Nicknamed “Mad Cap Maxie”, “The Man With The Million Dollar Body”and “The Magnificent Screwball” Max Baer has been called the most colorful character in boxing. Never without a smile, always kidding around and mugging for the cameras, he was also a devastating puncher and would soon become The Heavyweight Champion of the World.

Significant in Baer’s career was his June 1933 fight with Hitler’s favorite fighter and former Heavyweight Champion, Max Schmelling. The fight took place in front of 60,000 people in Yankee Stadium and Baer, wearing The Star of David on his trunks, soundly defeated Schmelling with a one sided 10th round TKO. Writer Westbrook Pegler wrote “That wasn’t a defeat, that was a disaster.” As a result of Baer beating Schmelling and all the fanfare and media attention surrounding it he caught the eye of the glamorous, international film star Greta Garbo. Garbo was intrigued by Max as a handsome charismatic man as well as considering his defeat of Schmelling to be “a mini victory” over German fascism. She invited him to visit her in Hollywood while filming “Queen Christina” The visit led to a romance that lasted until Baer had to return to New York to train for his next fight against the formidable Heavyweight Champion Primo Carnera. True to form, at the weigh in for the fight, Baer nonchalantly picked hairs off the Champions chest while chanting “She loves me, she loves me not” Baer took control of the fight early on and battery Carnero from ring post to ring post dropping him an incredible 11 times. On one of the knockdowns Carnera grabbed Baer taking him to the canvas. Rising up Baer cracked “Last one up is a sissy.” In the 11th round, soundly outclassed, humiliated and knowing that he was in for a worse beating, Carnera asked the referee to stop the fight. Baer was now the Heavyweight Champion of the World, the toughest man on the planet. All wasn’t just fame, titles and beautiful women Tragically Baer was responsible for the ring related death of boxer Frankie Campbell. As tough as he was Baer sobbed uncontrollably when told that Campbell died as a result of the beating that he had taken at Baer’s hands. A broken and despondent Baer visited Campbell’s widow and told her he was sorry for Campbells death and was considering giving up boxing because of it. Responding to him Frankie’s widow said “It could have been you, Max.” With her encouragement Baer continued fighting and gave her either all or part of his next several purses. Tough man, soft heart.

Outside the ring Baer was a generous man often taking part of his purses and giving out silver dollars, without fanfare or publicity, to the homeless on skid row. He went on to act in movies, appear on television and lead a storied life until his untimely death at 50. His last words were “Oh God, here I go.”