TUPATALK: View from press row

One of the most remarkable history in sports remains the James J. Braddock win in 1935 against Max Baer for the world heavyweight boxing title.

The movie “Cinderella Man” chronicled this incredible athletic happening, in which Braddock was not only an underdog, but could have been considered an inhumed gopher for how low he was considered to Baer.

Baer came into mismatch with the reputation of a rugged Goliath; Baer was credited with either killing or being a major part of the deaths of two ring opponents.

By the tape, Baer was listed at 6-foot-2.5, 210 pounds and an 81-inch reach. Braddock, who had fought as a middleweight or light heavy during part of his career, was listed at 6-foot-2, 192 pounds and a 75-inch reach. But, because Braddock fought from mostly from a crouching position, the height disparity seemed greater.

Baer boasted a 40-8 record and had won 14-consecutive fights dating back four year. Braddock came in a 51-25-7 — and had basically been considered retired in the fall of 1933.

He began a comeback — with little motivation other than to make a few extra bucks during the Depression — in the summer of 1934.

But, destiny smiled on Braddock. Starting with a TKO on June 14, 1934 against massively favored Corn Griffin, he tore through two more giant upsets.

On June 13, 1935 — just 364 days after his win against Griffin — Braddock stepped through the ropes at Madison Square Garden for the title fight against Baer.

It was the championship showdown almost no one wanted.

Everyone thought Baer would annihilate Braddock, who many figured was too far past his prime. Some also expressed concern for Baer’s health going up against Braddock.

I digress for a moment to say this — I completely disagree with the portrayal of Baer in the “Cinderella Man” movie. He’s depicted, in my opinion, as a paranoid vicious bully who took a perverse delight, or rather no regret, in being known as a ring killer.

Things I’ve read about the real-life Baer suggest the completely opposite.

His son Max Baer Jr. — who played Jethro in the 1960s TV series “Beverly Hillbillies” — recalled how his dad would wake up in the middle of night suffering nightmares regarding the deaths of those men.

Max Baer also talked to the wives of the men who had died, provided them money and tried to make amends for what had happened.

I believe he was a bit braggadocios about his achievements as a boxer — but I think to him a lot of that was a game and not some deep-seated negative personality disorder.

In the town I worked at prior to Bartlesville — a city just about the same size population-wise — Baer traveled there multiple times to raise money to help youth.

Anyway, to get back to the fight.

Braddock didn’t back down. Baer pounded him, knocked him down and dominated a large chunk of the 14-round fight. But, Braddock kept on coming like July following June.

Braddock threw some sledgehammer punches, as well, and absolutely willed himself to continue.

When the final bell rang, Braddock had captured the crown — by an unanimous decision.

He was already 30 years old — an old age back then in the boxing game.

He would fight just twice more, being pummeled and knocked out by an up-and-coming heavyweight dynamo named Joe Louis. Louis won the brutal scrap by an eighth-round knockout.

Louis would be quoted later in his life that Braddock threw the hardest punches of anyone he fought.

Braddock went on to the rest of his life, which included being married to the same woman for 44 years, raising three children, went into construction and living in the same house, which he bought with his ring earnings, for decades.

In 1942, around the age of 37, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in the Pacific theater as a hand-to-hand combat instructor.

Braddock died at age 69. His greatest athletic achievement remains an example those with the pluck, courage, determination, enough tools — and some good luck — can rise to the top, or at least high enough to put their hand on the summit’s apex.

This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: TupaTalk column reflections