Cinderella Man Was Part of a Colorful Era in Boxing

James J. Braddock

By Johnny McDonald

The Cinderella Man fought anyone, almost any place, but he uncharacteristically ducked one challenger twice.

Boxing champion James J. Braddock, whose great comeback in the ring is depicted in the current movie, turned down the logical No. 1 contender, Germany’s Max Schmeling, because of extenuating circumstances.

The first time, it was because of an injured hand; the second, when he accepted Joe Louis’ challenge instead. At the time, the New York Athletic Commission was ready to take his crown.

As a former fight writer and son of one of California’s finest referees, I have always been captivated by the men who step inside the squared circle. I’m a historian of sorts and intrigued with the Depression period, when the haves paid to see the have-nots fight.

It was a colorful era and also one of disappointment for fighters such as Primo Carnera, Jack Sharkey, Billy Conn and a number of others who would lose to Louis.

Braddock’s reasons for not meeting Schmeling might have gone far beyond the ring and, to some degree, were politically motivated.

At the time, Nazi leader Adolf Hitler was still bristling over the failure of his “superior race” athletes to handle Jesse Owens’ one-man domination in Berlin’s Olympic Games.

In Schmeling, Hitler believed he had the surefire athlete who would bring the title to Germany and restore his faith in Aryan superiority.

But Braddock manager Joe Gould, who was Jewish, obviously opposed a fight with the German because of Hitler’s abuse of the Jewish people.

In signing with Louis, the Braddock camp made a shrewd decision. An astute businessman, Braddock negotiated an agreement in which he would receive 10 percent of Louis’ future earnings.

Braddock knocked Louis down in the first round of their bout on June 22, 1937, but the 23-year-old Brown Bomber dominated thereafter, earning an eighth-round stoppage.

Of course, as the movie reveals, Braddock acquired the title of Cinderella Man by beating Max Baer for the title as a 10-1 underdog. In his first defense, Louis was the 5-1 favorite.

Baer, noted more as a playboy, trained lightly for the fight and considered Braddock easy prey. He was never a serious fighter afterward and took to nightclub comedy.

Before he won the title, Braddock traveled to find fights in San Francisco, Hollywood, Chicago, Philadelphia, St. Louis and even San Diego (Sept. 30, 1932), sometimes before a handful of spectators. He had a career record of 46 wins (25 KOs), four draws, three no decisions and 25 defeats.

He won a 10-round decision over popular California heavyweight Dynamite Jackson in San Diego’s old Coliseum. Jackson later became a boxing referee.

Braddock dropped a 10-round decision to Slapsy Maxie Rosenbloom in the old Legion Stadium, just off Hollywood and Vine. Rosenbloom became a comedic film actor-restaurant owner and for a while teamed with Baer in a nightclub act.

John Henry Lewis, with whom Braddock had a win and loss, fought Louis for the title. Louis knocked him out in the first round, stating later that he wanted to make it quick because he didn’t want to hurt his friend.

After losing the title, Braddock fought a few exhibitions and then out-pointed tough Tommy Farr, who had gone 15 solid rounds with Louis. He retired in 1938.