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Original name: James Walter Braddock
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Born: June 7, 1905, New York, New York, U.S.
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Died: November 29, 1974, North Bergen, New Jersey (aged 69)
James J. Braddock (born June 7, 1905, New York, New York, U.S.—died November 29, 1974, North Bergen, New Jersey) was an American world heavyweight boxing champion from June 13, 1935, when he outpointed Max Baer in 15 rounds at the Long Island City Bowl in New York City, until June 22, 1937, when he was knocked out by Joe Louis in Chicago.
James J Braddock earned his nickname "Cinderella Man" from his seemingly fairytale like rise from a poor local fighter to the heavyweight boxing champion of the world.
Braddock’s professional name was changed by his manager to James J. early in his career, patterning the name after fighters James J. Corbett and James J. Jeffries. A professional fighter from 1926, Braddock lost to the light-heavyweight champion Tommy Loughran in a 15-round title bout in New York City in 1929; his career spiraled downward from that point. Living on relief and seemingly at the end of his pugilistic career, Braddock returned to the ring in 1934 and earned a chance at the heavyweight championship with several unexpected victories; the odds against him in the Baer match, for example, were said to have been about 10 to 1. Because of Braddock’s quick second rise from obscurity to fame, Damon Runyon nicknamed him the “Cinderella Man.”
Defending his title against Louis, Braddock was the underdog but held his own surprisingly well against the younger fighter until his eighth round knockout. Braddock’s contract with Louis, however, called for that fighter to pay 10 percent of any future title purses won should he defeat Braddock, which ensured Braddock financial security no matter who won the bout. Braddock won his final fight, against Tommy Farr, in 1938 and retired. His career total was 86 bouts with 51 wins (26 by knockouts), and he was inducted into Ring magazine’s Boxing Hall of Fame in 1964.
Braddock, born in New York City, had a powerful right hand and a successful amateur career. He turned pro in 1926. Braddock had victories over fighters like Jimmy Slattery and Pete Latzo. Braddock fought light heavyweight champ Tommy Loughran in 1929 for the title, but was defeated in a heartbreaking 15-round decision. Following the Loughran fight and the stock market crash of 1929, Jim Braddock was down on his luck. He had a hard time struggling to win fights and put food on the table for his young family.
Eventually Jim's luck began to change. In 1934 he had upset wins against Corn Griffin and John Henry Lewis. With these two wins, Braddock set himself up for a shot for the title against heavyweight champion Max Baer.
On June 13th, 1935, in Long Island City, N.Y., Braddock, as a 10 to 1 underdog, won the heavyweight championship of the world from Max Baer. The general reaction in most quarters was described as, "the greatest fistic upset since the defeat of John L. Sullivan by Jim Corbett".
Braddock would lose his heavyweight title two years later in an 8 round KO to "The Brown Bomber", Joe Louis. He retired after a final win over Tommy Farr in 1938. Jim was inducted into the Ring Boxing Hall of Fame in 1964, the Hudson County Hall of Fame in 1991 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2001.