James J. "Jim" Braddock
(James Walter Braddock)
("Cinderella Man")

BORN   June 7 1905; New York, New York
DIED November 29 1974; North Bergen, New Jersey
HEIGHT 6-2 1/2
WEIGHT 162-199 1/2 lbs
MANAGERS Joe Braddock, Alfred M. Barnett, Joe Gould
TRAINER Doc Robb

Braddock was a methodical and determined "bulldog" of a fighter who diligently went about his work in a mechanical fashion; As a heavyweight, he was neither flashy nor particularly talented - but he was willing and game
 
Early in his career, Jim was an outstanding amateur and power-punching middleweight whose fragile hands derailed his career; But, since he was tough and could take a punch, he continued to fight with severely damaged hands, until, ultimately, he was banned in several jurisdictions

Damon Runyon dubbed him the "Cinderella Man" because of his "fairy tale" comeback and his win over Max Baer; He was inducted into the Ring Boxing Hall of Fame in 1964, the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame in 1969, the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1989 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2001

Some argue that he cannot be listed among the great fighters - but he certainly qualifies to be listed among the great men due to the hardships he endured during the depression and during his career; He persevered and overcame - and in the process became a stronger man and a better fighter; More information on the "Cinderella Man" appeared in the WAIL! February 2004

1926
Apr 13 Al Settle                   Union City, NJ                  ND  4
Apr 22 George Deschner             Ridgefield Park, NJ             KO  2
May    Phil Weisberger             Jersey City, NJ                 KO  1
May    Jack O'Day                  Jersey City, NJ                 KO  1
May    Willie Daily                Jersey City, NJ                 KO  1
Jun 18 Leo Dobson                  Jersey City, NJ                 KO  1
Jun 28 Jim Pearson                 Jersey City, NJ                 TK  2
Jul  9 Walter Westman              Jersey City, NJ                 TK  3
Sep  7 Gene Travers                Jersey City, NJ                 KO  1
Sep 13 Mike Rock                   Jersey City, NJ                 KO  1
Sep 16 Ray Kennedy                 West New York, NJ               KO  1
Sep 30 Carmine Caggiano            West New York, NJ               KO  1
Nov 12 Lou Barba                   New York, NY                     W  6
Dec  4 Al Settle                   New York, NY                     W  6
Dec  8 Joe Hudson                  New York, NY                     W  6
Dec 20 "Doc" Conrad [Foss]         Jersey City, NJ                 ND  4

1927
Jan 28 George LaRocco              New York, NY                    KO  1
Feb  1 Johnny Alberts              Wilkes-Barre, Pa                KO  4
Feb 15 Jack Nelson                 Wilkes-Barre, Pa                 W  6
Mar  3 Lou Barba                   New York, NY                     W  4
Mar  8 Nick Fadil                  New York, NY                     W  6
Mar    Tom McKiernan                                               KO  2
Apr 19 Frankie Lennon              Wilkes-Barre, Pa                TK  3
May  2 Stanley Simmons             Jersey City, NJ                 TK  1
May 11 Jack Stone                  West New York, NJ               ND 10
May 20 George LaRocco              Bronx, NY                        D  6
May 27 Paul Cavalier               Paramus, NJ                     ND 10
          -Some sources report "Rochelle Park, NJ"
Jun  8 Jimmy Francis               West New York, NJ               ND 10
Jul 13 Jimmy Francis               Union City, NJ                  ND 10
Jul 21 George LaRocco              Bronx, NY                        W  6
Aug 10 Vic McLaughlin              West New York, NJ               ND 10
Sep 21 Herman Heller               West New York, NJ               ND 10
Oct  5 Joe Monte                   New York, NY                     D 10

1928
Jan  6 Paul Swiderski              New York, NY                     W  8
May  7 Jack Darnell                Jersey City, NJ                 KO  4
May 16 Jimmy Francis               West New York, NJ               ND 10
Jun  7 Joe Monte                   New York, NY                     L 10
Jun 27 Billy Vidabeck              West New York, NJ               ND 10
Jul 25 Nando Tassi                 Brooklyn, NY                     D 10
Aug  8 Joe Sekyra                  Brooklyn, NY                     L 10
Oct 17 Pete Latzo                  Newark, NJ                       W 10
Nov 30 Gerald "Tuffy" Griffith     New York, NY                    TK  2

1929
Jan 18 Leo Lomski                  New York, NY                     L 10
Feb  4 George Gemas                Newark, NJ                      KO  1
Mar 11 Jimmy Slattery              New York, NY                    TK  9
Apr 22 Eddie Benson                Buffalo, NY                     KO  1
Jul 18 Tommy Loughran              Bronx, NY                        L 15
          -Light Heavyweight Championship of the World
Aug 27 Yale Okun                   Los Angeles, Ca                  L 10
Nov 15 Maxie Rosenbloom            New York, NY                     L 10
Dec  7 Jack "Jake" Warren          Brooklyn, NY                    KO  2

1930
Jan 17 Leo Lomski                  Chicago, Il                      L 10
Apr  7 Billy Jones                 Philadelphia, Pa                 L 10
Jun  5 Harold Mays                 West New York, NJ               ND 10
Jul  2 Joe Monte                   Boston, Ma                       W 10
Aug 11 Alvin "Babe" Hunt           Boston, Ma                       L 10
Sep 19 Phil Mercurio               Boston, Ma                      KO  2

1931
Jan 23 Ernie Schaaf                New York, NY                     L 10
Mar  5 Jack Roper                  Miami, Fl                       KO  1
Mar 30 Jack Kelly                  New Haven, Ct                    W 10
Sep  3 Andy Mitchell               Detroit, Mi                      D 10
Oct  9 Joe Sekyra                  New York, NY                     L 10
Nov 10 Maxie Rosenbloom            Minneapolis, Mn                 NC  2
Dec  4 Al Gainer                   New Haven, Ct                    L 10

1932
Mar 18 Baxter Calmes               Chicago, Il                      L 10
May 13 Charley Retzlaff            Boston, Ma                       L 10
Jun 21 Vincent Parille             Long Island City, NY             W  5
Jul 25 Tony Shucco                 Long Island City, NY             L  8
Sep 21 John Henry Lewis            San Francisco, Ca                L 10
Sep 30 Dynamite Jackson            San Diego, Ca                    W 10
Oct 21 Tom Patrick                 Hollywood, Ca                    L 10
Nov  9 Lou Scozza                  San Francisco, Ca               LT  6
          -Braddock suffered a cut eye

1933
Jan 13 Martin Levandowski          Chicago, Il                      W 10
Jan 20 Hans Birkie                 New York, NY                     L 10
Mar  1 Al Ettore                   Philadelphia, Pa                LF  4
Mar 21 Al Stillman                 St. Louis, Mo                   TK 10
Apr  5 Martin Levandowski          St. Louis, Mo                    L 10
May 19 Al Stillman                 St. Louis, Mo                    L 10
Jun 21 Les Kennedy                 Jersey City, NJ                  W 10
Jul 21 Chester Matan               West New York, NJ                W 10
Sep 25 Abe Feldman                 Mount Vernon, NY                NC  6

1934
Jun 14 John "Corn" Griffin         Long Island City, NY            TK  3
Nov 16 John Henry Lewis            New York, NY                     W 10

1935
Mar 22 Art Lasky                   New York, NY                     W 15
Jun 13 Max Baer                    Long Island City, NY             W 15
          -NBA Heavyweight Championship of the World
Jul 18 Jack McCarthy               Columbus, Oh                    EX  3
Jul 30 -Braddock refereed a wrestling match in Boston, Ma
Aug    Tom Patrick                                                 EX   
Aug 27 Jack McCarthy               Houston, Tx                     EX  2
Nov  5 Jack McCarthy               Seattle, Wa                     EX  3
Nov 12 Jack McCarthy               Portland, Or                    EX  2
Nov 13 Jack McCarthy               Marshfield, Or                  EX  3
Nov 15 Jack McCarthy               San Francisco, Ca               EX  3
Nov 20 Jack McCarthy               Oakland, Ca                     EX  3

1936
Sep 30 Max Schmeling               New York, NY                   SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but cancelled;
           Braddock injured a hand in training
Dec 12 -Braddock was prohibited from engaging in any bouts
           by the New York State Athletic Commission, after
           a hearing: "The Commission forbids Braddock from 
           engaging in a bout of any length whatsoever
           against Joe Louis before he defends his title
           against Max Schmeling"

1937
Feb    -Braddock signed to fight Joe Louis
Jun  3 Max Schmeling               New York, NY                   SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but cancelled;
           Braddock chose to fight Louis instead
Jun 10 -Madison Square Garden was denied request for
           an injunction to prevent the Louis-Braddock
           bout 
Jun 22 Joe Louis                   Chicago, Il                     LK  8
          -NBA Heavyweight Championship of the World

1938
Jan 21 Tommy Farr                  New York, NY                     W 10

1939
Mar  4 -Braddock refereed the Henry Armstrong vs. Bobby Pacho
          Welterweight Championship bout in Havana, Cuba
Jun 27 -Braddock refereed the Solly Krieger vs Al Hostak
          Middleweight Championship bout in Seattle, Wa

1940
Oct  9 Roy Nelson                  Falls City Ne                   EX  4
Dec  6 "Tiger" Jack Fox            Salt Lake City, Ut             SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known

1941
Mar 26 Clarence "Red" Burman       Charlotte, NC                   EX  5
*** NCR ALL-TIME HEAVYWEIGHT COMPUTER TOURNAMENT ***
1968
       John L. Sullivan                                             L 15

Record courtesy of Tracy Callis, Historian, International Boxing Research Organization
 
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