Sport: Papa Baer Did

In one corner of the ring sat the buffoon of heavyweights, U. S. ex-Champion Max Baer, sometimes described as Madcap Max of the faint heart, now billed as attempting a serious comeback. In the other corner sat the heavyweight champion of the British Empire, Welshman Tommy Farr, loser to Joe Louis and Jim Braddock in his two U. S. fights, clumsy but courageous, now billed as the owner of a newly-developed punch. The odds were 2-to-1 on Farr, who had beaten Baer in London eleven months ago.

For the doubtful pleasure of seeing these two second-raters in last week’s “grudge fight” at Manhattan’s Madison Square Garden, 18,222 hopeful customers paid $74,409.22. To their surprise they got their money’s worth. Few heavyweight fights in recent years have brought forth so much wholehearted socking, done so much visible damage (see cut). It was Baer’s lusty right against Farr’s jabbing left. The Welshman landed oftener—and occasionally with a right that really bothered Baer—but when the former champion let loose, he came very near to ruining Farr. No one disputed Baer’s victory; he was variously credited with from nine to 13 rounds. Surprising his critics by clowning only enough to please his more lighthearted fans, Baer also surprised the experts with his shrewd tactics: he repeatedly maneuvered Farr towards his own corner so that at a round’s end Farr would lose precious seconds of rest walking across the ring to sit down.

Afterwards, demanding a match with the winner of the Louis-Schmeling fight next September, irrepressible Max boasted: “I didn’t quit, did I? I had to redeem myself and I did. Did Louis have Farr on the floor?* Did Braddock?* Well, Papa Baer did.”

* Answer, No.