BRADDOCK, JAMES J(OSEPH)

born Dec. 6, 1905, New York, N.Y., U.S. died Nov. 29, 1974, North Bergen, N.J. American world heavyweight boxing champion from June 13, 1935, when he outpointed Max Baer in 15 rounds at the Long Island City Bowl, New York City, until June 22, 1937, when he was knocked out by Joe Louis in eight rounds in Chicago. 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. 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 be about 10 to 1. From 1926 to 1935, he had 85 bouts, winning 51 (26 by knockouts). Because of his quick second rise from obscurity to fame, he became known as the Cinderella Man.