Evening star., 1938-03-11
ONCE JAUNTY MAX
NOW IS DESPERATE
Reformation of Ex-Heavy
Champ Seen in Serious
Comeback Attempt.
BY GRANTLAND RICE.

Aoihihy FdlI AL NeW OTk JOnlghJ.
Nearly three years after his knock
out by Joe Louis-nearly three years
after he appeared to be all washed up
and the mob had turned its back on
hlm--he is in the money again.
Which marks another amazing turn in
the life of this constantly amazing
young man.
Look over his record. He knocked
out Max Schmeling when Schmeling
was regarded, in spite of his loss of
the title to Jack Sharkey. as the best
heavyweight in the world-a Schme-
ling younger by three years than he
was the night he knocked out Louis.
From there Baer went on to win the
championship from Primo Carnera.
He lost it to Jim Braddock the first
time he took it into the ring with
him, was halted by Louis in a lop-
sided match when he tried to come
back, boWled over lot of fifth
raters around the country, went to
England and lost to Farr and knocked
out Ben Foord-a feat which Schme-
ling, once more regarded by many as
the best heavyweight in the world
couldn't duplicate.
And now the former playboy finds
himself in Madison Square Garden
again. facing an opportunity to knock
down another small fortune with his
fists.
An Accurate Reflection.
Ihls record is an accurate reflec-
tion of this very likeable but Alto
gether bizarre figure He set out along
the fistic road with magnificent
body, stout chin, crushing right
hand punch and an air of bravado de-
signed to cover lack of confidence
In himself. He travelled so fast and
so thoughtlessly that he never stopped
TO learn the fundamentals of his loo.
He won the title without ever develop
ing his own left hand-or a defense
against the other fellows left.
Why stop to learn when he could
belt his foes out with that numbing
right hand? In his second fight in
New York. Tommy Loughran outboXed
him so completely that even Max had
to laugh at his own awkwardness. The
next day, Loughran offered to teach
him because, like every one else who
saw him, Tommy was impressed with
his build and potential greatness But
Max laughed off Tommys offer.
L didn't realize, until I got in there
with you. how much there was to this
boxing business Max said I'll never
be able to learn it. I'll get along with
out it."
Well. he got along as far as the title
without it. He was fortunate in meet
Ing for the title a handmade leavy-
weight who had no business being in
the ring at all. But, when Max stopped
Carnera. he was the heavyweight
champion of the world-and he acted
like champion out of story book
or comic page.
Thought Himself Really Coed.
He threw away all tne money he
could lay his hands on. He slept all
DAY and stayed up all night. He went
around and around and around. And
then he was matched with Braddock
and he said he would knock Jim out in
. punch.
HIS friends tried to pull him up short
before that fight by telling him that,
"hile jim wasn't great fighter, he
was smart one-and desperate one.
buI oy this time he had kidded him.
eei1 TO point where-and this is the
pathetlc part of it-he thought he
was as great fighter as he should
have been.
80 ne was beaten by man who also
had been completely outboxed bv
Loughran-but who had taken time
Out 10 learn the lessons that that de-
leat outlined for him, whereas Max
mao made no attempt to learn them.
The bubble had burst and Baer no
longer was champion.
1 talked with him out here lust be-
1ore ne started east for this fight with
rarr He talked very sensiblv and
soberly about this chance that had
oeen given to him to redeem himself
VI course, he always did talk a good
neht. But it is easier to believe him
now, because noW-maybe when it is
TOO late for him to beat even a second
rater like Farr-he has changed his
attitude toward fighting and life in
general.
I'm not going to brag about what
Will do to Farr," he said. But I'm
oelilng you the truth when I tell YOU
I know I am going to win. I've got tn
win. This is my last chance-and
I've got lot to fight for now that
didn't have before.
HANDICAPPED by Cut Eye.
In my fight with Farr in London
l was cut over the right eye in the
hrst round. If the cut had been under
tne eye. it wouldn't have bothered me
But the blood ran into my eve and
nllnded me and was paving awav at
tne eye with one hand all the time
TO try to clear it and squinting like
this, and losing sight of Farr half
the time
Toward the end of the fight.
came on won the last couple rounds
ana closed Ole of his eyes. Maybe if
the nght had been held in this coun-
Try, they would have given me the
decision or at least a draw. But Tn
not complaining about that. should
have beaten him so far off there
wouldn't have been any question about
1t. "oo'
III be In better shape for this
hight than at any time since was a
kld-When I didn't have money enough
for all the nonsense that I INDUCED
IN around New York-and everywhere
else, for that matter-a few years ago
You know, don't run around anv
more-Maxie the Homebody, that's
me. And don't drink and I don't
smoke
And when the fight is over" he
concluded, Il am going to grab the
first plane back to California-and
stay right here with my wife and
baby until they want me in New
York again."
It's a great program. Too bad he
wasn't as smart as that back in 1888,
when he had knocked out Schmeling
L.