BOXING UPSET

Southland Times, Issue 25312, 15 June 1935, Page 7

BOXING UPSET

NEW CHAMPION HEAVYWEIGHT CONTEST BRADDOCK BEATS BAER ' - 8 FALL OF A FAVOURITE z (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) New York, June 13. In a fifteen-round bout for the world’s heavyweight' boxing championship at Madison Square Garden, James J. Braddock (America) defeated Max Baer (America), the holder, on points. Baer weighed 14st 13.41 b, and Braddock 13st _9Ub as they entered the ring shortly after 10 p.m. Ringside betting made the champion favourite, the odds ranging from eight to one to ten to one. The odds were the most uneven in the history of heavyweight championship bouts. The only comparison was Gene Tunney’s six to one odds against Tom Heeney. Both judges voted giving the decision to Braddock, making it unnecessary for the referee to vote. A compilation of points by newspaper critics gave Braddock nine rounds and Baer six. From the observers’ viewpoint Braddock won through sure determination and willingness to fight, while Baer, with his clowning tactics, at first seemingly did not want to fight. Later he could not. Verdict Popular. The fight was the greatest upset in recent boxing history, but was popular with the crowd of 30,000, which loudly cheered the new champion. The gate receipts are estimated • at 200,000 dollars. Despite perfect weather the crowd was disappointingly small. The Bowl, which has a capacity of 78,000, was not half filled. Twenty-dollar ringside seats were comparatively more popular than the two-dollar general admission. Mr»John MacAvoy was the referee and Messrs Chalen Lynch and George Kelly were the judges. Braddock started well, checking Baer’s vaunted opening rush and gaining a points advantage in an exchange of right and left jabs to win the. opening round. In the second and third rounds Braddock held a slight advantage, aiming long right and left swings to the champion’s head, several of which landed with considerable force. Baer was driving at his opponent’s mid-section with hard, jabs, two of which in the second round obviously hurt the challenger. Through the fourth and fifth rounds Braddock appeared to hold a points margin, to the surprise of the spectators. Baer seemingly became annoyed and started to wrestle with his opponent in a clinch and was rebuked by the referee. Braddock continued to score with long blows to the head. The referee officially gave Braddock the fifth round because of Baer’s backhand blows. Baer Rallies. Braddock continued his accurate punching through the sixth round, but in the seventh and eighth rounds Baer rallied, and by mixing body hooks with long drives to the head scored a points margin. By this time Braddock was bleeding from the nose, . while the champion was visibly uninjured and laughed when Braddock landed a hard blow to the jaw. The fighting was about even in the ninth round, but the referee officially gave the round to Braddock after twice warning Baer for low hitting. Ringsiders gave Braddock the tenth round on a series of hard drives to the champion’s head. In the last five rounds Baers sneering grin disappeared, and he fought grimly in an effort to overtake the points margin the challenger had built up, but Braddock did not weaken, and by consistently following the strategy of punching and covering managed to hold his own against his heavier opponent. The last part of the fight was like the first—not spectacular—but the challenger landed the more effective blows, which gained him the decision. BEFORE THE FIGHT OPINIONS OF EXPERTS. BRADDOCK GIVEN A CHANCE. Jack Dempsey was not the only expert who gave Braddock a fighter’s chance. Fred Winsor, a noted American sporting columnist, gave him an outsider’s show of getting home ahead of Baer. ■ He put it this way:— “Sure, I know, everybody says Braddock hasn’t a chance, and I really don’t think he has more than an outside chance at that. But Baer will have to be better for this fight than he was for the Camera battle. He knocked Primo all over the lot, but didn’t put him out, and in Braddock he is meeting a fellow who can box better than himself, and punches harder than Csrners. “The Irish are out strong for Braddock. That’s where this fight is going to fool a lot of them on the gate. Yes, I think this is the age of surprises. You may expect anything in the fight game, and that may include a victory for Braddock over Baer.

“Sure, it would seem funny—to everybody but Baer. Baer will have to be right for this one. This fellow we call a “hungry fighter.” That means his very future depends on how he does in this one fight. And ‘hungry’ fighters are always the best. As for Baer I don’t suppose he’ll take the match seriously, and that’s too bad if he doesn’t.” And now from another angle, that of the New Yorker, Billy Taub: “I regard it as a triumph for the palooka, this present prestige which Braddock enjoys. It means to all others of his ilk that while there is life there is hope. Few fighters have been licked as often. And here he is again. He’s tougher than most people believe. He hasn’t been on the deck more.than once in his career, but I believe Baer will put him there after about five tough rounds. It will not be an easy one for Baer because Braddock can give and take" a punch.” So here were some experts giving Braddock a rough chance; another tipping Baer point-blank by an early k.o.—but all with a partiality for the reigning champion. It is the difference of opinion, however, that keeps the uncertain game of boxing going. There have been upsets before and there will be upsets in the future. For example when Corbett knocked out Sullivan in 21 rounds at New Orleans Sullivan started a 4—l favourite; when Johnson retained the title against Jeffries, the latter went out a 10—6 J bet, while the odds were all in favour’ of the losers in the Bums—Johnson and the first Dempsey—Tunney contests, but the longest odds on record on a heavyweight champion will be heavily in favour of Baer when he steps from his angle to cross gloves with Brgdodck. FACTS ABOUT BAER A TERRIFIC HITTER. Baer has only been beaten on eight occasions—by McCarthy, Abbott, Kennedy, Schaaf, Loughran, Uzcudun, Risko and Braddock. He has a greater percentage of

knock-out wins than any other heavyweight champion. With Gene Tunney he shares the distinction of being the only heavyweight champion who has not been knocked out. H 6 was the first Jew to win the world’s heavyweight championship, and was only in the game five years before winning the title, a performance bettered by Jack Dempsey by one year. He is looked upon as the most terrific hitter of modern times.