Max Baer by John Jarrett

Author:John Jarrett
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pitch Publishing
Published: 2017-06-15T00:00:00+00:00

16

Bringing the Title Back Home

THE MADISON Square Garden Bowl was a vast open-air arena at 48th Street and Northern Boulevard, in Long Island City in the New York City borough of Queens. The Garden people built it when they had a problem renting Yankee Stadium, and it opened in 1932 with seating for 72,000 on wooden bleachers. To get there, you crossed the Queensboro Bridge over the East River, or took the subway – IRT (Interborough Rapid Transit) – under the East River and only two stops from Times Square.

Big-time boxing opened the new stadium on 21 June 1932, when a crowd of 61,863 paid $432,465 to see Jack Sharkey awarded a controversial decision over Max Schmeling to be crowned heavyweight champion of the world. The Boston Gob would lose his title there 12 months later when Primo Carnera knocked him out in six rounds. The Italian giant had defended his title twice, beating Paulino Uzcudun and Tommy Loughran, and now he was back on Long Island to fight Max Baer.

From New York, United Press reported, ‘One week ago Carnera not only was a distinct betting favourite, but an overwhelming majority of the experts named him as the most probable winner. But many of the trained observers who once voted for the towering Italian changed their minds during the past two days, while Baer’s supporters among the men who fill the early ringside pews remained faithful to his cause … A rapidly increasing regard for the lethal power of Max Baer’s right hand may bring the betting to even money when Baer meets the Italian in their 15-round title test tonight.

‘Primo drove to town today, made headquarters at the Hotel Victoria, and waited in majestic nonchalance for the 1.00pm weigh-in. Baer arrived early last evening and was hidden at the home of a friend … Top price for ringside seats, the box office was selling in the 34th row for $25, but scalpers were reported asking and getting as much as $60 and $70 for seats in the early rows. Nearly 700 applications for working press credentials poured into the Garden publicity office, with fewer than half that number expected to be accommodated. Thirty-four newspaper writers gave opinions on tonight’s fight; 22 picked Baer, 12 cast their vote for Carnera. Only three predicted the champion would retain his title by a knockout. Nine figured Baer to win that way.’182

The main event was scheduled for 10.00pm that Thursday, and by that time a crowd of fifty-odd thousand fans sat eagerly in that huge wooden saucer. Carnera, the world champion, was first into the ring, standing in his corner as Baer slipped through the ropes, wearing a white robe with the name ‘Steve Morgan’ emblazoned on the back, the robe he wore in the movie with Carnera, The Prizefighter and the Lady. On seeing that, syndicated columnist Grantland Rice turned to his ringside neighbour and quipped, ‘I see they had to get a substitute for Baer. That’s too bad. I think Max would have beaten Primo tonight.

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