James Braddock's title run

[Motor City Cobra]

According to Cinderella Man (a biographic film of James Braddock) the 3 boxers Braddock beat before fighting Baer for the title (Corn Griffin, John Henry Lewis and Art Lansky) he was a big underdog. Is this true and were these guys world rated challengers or nobodys? How can a guy win 4 fights in a row when a massive underdog?

[Howlin Mad Missy]

James J. Braddock - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The film: Cinderella Man
The 2005 biographical film Cinderella Man tells the story of James J. Braddock. Directed by Ron Howard, and starring Russell Crowe as Braddock with Renée Zellweger as his wife, Mae. The movie had an estimated budget of $88 million and grossed $108.5 million worldwide.[citation needed] Paul Giamatti, playing Braddock's manager Joe Gould, was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. The role of neighbor Sara Wilson was played by Rosemarie DeWitt, who is Braddock's real-life granddaughter (daughter of Braddock's daughter Rosemarie Braddock and husband Kenny DeWitt).
Although the film received many positive reviews (80% were positive according to Rottentomatoes.com), some critics argued that part of Braddock's journey was glamorized too much by director Ron Howard.[citation needed] One example is that throughout the film, Max Baer (Braddock's final opponent at the climax of the movie) is portrayed in a semi-hostile (and inaccurate) manner. The character of Baer in the movie is portrayed as an arrogant villain who shows no remorse after killing men in the ring. In reality, Baer was badly shaken by the one death he caused during an exhibition bout held just prior to his match with Braddock, later giving money to Frankie Campbell's wife, Elsie Camilli and her young son, Frankie Jr.[3] Baer's son, actor Max Baer Jr. of The Beverly Hillbillies fame, has stated that he remembered his father having nightmares over the bout.[4]


Baer vs. Braddock
In 1934, Braddock was given a fight with the highly touted John "Corn" Griffin. Although Braddock was intended simply as a stepping stone in Griffin's career, he knocked out the "Ozark Cyclone" in the third round. Braddock then fought John Henry Lewis, a future light heavyweight champion. He won in one of the most important fights of his career. After defeating another highly regarded heavyweight contender, Art Lasky, whose nose he broke during the bout on March 22, 1935, Braddock was given a title fight against the World Heavyweight Champion, Max Baer.
Considered little more than a journeyman fighter, Braddock was hand-picked by Baer's handlers because he was seen as an easy payday for the champion.[citation needed] Instead, on June 13, 1935, at Madison Square Garden Bowl, Braddock won the heavyweight championship of the world as the 10-to-1 underdog in one of the most stunning upsets in boxing history. Baer admitted afterwards that he had underestimated Braddock as "a chump."[citation needed]
During the fight, a dogged Braddock took a few heavy hits from the powerful younger champion (30 years vs 26 years for Baer), but Braddock kept coming, wearing down Baer, who seemed perplexed by Braddock's ability to take a punch. In the end, the judges gave Braddock the title with a unanimous decision.


Jim Braddock - Boxrec Boxing Encyclopaedia

NOTE THE FOLLOWING BIO CONTAINS MANY MISTAKES OF FACT AND OVERSIMPLIFICATIONS
I like that bit