul 13, 1936 Avey's Open-Air Arena, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
55 Win 46–9 Buck Rogers KO 3 (6) Jul 2, 1936 Sportatorium, Dallas, Texas, U.S.
54 Win 45–9 Wilson Dunn TKO 3 (6) Jun 24, 1936 Tech Field, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
53 Win 44–9 George Brown TKO 4 (6) Jun 23, 1936 Tyler, Texas, U.S.
52 Win 43–9 Harold Murphy PTS 6 Jun 19, 1936 Pocatello Armory, Pocatello, Idaho, U.S.
51 Win 42–9 Bob Fraser TKO 2 (6) Jun 17, 1936 Ada Co. Fairgrounds, Boise, Idaho, U.S.
50 Win 41–9 Tony Souza PTS 6 Jun 15, 1936 McCullough's Arena, Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
49 Loss 40–9 Joe Louis KO 4 (15), 3:09 Sep 24, 1935 Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York, U.S.
48 Loss 40–8 James J. Braddock UD 15 Jun 13, 1935 Madison Square Garden Bowl, Long Island City, New York, U.S. Lost NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring heavyweight titles
47 Win 40–7 Primo Carnera TKO 11 (15), 2:16 Jun 14, 1934 Madison Square Garden Bowl, Long Island City, New York, U.S. Won NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring heavyweight titles
46 Win 39–7 Max Schmeling TKO 10 (15), 1:51 Jun 8, 1933 Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York, U.S.
45 Win 38–7 Tuffy Griffiths TKO 7 (10), 0:58 Sep 26, 1932 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
44 Win 37–7 Ernie Schaaf MD 10 Aug 31, 1932 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
43 Win 36–7 King Levinsky PTS 20 Jul 4, 1932 Dempsey's Bowl, Reno, Nevada, U.S.
42 Win 35–7 Walter Cobb TKO 4 (10) May 11, 1932 Oakland Civic Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S.
41 Win 34–7 Paul Swiderski TKO 6 (10) Apr 26, 1932 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
40 Win 33–7 Tom Heeney PTS 10 Feb 22, 1932 Seals Stadium, San Francisco, California, U.S.
39 Win 32–7 King Levinsky UD 10 Jan 29, 1932 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
38 Win 31–7 Arthur De Kuh PTS 10 Dec 30, 1931 Oakland Civic Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S.
37 Win 30–7 Les Kennedy KO 3 (10) Nov 23, 1931 Oakland Civic Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S.
36 Win 29–7 Johnny Risko PTS 10 Nov 9, 1931 Seals Stadium, San Francisco, California, U.S.
35 Win 28–7 Santa Camarão KO 10 (10) Oct 21, 1931 Oakland Civic Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S.
34 Win 27–7 Jack Van Noy TKO 8 (10) Sep 23, 1931 Oakland Civic Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S.
33 Loss 26–7 Paulino Uzcudun PTS 20 Jul 4, 1931 Race Track Arena, Reno, Nevada, U.S.
32 Loss 26–6 Johnny Risko UD 10 May 5, 1931 Public Hall, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
31 Win 26–5 Ernie Owens KO 2 (10) Apr 7, 1931 Keller Auditorium, Portland, Oregon, U.S.
30 Loss 25–5 Tommy Loughran UD 10 Feb 6, 1931 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
29 Win 25–4 Tom Heeney KO 3 (10) Jan 16, 1931 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
28 Loss 24–4 Ernie Schaaf UD 10 Dec 19, 1930 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
27 Win 24–3 Frankie Campbell TKO 5 (10) Aug 25, 1930 Recreation Park, San Francisco, California, U.S. Campbell died of injuries sustained from the fight.[34]
26 Win 23–3 KO Christner KO 2 (10) Aug 11, 1930 Oaks Ballpark, Emeryville, California, U.S.
25 Loss 22–3 Les Kennedy PTS 10 Jul 15, 1930 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
24 Win 22–2 Ernie Owens KO 5 (10) Jun 25, 1930 Oakland Civic Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S.
23 Win 21–2 Buck Weaver KO 1 (10) Jun 11, 1930 Oakland Civic Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S.
22 Win 20–2 Jack Linkhorn KO 1 (10) May 28, 1930 Oakland Civic Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S.
21 Win 19–2 Tom Toner TKO 6 (10) May 7, 1930 Oakland Civic Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S.
20 Win 18–2 Ernie Owens PTS 10 Apr 22, 1930 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
19 Win 17–2 Jack Stewart KO 2 (10) Apr 9, 1930 Oakland Civic Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S.
18 Win 16–2 Tiny Abbott KO 6 (10) Jan 29, 1930 Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S.
17 Loss 15–2 Tiny Abbott DQ 3 (10) Jan 15, 1930 Arcadia Pavilion, Oakland, California, U.S.
16 Win 15–1 Tony Fuente KO 1 (10) Dec 30, 1929 Arcadia Pavilion, Oakland, California, U.S.
15 Win 14–1 Chet Shandel KO 2 (10) Dec 4, 1929 Arcadia Pavilion, Oakland, California, U.S.
14 Win 13–1 Tillie Taverna KO 2 (10) Nov 20, 1929 Arcadia Pavilion, Oakland, California, U.S.
13 Win 12–1 Natie Brown PTS 6 Nov 6, 1929 Arcadia Pavilion, Oakland, California, U.S.
12 Win 11–1 Alex Rowe KO 1 (6) Oct 30, 1929 Arcadia Pavilion, Oakland, California, U.S.
11 Win 10–1 Chief Caribou TKO 1 (6) Oct 16, 1929 Arcadia Pavilion, Oakland, California, U.S.
10 Win 9–1 George Carroll TKO 1 (6) Oct 2, 1929 Arcadia Pavilion, Oakland, California, U.S.
9 Win 8–1 Frank Rudzenski KO 3 (6) Sep 25, 1929 Arcadia Pavilion, Oakland, California, U.S.
8 Loss 7–1 Jack McCarthy DQ 3 (6) Sep 4, 1929 Arcadia Pavilion, Oakland, California, U.S.
7 Win 7–0 Al Red Ledford KO 2 (6) Aug 8, 1929 Arcadia Pavilion, Oakland, California, U.S.
6 Win 6–0 Benny Hill PTS 4 Jul 31, 1929 Arcadia Pavilion, Oakland, California, U.S.
5 Win 5–0 Benny Hill PTS 4 Jul 24, 1929 Arcadia Pavilion, Oakland, California, U.S.
4 Win 4–0 Al Red Ledford KO 1 (4), 2:02 Jul 18, 1929 Oak Park Arena, Stockton, California, U.S.
3 Win 3–0 Tillie Taverna KO 1 (4), 2:01 Jul 4, 1929 Oak Park Arena, Stockton, California, U.S.
2 Win 2–0 Sailor Leeds TKO 1 (4), 1:30 Jun 6, 1929 Oak Park Arena, Stockton, California, U.S.
1 Win 1–0 Chief Caribou TKO 2 (4) May 16, 1929 Oak Park Arena, Stockton, California, U.S.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Max Baer. Boxrec
  2. ^ Max Baer. Boxrec
  3. ^ "Max Baer".
  4. ^ "Max Baer". August 26, 2021.
  5. ^ "Max Baer". November 22, 1992.
  6. ^ "Omaha Nebraska". City-Data.com. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  7. ^ Fellerath, David (June 2, 2005). "Fight Snub". Slate. Retrieved January 2, 2010. "My father is Jewish and my mother is Scotch-Irish" said Baer.
  8. ^ Co, The Graden Mercantile. "Pride of Durango Since 1881". The graden mercantile co. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  9. ^ "oral History Projevy". Livermore Heritage Guild. Archived from the original on March 10, 2016.
  10. ^ a b c Brumbelow, Joseph, S. (2003) Buddy Baer – Autobiography
  11. ^ Robertson, Stewart (January 20, 1939). "Muscles by Mail". Family Circle Magazine. 14 (3).
  12. ^ "Aug. 25, 1930: Baer vs Campbell: The Tragic Fight That Haunted Max Baer". August 25, 2023.
  13. ^ Oakland Tribune, September 26, 1930
  14. ^ Associated Press, September 9, 1932
  15. ^ "Family History & Genealogy Search - GenealogyBank".
  16. ^ Johnson, Catherine (2007). "FAQs". www.maxbaer.org. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
  17. ^ Hunnicutt, Michael (April 5, 2005). "Max Baer and the Death of Ernie Schaaf". International Boxing Research Organization. Archived from the original on April 19, 2007. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
  18. ^ "Jethro says Opie distorts Baer facts". New York Daily News. June 3, 2005. Archived from the original on June 26, 2010.
  19. ^ Dempsey, Jack. Oakland Tribune, June 9, 1933, p. 21
  20. ^ a b c Margolick, David (2005) . Beyond Glory: Joe Louis vs. Max Schmeling, and a World on the Brink, Knopf Doubleday Publishing. pp. 39–40. ISBN 978-0375726194
  21. ^ "Max Baer". www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
  22. ^ a b video: "Max Baer vs Max Schmeling (short)"
  23. ^ Cavanaugh, Jack. Tunney: Boxing's Brainiest Champ and His Upset of the Great Jack Dempsey, Ballantine Books (2009) e-book
  24. ^ a b Bret, David. Greta Garbo: A Divine Star, Robson Press, U.K. (2012) e-book
  25. ^ Oakland Tribune, June 21, 1934 p. 13
  26. ^ "Joe Louis vs. Max Baer - BoxRec". boxrec.com. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  27. ^ Moehringer, J.R. (January 7, 2007). "Mad Max". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on April 10, 2015.
  28. ^ Marcus, Norman. "Gunboat Smith: "White Heavyweight Champion of the World"". Boxing.com. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
  29. ^ a b Max Baer at IMDb
  30. ^ Max Baer: Biography Air University, USAF. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  31. ^ Ted Okuda with Edward Watz. The Columbia Comedy Shorts, ISBN 0-7864-0577-5
  32. ^ a b "Welcome to MaxBaer.org - The Man !!". Archived from the original on August 21, 2007.
  33. ^ "BoxRec: Max Baer".
  34. ^ a b "Frankie Campbell - BoxRec".

Other sources

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[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Max Baer.
Sporting positions
World boxing titles
Preceded by NYSAC heavyweight champion
June 14, 1934 – June 13, 1935 		Succeeded by
NBA heavyweight champion
June 14, 1934 – June 13, 1935
The Ring heavyweight champion
June 14, 1934 – June 13, 1935
Undisputed heavyweight champion
June 14, 1934 – June 13, 1935
Records
Preceded by Youngest world heavyweight champion
to have died
Age 50
November 21, 1959 – August 31, 1969 		Succeeded by
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