James J. Braddock

James Walter Braddock
Statistics
Real name	James Walter Braddock
Nickname(s)	Bulldog of Bergen, Pride of the Irish, Pride of New Jersey, Cinderella Man
Rated at	Middleweight Light heavyweight Heavyweight
Height	6 ft 2 1⁄2 in (1.89 m)
Reach	75 in (191 cm)
Nationality	American
Born	(1905-06-07)June 7, 1905 New York City
Died	November 29, 1974(1974-11-29) (aged 69) North Bergen, New Jersey
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	85
Wins	50
Wins by KO	25
Losses	26
Draws	7
No contests	2

James Walter "Cinderella Man" Braddock (June 7, 1905 – November 29, 1974) was an American^[1][2] boxer who was the world heavyweight champion from 1935 to 1937.

Fighting under the name James J. Braddock (ostensibly to follow the pattern set by two prior world boxing champions, James J. Corbett and James J. Jeffries), he was known for his powerful right hand, solid chin and comeback from a floundering career. He had lost several bouts due to chronic hand injuries and was forced to work on the docks and collect social assistance to feed his family during the Great Depression. In 1935 he fought Max Baer for the Heavyweight title and won. For this unlikely feat he was given the nickname "Cinderella Man" by Damon Runyon. Braddock was managed by Joe Gould.

Early life

Braddock was born in Hell's Kitchen in New York City on West 48th Street, within a couple of blocks of the Madison Square Garden venue, (Madison Square Garden Bowl was on 48th Street and Northern Boulevard in Queens, not in Hell's Kitchen) where he later became famous. He was the son of immigrant parents; Irish mother Elizabeth O'Tool and Anglo-Irish father Joseph Braddock.^[3] He stated his life's early ambition was to play football for Knute Rockne at the University of Notre Dame, but he had "more brawn than brains."

Career

Braddock pursued boxing, turning pro at the age of 21, fighting as a light heavyweight. After three years, Braddock's record was 44–2–2 with 21 knockouts.

In 1928, he pulled off a major upset by knocking out highly regarded Tuffy Griffiths. The following year he earned a chance to fight for the title, but he narrowly lost to Tommy Loughran in a 15-round decision. Braddock was greatly depressed by the loss and badly fractured his right hand in several places in the process. His career suffered as a result, as did his disposition.

His record for the next 33 fights fell to 11–20–2. With his family in poverty during the Great Depression, Braddock had to give up boxing for a little while and worked as a longshoreman. Due to frequent injuries to his right hand, Braddock compensated by using his left hand during his longshoreman work, and it gradually became stronger than his right. He always remembered the humiliation of having to accept government relief money, but was inspired by the Catholic Worker Movement, a Christian social justice organization founded by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin in 1933 to help the homeless and hungry. After his boxing comeback, Braddock returned the welfare money he had received and made frequent donations to various Catholic Worker Houses, including feeding homeless guests with his family.

Baer versus Jim J. Braddock

Braddock (left) and Joe Gould (center), training as officers at the Atlantic Coast Transportation Corps Officers Training School in Fort Slocum, New York

In 1934, Braddock was given a fight with the highly touted John "Corn" Griffin. Although Braddock was intended simply as a stepping stone in Griffin's career, he knocked out the "Ozark Cyclone" in the third round. Braddock then fought John Henry Lewis, a future light heavyweight champion. He won in one of the most important fights of his career. After defeating another highly regarded heavyweight contender, Art Lasky, whose nose he broke during the bout on March 22, 1935, Braddock was given a title fight against the World Heavyweight Champion, Max Baer.

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 1 round or 3 rounds or 10 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."^[4]

Considered little more than a journeyman fighter, Braddock was hand-picked by Baer's handlers because he was seen as an easy payday for the champion, despite his recent impressive victories. Instead, on June 13, 1935, at Madison Square Garden Bowl, Braddock won the Heavyweight Championship of the World as the 10-to-1 underdog in what was called "the greatest fistic upset since the defeat of John L. Sullivan by Jim Corbett".^[5]

During the fight, a dogged Braddock took a few heavy hits from the powerful younger champion (30 years vs 26 years for Baer), but Braddock kept coming, wearing down Baer, who seemed perplexed by Braddock's ability to take a punch. In the end, the judges gave Braddock the title with a unanimous decision.^[6]

Heavyweight Champion

Braddock suffered from problems with his arthritic hands after injuries throughout his career, and in 1936, his title defense in Madison Square Garden against the German Max Schmeling was canceled under suspicious circumstances. Braddock argued he would have received only a US$25,000 purse against Schmeling, compared to $250,000 against rising star Joe Louis. There was also concern that if Schmeling won, the Nazi government would deny American fighters opportunities to fight for the title.^[7] Finally, American commentators had expressed opposition to the fight in light of the connections between Schmeling and Adolf Hitler, with whom the German fighter had been associated after his earlier victory over Louis.^[7][8]

Personal life

Braddock married Mae Fox in 1930 and the couple had three children, James (Jay), Howard and Rosemarie. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1942 and became a 1st Lieutenant. Upon return, he worked as a marine equipment surplus supplier and helped construct the Verrazano Bridge in the early 1960s.^[9]

Death and legacy

James J. Braddock North Hudson Park in North Bergen, New Jersey.

After his death in 1974 at the age of 69, James J. Braddock was interred in the Mount Carmel Cemetery in Tenafly, New Jersey. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2001. James J. Braddock North Hudson County Park in North Bergen, New Jersey is named in his honor.^[10]

The 2005 biographical film Cinderella Man tells Braddock's story. Directed by Ron Howard, it stars Russell Crowe as Braddock and Renée Zellweger as his wife, Mae.^[11] The film had an estimated budget of $88 million and grossed $108.5 million worldwide.^[12] Crowe's performance earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor. Paul Giamatti, playing Braddock's manager Joe Gould, was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. The role of neighbor Sara Wilson was played by Rosemarie DeWitt, who is Braddock's real-life granddaughter (daughter of Braddock's daughter Rosemarie Braddock and husband Kenny DeWitt). The film received mostly positive reviews.^[13]

Professional boxing record

Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round	Date	Location	Notes
Win	51–26–7 2 NC	Tommy Farr	SD	10	01/21/1938	Madison Square Garden, New York City	Referee had it 4–4–2, but Braddock on points.
Loss	50–26–7 2 NC	Joe Louis	KO	8 (15)	06/22/1937	Comiskey Park, Chicago, Illinois, United States	Lost World Heavyweight title. Louis down in 1st; Braddock in 8th. NYSAC recognized Louis as Champion on June 30; NBA on July 1.
Win	50–25–7 2 NC	Max Baer	UD	15	06/13/1935	Madison Square Garden Bowl, Long Island City, Queens, New York, United States	Won World Heavyweight title. Baer feinted a knockdown in the 8th round.
Win	49–25–7 2 NC	Art Lasky	UD	15	03/22/1935	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, United States
Win	48–25–7 2 NC	John Henry Lewis	PTS	10	11/16/1934	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, United States
Win	47–25–7 2 NC	Corn Griffin	TKO	3 (5)	06/14/1934	Madison Square Garden Bowl, Long Island City, Queens, New York, United States	Both fighters down in second round.
NC	46–25–7 2 NC	Abe Feldman	NC	6 (10)	09/25/1933	Memorial Field Stadium, Mount Vernon, New York, United States	Benefit for Mt. Vernon Police Department Home Relief Fund. Braddock broke his right hand.
Win	46–25–7 1 NC	Chester Matan	PTS	10	07/21/1933	Playgrounds Stadium, West New York, New Jersey, United States
Win	45–25–7 1 NC	Les Kennedy	PTS	10	06/21/1933	Oakland Arena, Jersey City, New Jersey, United States
Loss	44–25–7 1 NC	Al Stillman	UD	10	06/19/1933	Arena, Saint Louis, Missouri	Stillman down in first; Braddock injured his right hand with the punch. Two judges voted.
Loss	44–24–7 1 NC	Martin Levandowski	MD	10	04/05/1933	Arena, Saint Louis, Missouri
Win	44–23–7 1 NC	Al Stillman	TKO	10 (10)	03/21/1933	Arena, Saint Louis, Missouri	Stillman down once in 9th and twice in 10th rounds.
Loss	43–23–7 1 NC	Al Ettore	DQ	4 (8)	03/01/1933	Olympia A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States	Braddock was disqualified for 'not trying'.
Loss	43–22–7 1 NC	Hans Birkie	PTS	10	11/09/1932	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, United States
Win	43–21–7 1 NC	Martin Levandowski	PTS	10	01/13/1933	Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, United States
Loss	42–21–7 1 NC	Lou Scozza	TKO	6 (10)	11/09/1932	Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, United States	Braddock stopped with a cut left eye; he had been cut in the Patrick fight.
Loss	42–20–7 1 NC	Tom Patrick	PTS	10	10/21/1932	Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States
Win	42–19–7 1 NC	Dynamite Jackson	PTS	10	09/30/1932	Coliseum, San Diego, California, United States	Jackson down in the 1st round.
Loss	41–19–7 1 NC	John Henry Lewis	PTS	10	09/21/1932	Civic Auditorium, San Francisco
Loss	41–18–7 1 NC	Tony Shucco	PTS	8	07/25/1932	Madison Square Garden Bowl, Long Island City, Queens, New York
Win	41–17–7 1 NC	Vicente Parrile	PTS	5	06/21/1932	Madison Square Garden Bowl, Long Island City, Queens, New York	Walk–Out Bout after Sharkey won Schmeling.
Loss	40–17–7 1 NC	Charley Retzlaff	PTS	10	05/13/1932	Boston Garden, Boston
Loss	40–16–7 1 NC	Baxter Calmes	UD	10	03/18/1932	Chicago Stadium, Chicago
Loss	40–15–7 1 NC	Al Gainer	PTS	10	12/04/1931	Arena, New Haven, Connecticut
NC	40–14–7 1 NC	Maxie Rosenbloom	NC	2 (10)	11/10/1931	Minneapolis Auditorium, Minneapolis	Braddock and Rosenbloom were accused of a pre–arranged deal. The MN Commission allowed each $350 in training expenses, the balance of their purses was donated to charity.
Loss	40–14–7	Joe Sekyra	PTS	10	10/09/1931	Madison Square Garden, New York City
Draw	40–13–7	Andy Mitchell	PTS	10	09/03/1931	Navin Field, Detroit
Win	40–13–6	Jack Kelly	PTS	10	03/30/1931	New Haven Arena|, New Haven, Connecticut
Win	39–13–6	Jack Roper	KO	1 (6)	03/05/1931	Madison Square Garden Stadium, Miami
Loss	38–13–6	Ernie Schaaf	SD	10	01/23/1931	Madison Square Garden, New York City
Win	38–12–6	Phil Mercurio	KO	2 (6)	01/23/1931	Boston Garden, Boston	Mercurio went down 3 times in round 1, and then was counted out in the 2nd.
Loss	37–12–6	Babe Hunt	PTS	10	08/11/1930	Braves Field, Boston
Win	37–11–6	Joe Monte	PTS	10	07/02/1930	Fenway Park, Boston
Loss	36–11–6	Harold Mays	PTS	10	06/05/1930	Playgrounds Stadium, West New York, New Jersey
Loss	36–10–6	Billy Jones	UD	10	04/07/1930	Arena, Philadelphia
Loss	36–9–6	Leo Lomski	SD	10	17/01/1930	Coliseum, Chicago	Lomski knocked down in 2nd and 5th rounds.
Win	36–8–6	Jake Warren	KO	2 (6)	12/07/1929	Ridgewood Grove, Brooklyn, New York
Loss	35–8–6	Maxie Rosenbloom	PTS	10	11/15/1929	Madison Square Garden, New York City
Loss	35–7–6	Yale Okun	PTS	10	08/27/1929	Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles
Loss	35–6–6	Tommy Loughran	UD	15	07/18/1929	Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York	For NYSAC World Light Heavyweight titles. In September 1929 Loughran gave up his claim to the Light Heavyweight Title to compete at heavyweight.
Win	35–5–6	Eddie Benson	KO	1 (8)	04/22/1929	Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo, New York
Win	34–5–6	Jimmy Slattery	TKO	9 (10)	03/11/1929	Madison Square Garden, New York Cit
Win	33–5–6	George Gemas	KO	1 (10)	02/04/1929	Laurel Garden, Newark, New Jersey
Loss	32–5–6	Leo Lomski	MD	10	01/18/1929	Madison Square Garden, New York City
Win	32–4–6	Tuffy Griffiths	TKO	2 (10)	11/30/1928	Madison Square Garden, New York City	Griffiths was floored 4 times in the 2nd round.
Win	31–4–6	Pete Latzo	PTS	10	10/17/1928	Newark Armory, Newark, New Jersey	Latzo's jaw was broken, and he was forced to cancel his Nov 30 bout with Tuffy Griffiths. Braddock met Griffiths in his place.
Loss	30–4–6	Joe Sekyra	PTS	10	08/08/1928	Ebbets Field, Brooklyn, New York	Braddock cut over left eye in 7th.
Draw	30–3–6	Nando Tassi	PTS	10	07/25/1928	Ebbets Field, Brooklyn, New York
Draw	30–3–5	Billy Vidabeck	NWS	10	06/27/1928	Playgrounds Stadium, West New York, New Jersey	Newspaper decision from New York City area newspapers (Jack Kincaid).
Loss	30–3–4	Joe Monte	PTS	10	06/07/1928	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
Win	30–2–4	Jimmy Francis	NWS	10	05/16/1928	Playgrounds Stadium, West New York, New Jersey	Newspaper decision from New York City area newspapers (Jack Kincaid).
Win	29–2–4	Jack Darnell	KO	4 (10)	05/07/1928	Grotto Auditorium, Jersey City, New Jersey
Win	28–2–4	Paul Swiderski	PTS	8	01/06/1928	Madison Square Garden, New York City
Draw	27–2–4	Joe Monte	PTS	10	10/07/1927	Madison Square Garden, New York City
Loss	27–2–3	Herman Heller	NWS	10	09/21/1927	Playgrounds Stadium, West New York, New Jersey	Newspaper decision from New York City area newspapers (Jack Kincaid).
Win	27–1–3	Vic McLaughlin	NWS	10	08/10/1927	Playgrounds Stadium, West New York, New Jersey	Newspaper decision from The New York Times.
Win	26–1–3	George LaRocco	UD	6	07/21/1927	Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York
Win	25–1–3	Jimmy Francis	NWS	10	07/13/1927	Playgrounds Stadium, West New York, New Jersey	Newspaper decision from the Philadelphia Record.
Win	24–1–3	Jimmy Francis	NWS	10	06/08/1927	Playgrounds Stadium, West New York, New Jersey	Newspaper decision from The New York Times.
Loss	23–1–3	Paul Cavalier	NWS	10	05/27/1927	Arcola Park, Paramus, New Jersey	Henry Hascup's record for Cavalier in IBRO #55 shows two Newspaper scores for this fight, 7–3 and 8–2 in favor of Cavalier.
Draw	23–0–3	George LaRocco	PTS	6	05/19/1927	Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York
Win	22–0–2	Jack Stone	NWS	10	05/19/1927	Playgrounds Stadium, West New York, New Jersey	Braddock knocked down for first time in career, but won. (Source: Boxing Blade, May 28, 1927, page 6.)
Win	21–0–2	Stanley Simmons	TKO	1 (6)	05/02/1927	Oakland Arena, Jersey City, New Jersey	Simmons down 4 times
Win	20–0–2	Frankie Lennon	TKO	3 (6)	04/19/1927	Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Win	19–0–2	Tom McKiernan	KO	2 (?)	03/15/1927	United States	Bout held during March; possibly Wilkes–Barre.
Win	18–0–2	Nick Fadil	PTS	6	03/08/1927	Pioneer Sporting Club, New York City
Win	17–0–2	Lou Barba	PTS	4	03/03/1927	Madison Square Garden, New York City
Win	16–0–2	Jack Nelson	PTS	6	02/15/1927	Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Win	15–0–2	Johnny Alberts	KO	4 (6)	02/01/1927	Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Win	14–0–2	George LaRocco	KO	1 (4)	01/28/1927	Madison Square Garden, New York City
Draw	13–0–2	Doc Conrad	NWS	4	12/20/1926	4th Regiment Armory, Jersey City, New Jersey	Christmas Fund Show. Jersey Journal & Hudson Dispatch both called this a draw.
Win	13–0–1	Joe Hudson	PTS	6	12/08/1926	Manhattan A.C., New York City
Win	12–0–1	Al Settle	PTS	6	12/04/1926	Walker A.C., New York City
Win	11–0–1	Lou Barba	PTS	6	11/12/1926	Pioneer Sporting Club, New York City
Win	10–0–1	Carmine Caggiano	KO	1 (6)	09/30/1926	Playgrounds Stadium, West New York, New Jersey
Win	9–0–1	Ray Kennedy	KO	1 (6)	09/16/1926	Playgrounds Stadium, West New York, New Jersey
Win	8–0–1	Mike Rock	KO	1 (6)	09/13/1926	Oakland Arena, Jersey City, New Jersey
Win	7–0–1	Gene Travers	KO	1 (6)	09/07/1926	Oakland Arena, Jersey City, New Jersey
Win	6–0–1	Walter Westman	TKO	3 (6)	07/09/1926	Boyle's Thirty Acres, Jersey City, New Jersey
Win	5–0–1	Jim Pearson	TKO	2 (?)	06/28/1926	Oakland Arena, Jersey City, New Jersey
Win	4–0–1	Leo Dobson	KO	1 (4)	06/18/1926	Boyle's Thirty Acres, Jersey City, New Jersey
Win	3–0–1	Willie Daily	KO	1 (?)	05/03/1926	Jersey City, New Jersey
Win	2–0–1	Jack O'Day	KO	1 (?)	05/02/1926	Jersey City, New Jersey
Win	1–0–1	Phil Weisberger	KO	2 (6)	04/22/1926	Knights of Columbus, Ridgefield Park, New Jersey	Deschner down twice in 1st round.
Draw	0–0–1	Al Settle	NWS	4	04/13/1926	Amsterdam Hall, Union City, New Jersey	Jersey Journal & Hudson Dispatch both called this a draw. Pro debut for Braddock.

See also

• List of lineal boxing world champions
• List of heavyweight boxing champions
• Boyle's Thirty Acres
• Joe Louis Arena (located in Detroit, Michigan)

Notes

References

• Joe Louis, Edna Rust, Art Rust Jr., Joe Louis: My Life
• "Cinderella Man" by Eminem, 2010
• Joe Louis, 66, Heavyweight King Who Reigned 12 Years, Is Dead, Obituary, New York Times, April 13, 1981.
• Louis' TAX issues
• Jenny Nolan, "The Brown Bomber – The Man Behind The Fist", The Detroit News
• "Remembering Joe Louis", WTVM
• "The Long Loneliness", by Dorothy Day, 1952

External links

• Official James J. Braddock website (includes videos of some rounds of Braddock's fights with Baer and Louis)
• "James J. Braddock". Find a Grave. Retrieved 2008-02-07. 
• Braddock's career record – from the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame
• Collection of critical opinion of Cinderella Man at Rotten Tomatoes
• Braddock's short biography at the International Boxing Hall of Fame
• James Braddock vs Max Baer, 13 June 1935, all rounds
• James Braddock vs Joe Louis, 22 June 1937, all rounds
• Professional boxing record for James J. Braddock from BoxRec