James Braddock vs. Joe Louis ~ June 22, 1937 ~ 'The Skinny'

[Bill Paxtom]

~ Pre-Fight Reporting ~

James Braddock

The Heavyweight Champion was taking this fight with intense seriousness. Despite being
idle for 2-years, Braddock {Age; 32} was in the finest physical condition he had ever been
in.

What his Trainer- Doc Robb did, was feed Braddock heavily, to get him up to 215 lbs. during
February and March. Then they brought Braddock up to Stone Lake, Wisconsin - before
opening up his 'regular' Training Camp.

Braddock then spent 3-Weeks chopping logs with an Axe for 2-Hour intervals, 3-times a day.

Also, Braddock was doing 5-Mile Runs each day.

At the end of 3-Weeks, no longer was Braddock a 'thin-legged' gangling-boxer at 185 lbs. Now
he was 195+ lbs. and finely chiseled.

Only 3-years earlier {June 1934}, Braddock {Age; 29} was a near-starving 180 lb. spindly-legged
former washed-up Light-Heavyweight.