Clown Prince Max Baer versus Two Ton Tony Galento, a Historical Look Back
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
On August 7, 1940, Max Baer, the former heavyweight champion known as the Livermore Larupper, the menacing ‘clown prince of boxing’, scored his last big win. Baer stopped two ton Tony Galento in seven lopsided rounds at Roosevelt Stadium in Jersey City. The bout, as it evolved, was hoped to be the springboard for Baer to get a rematch against Joe Louis for the world heavyweight title, Max Baer’s last chance to regain lost glory. Strangely, the high stakes rematch bout Joe Louis wanted with Max Baer never came to pass.
Max Baer versus Tony Galento highlights, followed by a post fight interview with Joe Louis
Max Baer arose as a celebrity at a time when sports needed celebrities. He was better known as a clown than for his punching prowess. He also killed two men in the ring. This might have taken away his killer instinct against Joe Louis and other major fighters as he did not want to hurt anymore any more. This happened to Emile Griffith, Sugar Ray Robinson, and Ray Mancini. Max Baer was the first heavyweight champion to deal with it.
The last ten years of his life, from 1949 to 1959, were spent as an actor doing many charitable deeds. Max Baer was only 50 when he died, gone too young too soon. What this reporter discovered was Max Baer and Joe Louis were in fact very good friends. If you watch the post bout black and white 16 mm interview after the Galento bout, Max Baer and Joe Louis are together. Louis is all for giving Baer a title shot. Why the rematch never took place and raised money for U.S. Army relief is anybody’s guess-because it would have been a great money maker and publicity stunt for the American World War II cause.
Max Baer’s bright grin and warm smile thrilled millions. He was a gentle giant who cared about many, and loved by all. His heart gave out on him on November 21, 1959. The Clown Prince was gone, forgotten in time. Rediscovering the fight film footage and interview of Baer by Lou Costello was a bright moment, because the old film brought The Clown Prince back to life for a shining moment in time, 75 years after that moment, rediscovered again.
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