2006-09-04 09:32:15 · 4 answers · asked by jw.waters 1 in Sports ➔ Boxing
James Walter Braddock (June 7, 1905 – November 29, 1974) was a champion boxer.
Fighting under the name James J. Braddock (ostensibly to follow the pattern set by two prior champions, James J. Corbett and James J. Jeffries), his amazing comeback from a floundering career (that saw him lose several bouts before struggling to support his family by working on the docks during the Great Depression) earned him the nickname The Cinderella Man from Damon Runyon. James Walter Braddock was born in Hell's Kitchen in New York City on West 48th Street within a couple blocks of the Madison Square Garden venue that made him famous. His Irish family was poor, and he never realized his dream to attend Notre Dame on a football scholarship and play for the famous Knute Rockne. Following a successful amateur career, Jim Braddock turned pro at the age of 21, fighting in the light heavyweight division. After three years, Braddock's record was 34-5-7 with 21 knockouts.
In 1928, he pulled off a major upset by knocking out highly regarded Tuffy Griffith. The following year he earned a chance to fight for the championship but he narrowly lost to Tommy Loughran in a fifteen-round decision. Braddock was greatly depressed by the loss and badly injured his hand in the process. His career suffered as a result.
His record for his following thirty-three fights was 11-20-2. With his family in poverty during the Great Depression, Braddock had to stop fighting for a period and work as a longshoreman. Braddock always talked of the humiliation of having to accept government relief money. After his boxing comeback, he returned the welfare funds he had received.
2006-09-04 09:39:08 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Recently they did a movie about his life called "The Cinderella Man" a nickname given to him by his manager Jim Jacobs, Braddock shocked the boxing world by defeating reigning champion Max Baer in 1934. Jim was an inspiration to a lot of people down on their luck during the great depression by winning the title despite being a heavy underdog. Jim lost his title in 1937 to Joe Louis.
2006-09-04 19:48:35 · answer #2 · answered by toughguy2 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jim Braddock was heavyweight boxing champion after Max Baer and before Joe Louis.
2006-09-04 16:35:46 · answer #3 · answered by turkey 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
boxer!
2006-09-04 16:35:10 · answer #4 · answered by lou 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋