1. Overview
Jacob Henry "Buddy" Baer (June 11, 1915 - July 18, 1986) was a prominent American boxer who later achieved recognition as an actor. He is notably remembered for his two impactful heavyweight championship bouts against Joe Louis in the early 1940s, with their first encounter being particularly controversial due to a disputed late hit. Though he never won a world title, Baer was consistently ranked among the top heavyweights of his era and was included in The Ring magazine's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time in 2003. He was the younger brother of former world heavyweight boxing champion and actor Max Baer. Beyond his boxing career, Buddy Baer transitioned into acting, appearing in seventeen films and numerous television series throughout the 1950s and 1960s, showcasing his diverse talents.
2. Early Life and Background
Buddy Baer was born in Denver, Colorado, on June 11, 1915, to Jacob, a butcher, and Dora Bales. While Denver is widely cited as his birthplace, some sources, including his brother Max, indicated Omaha, Nebraska, as his place of birth. In 1928, his family relocated to California, residing first in Livermore in 1926, then Hayward, before ultimately settling in Sacramento in the early 1930s, where he would later retire. Standing at 6 in, Baer shared a significant following with his brother, Max, among the Jewish community. This was attributed to their claims of Jewish ancestry on their father's side, often symbolized by their wearing of a Star of David on their boxing trunks. However, neither brother appeared to be outwardly religious, and their claims of Jewish heritage were questioned by their trainer, Ray Arcel. Ancil Hoffman managed Baer's boxing career for a significant period, also having managed Max's career.
3. Boxing Career
Buddy Baer's professional boxing career spanned from 1934 to 1942, during which he established himself as a formidable heavyweight. Known for his punching power and towering presence, he progressed through the ranks, facing a variety of opponents before ultimately challenging for the world heavyweight title.
3.1. Early Professional Career
Baer commenced his professional boxing career on September 23, 1934, in Eureka, California, making a impactful debut by knocking out Tiny Abbott in the first round at 1:54. Abbott, a towering boxer at 6 in, had previously faced Max Baer twice, and while more experienced, was nearing the end of his career. Following this strong start, Baer maintained a lengthy winning streak, achieving twelve knockouts in thirteen consecutive fights. His first defeat came on January 10, 1935, when he lost on points over four rounds to Babe Hunt at Boston's Rickard Recreation Center. Despite Hunt's struggles in the second round, he rebounded strongly in the third and fourth to secure a unanimous decision.
On January 4, 1935, Baer secured a technical knockout against Jack O'Dowd at 2:10 into the second round at Detroit's Olympia Stadium, in a bout attended by over 15,800 spectators. Baer, who outweighed O'Dowd by 29 pounds, dominated the fight; O'Dowd was floored five times in the first round, some instances occurring without being hit. Despite having previously faced Joe Louis, O'Dowd appeared to lack the resolve to confront Baer effectively.
Frank Connolly, a former Golden Gloves champion, was defeated by Baer via a convincing first-round knockout on March 20, 1935, at the Oakland Auditorium before an audience of 9,500. The decisive blow was a powerful right hook. Baer, weighing 244 pounds, was only one pound lighter than Connolly.
On July 18, 1935, Baer knocked out Al Delaney in the fourth round at Buffalo's Offerman Stadium. Baer knocked Delaney down five times, with the referee counting him out 34 seconds into the fourth round after a right punch behind the ear. Despite being knocked to his knees by a strong left in the opening round, Baer recovered and controlled the remainder of the fight.
One of his most financially rewarding early career bouts occurred on September 4, 1935, at Yankee Stadium in New York City, on the undercard of his brother Max Baer's championship match against Joe Louis. In a six-round wind-up match, Buddy Baer lost to Ford Smith before an immense crowd of 90,000 fans. Baer attempted to overwhelm Smith with powerful punches in the early rounds, but Smith skillfully moved, blocked, and withstood the assault. In later rounds, Baer's effectiveness waned, and his looping blows were countered by Smith's sharp, short body punches. Baer appeared fatigued in the final round, and despite his advantages in reach and weight, his final rally lacked speed and precision. The more experienced Smith won four of the six rounds. For this historic match, Baer's purse was 42.00 K USD, while Louis, who won the main event, received 200.00 K USD.
Baer experienced another rare loss on April 22, 1936, dropping a six-round decision to French boxer Andre Lenglet at Oakland's Municipal Auditorium. Baer showed strength in the first round and mounted a brief rally in the fifth, but Lenglet's defensive skills thwarted him. Lenglet consistently scored with short left jabs to the face, followed by midriff punches, and his unpredictable changes of pace disrupted Baer's ability to effectively land his powerful right hand.
On May 24, 1937, in Swansea, Wales, Baer outpointed Jack London, who would later hold the Commonwealth Boxing Council's Heavyweight title. Baer won a ten-round decision, despite having only a 20-pound weight advantage over London, he held a significant height advantage of nearly eight inches. Two weeks prior, on May 6, 1937, Baer had defeated Jim Wilde at Harringay Arena in a fourth-round technical knockout, demonstrating dominance and punching power. He knocked Wilde down three times in the first round and again for an eight-count in the third. The referee ended the match after Wilde was knocked to the canvas for a five-count at the start of the fourth, in accordance with British rules that mandated ending a bout after five knockdowns.
Baer secured a significant technical knockout victory against the veteran Jewish heavyweight Abe Simon on August 30, 1937, before 25,000 spectators at Yankee Stadium, with the fight ending at 2:38 in the third round. Simon inflicted severe punishment on Baer in the first round, forcing him against the ropes with a two-fisted attack. However, Baer rallied in the second round with sharp left jabs and a stinging right cross. In the third, Baer knocked Simon down and then had him staggering, leading the referee to stop the fight. Both fighters possessed exceptional weight and reach, and although Baer had a two-inch height advantage, Simon, a formidable opponent himself, actually outweighed Baer by seven pounds.
On March 4, 1938, Baer suffered a painful loss to the skilled Finnish boxer Gunnar Bärlund via a seventh-round technical knockout at Madison Square Garden before 8,565 fans. Despite a 40-pound weight advantage and a 5.5 in height advantage over Barlund, Baer exhibited a lack of stamina as the fight progressed. Baer performed well in the first round, cutting Barlund's forehead and nose with stinging left jabs and occasional rights, while Barlund was penalized for low blows. In the second round, Barlund found his range and took control of the second, third, and fourth rounds. Baer gained a slight edge in the fifth, but both fighters showed fatigue. Barlund dominated the sixth round, landing at least ten consecutive rights and lefts without return. In the seventh, Barlund drove Baer into the ropes with a heavy barrage. As Baer retreated, Barlund pursued him across the ring, continuing his assault. Baer appeared to give up, dropping his hands to his sides during the attack, and after a clinch, signaled the referee to end the fight. The referee, observing Baer's apparent injury, asked if he wished to continue before stopping the fight at 1:36 into the seventh round. Baer later attributed his performance to a layoff, which he believed affected his timing and ability to connect punches, particularly his right. Barlund successfully evaded Baer's powerful overhand right by consistently circling away.
On October 30, 1939, Baer defeated Lee Savold in an important eight-round newspaper decision before 3,500 spectators in Des Moines, Iowa. After a brief exchange, Baer knocked Savold down for an eight-count in the first round with a right uppercut. Although Savold fought hard in the subsequent rounds, he struggled to land significant blows after his difficult first round. Most reporters scored the hotly contested match with five rounds for Baer and two for Savold.
He secured a seventh-round technical knockout victory against Nathan Mann on May 3, 1940, before 5,000 fans at Madison Square Garden. Baer dominated the first four rounds, but Mann responded with cutting hooks to the head and body in the next four. A brutal right hook at the beginning of the seventh round severely cut Mann's eye, leading his corner to stop the fight.
On December 17, 1940, Baer defeated the accomplished boxer Harold Blackshear, who had a winning record and a 50% knockout rate, via a third-round technical knockout before 4,000 fans at the Oakland Auditorium. Baer held significant physical advantages, including approximately five inches in reach, 5.5 in in height, and 49 pounds in weight, in addition to his superior punching ability. He toyed with Blackshear for the initial two and a half rounds before launching a brutal assault in the third that ended the charity bout. Many ringside observers considered the match a mismatch, as Blackshear had lost his last two fights, including a strong knockout. Baer received 2.50 K USD for the contest.
Baer faced a loss to Eddie Blunt on January 15, 1941, at the Auditorium in Oakland, decided by a ten-round points decision. Despite Baer being a 3-1 favorite, Blunt won eight of the ten rounds. Despite a 24-pound weight disadvantage, Blunt successfully kept Baer off balance with long lefts and stiff uppercuts throughout the match. By the fifth round, Blunt had cut Baer's eyes, and Baer continued to lose ground. The fifth through seventh rounds were fiercely contested, with both boxers exchanging blows toe-to-toe. Although Baer attempted a rally in the tenth round, winning that round, it was too late to overcome the points deficit. One reporter described it as "one of the most beautiful shellackings of his erratic career." Baer required stitches above both eyes, necessitating a break before his next fight.
In preparation for a heavyweight title match, Baer defeated the colorful contender Tony Galento via a seventh-round technical knockout on April 8, 1941, in Washington, D.C., before 8,500 fans. Galento was forced to discontinue the bout due to a broken hand. Galento won the first round, backing Baer into the ropes with hard rights, but the second round was even, and Baer took the remaining rounds. Baer utilized his superior reach to prevent Galento from closing in. In the fourth round, he staggered Galento with a hard right to the mouth. Another solid blow in the sixth caused Galento to lose his mouthpiece. Despite hard punches exchanged, there were no knockdowns in the match, making it a solid victory for Baer. Baer successfully landed solid lefts to Galento's head and both lefts and rights to his body.
3.2. World Heavyweight Championship Fights
The pinnacle of Buddy Baer's boxing career involved his two attempts to claim the heavyweight boxing championship from Joe Louis.
Their first encounter took place on May 23, 1941, at Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C.. In the first round, Baer connected with a powerful left hook, knocking the reigning champion, Joe Louis, out of the ring. Louis, though hurt, climbed back into the ring before the count of ten; however, many ringside observers believed Louis benefited from a "long count." Louis eventually won the fight by disqualification after he had knocked Baer down three times in the sixth round. Baer's corner asserted that his third knockdown occurred shortly after the bell had rung, signaling the end of the sixth round. In the seventh round, when Baer's handlers refused to leave the ring in protest of what they believed was a late hit in the sixth, the referee, Arthur Donovan, disqualified Baer, resulting in a technical knockout for not resuming the match. This was a controversial decision; while the referee maintained that the last hit occurred before or at the final bell, most ringside officials, including the official timekeeper, knockdown timekeeper, and both judges, believed the final blow landed after the bell, which should have disqualified Louis. The final decision by the boxing commissioner sided with the referee, allowing Louis to retain his title. Regardless of the official ruling, many at ringside still believed Louis would have ultimately won the fight, as he had repeatedly punished Baer in the sixth round and had fully recovered from his initial knockdown in the first. Nevertheless, Baer came closer to defeating Louis and claiming the title than any other opponent Louis would face, until Louis's loss to Ezzard Charles in 1950.
In their highly anticipated rematch at Madison Square Garden on January 9, 1942, before an estimated crowd of 19,000, Louis delivered a decisive first-round knockout. Louis had already floored Baer twice before the final blow. Baer's second knockdown, following a barrage of punches and a thunderous left hook, resulted in a count of nine. After struggling back to his feet, Baer was battered around the ring and finally floored for the last time by a straight right to the head, which put him down for a count of seven. Unable to rise, the count was completed, ending the fight. Baer famously remarked after the fight, "The only way I could have beaten Louis that night was with a baseball bat." A year later, he provided another explanation, stating, "I had to quit. I injured my neck in an auto crash before the fight."
4. Professional Boxing Record
The following tables present Buddy Baer's professional boxing records, officially recognized and unofficial (including newspaper decisions).
4.1. Official record
The official record is based on wins, losses, and draws. Newspaper decisions are officially regarded as "no decision" bouts and are not counted in the win/loss/draw column.
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Age | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 66 | |||||||||
| 57-7 (2) | Joe Louis | KO | 1 (15), 2:56 | Jan 9, 1942 | 26 years, 212 days | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | For NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring heavyweight titles | ||
| 65 | |||||||||
| 57-6 (2) | Joe Louis | DQ | 7 (15), 3:00 | May 23, 1941 | 25 years, 346 days | Griffith Stadium, Washington, D.C., U.S. | For NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring heavyweight titles; Baer disqualified after his manager refused to leave the ring | ||
| 64 | |||||||||
| 57-5 (2) | Tony Galento | TKO | 7 (10) | Apr 8, 1941 | 25 years, 301 days | Uline Arena, Washington, D.C., U.S. | |||
| 63 | |||||||||
| 56-5 (2) | Eddie Blunt | PTS | 10 | Jan 15, 1941 | 25 years, 218 days | Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S. | |||
| 62 | |||||||||
| 56-4 (2) | Harold Blackshear | TKO | 3 (10), 2:45 | Dec 17, 1940 | 25 years, 189 days | Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S. | |||
| 61 | |||||||||
| 55-4 (2) | Valentin Campolo | KO | 1 (12), 1:53 | Jun 6, 1940 | 24 years, 361 days | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |||
| 60 | |||||||||
| 54-4 (2) | Nathan Mann | TKO | 7 (12), 1:36 | May 3, 1940 | 24 years, 327 days | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |||
| 59 | Win | 53-4 (2) | Lee Savold | NWS | 8 | Oct 30, 1938 | 23 years, 141 days | Coliseum, Des Moines, Iowa, U.S. | |
| 58 | |||||||||
| 53-4 (1) | Charley Neaves | KO | 2 (10) | Oct 13, 1938 | 23 years, 124 days | Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. | |||
| 57 | |||||||||
| 52-4 (1) | Maxie Doyle | TKO | 3 (10) | Oct 12, 1938 | 23 years, 123 days | Little Rock, Wyoming, U.S. | |||
| 56 | |||||||||
| 51-4 (1) | Sandy McDonald | KO | 2 (10) | Oct 5, 1938 | 23 years, 116 days | Hubber Park, Lubbock, Texas, U.S. | |||
| 55 | |||||||||
| 50-4 (1) | Big Boy Brackey | TKO | 2 (10), 1:10 | Apr 4, 1938 | 22 years, 297 days | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S. | |||
| 54 | |||||||||
| 49-4 (1) | Chuck Crowell | KO | 1 (10), 0:54 | Mar 10, 1938 | 22 years, 272 days | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |||
| 53 | |||||||||
| 48-4 (1) | Gunnar Bärlund | TKO | 7 (10) | Mar 4, 1938 | 22 years, 266 days | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |||
| 52 | |||||||||
| 48-3 (1) | Eddie Hogan | TKO | 3 (10), 2:21 | Dec 17, 1937 | 22 years, 189 days | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |||
| 51 | |||||||||
| 47-3 (1) | Abe Simon | TKO | 3 (6), 2:38 | Aug 30, 1937 | 22 years, 80 days | Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York, U.S. | |||
| 50 | |||||||||
| 46-3 (1) | Jack London | PTS | 10 | May 24, 1937 | 21 years, 347 days | Vetch Field, Swansea, Wales | |||
| 49 | |||||||||
| 45-3 (1) | Jim Wilde | TKO | 4 (10) | May 6, 1937 | 21 years, 329 days | Harringay Arena, Harringay, London, England | |||
| 48 | |||||||||
| 44-3 (1) | Patrick Michael Barry | KO | 1 (10), 2:46 | Dec 9, 1936 | 21 years, 181 days | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |||
| 47 | |||||||||
| 43-3 (1) | Salvatore Ruggirello | KO | 2 (10) | Oct 19, 1936 | 21 years, 130 days | Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Ontario, Canada | |||
| 46 | |||||||||
| 42-3 (1) | Art Oliver | KO | 4 (6) | Oct 8, 1936 | 21 years, 119 days | Platteville, Wisconsin, U.S. | |||
| 45 | |||||||||
| 41-3 (1) | Babe Davis | KO | 6 (6) | Oct 6, 1936 | 21 years, 117 days | Coliseum, Evansville, Indiana, U.S. | |||
| 44 | |||||||||
| 40-3 (1) | Verne Trickle | KO | 5 (6) | Sep 21, 1936 | 21 years, 102 days | Sheldon, Iowa, U.S. | |||
| 43 | Win | 39-3 (1) | Pret Ferrar | NWS | 6 | Sep 14, 1936 | 21 years, 95 days | Coliseum, Des Moines, Iowa, U.S. | |
| 42 | |||||||||
| 39-3 | Fred Schultz | KO | 1 (4), 1:28 | Sep 7, 1936 | 21 years, 88 days | Rock Springs, Wyoming, U.S. | |||
| 41 | |||||||||
| 38-3 | Babe Hunt | KO | 1 (6) | Sep 4, 1936 | 21 years, 85 days | Rock Springs, Wyoming, U.S. | |||
| 40 | |||||||||
| 37-3 | Jack Conroy | KO | 1 (10) | Sep 2, 1936 | 21 years, 83 days | Lincoln Field, Twin Falls, Idaho, U.S. | |||
| 39 | |||||||||
| 36-3 | James J. Russell | KO | 1 (6) | Aug 31, 1936 | 21 years, 81 days | Memorial Ball Park, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, U.S. | |||
| 38 | |||||||||
| 35-3 | Don Baxter | PTS | 6 | Aug 29, 1936 | 21 years, 79 days | Recreation Park, Lewiston, Idaho, U.S. | |||
| 37 | |||||||||
| 34-3 | Bill Devere | KO | 2 (6), 0:07 | Aug 25, 1936 | 21 years, 75 days | Multnomah Stadium, Portland, Oregon, U.S. | |||
| 36 | |||||||||
| 33-3 | Mickey Simpson | KO | 2 (6) | Aug 24, 1936 | 21 years, 74 days | Armory, Marshfield, Oregon, U.S. | |||
| 35 | |||||||||
| 32-3 | Ray Jarecki | KO | 1 (6), 0:34 | Jul 24, 1936 | 21 years, 43 days | Ogden Stadium, Ogden, Utah, U.S. | |||
| 34 | |||||||||
| 31-3 | Rags Wood | KO | 1 (4) | Jul 17, 1936 | 21 years, 36 days | Convention Hall, Ada, Oklahoma, U.S. | |||
| 33 | |||||||||
| 30-3 | James Merriott | KO | 1 (?) | Jul 16, 1936 | 21 years, 35 days | Coliseum, Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S. | |||
| 32 | |||||||||
| 29-3 | Charles Montgomery | KO | 1 (4) | Jul 13, 1936 | 21 years, 32 days | Avey's Open-Air Arena, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. | |||
| 31 | |||||||||
| 28-3 | Andre Lenglet | PTS | 6 | Apr 22, 1936 | 20 years, 316 days | Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S. | |||
| 30 | |||||||||
| 28-2 | Jack Petric | KO | 1 (4) | Mar 25, 1936 | 20 years, 288 days | Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S. | |||
| 29 | |||||||||
| 27-2 | Harold Murphy | PTS | 4 | Mar 2, 1936 | 20 years, 265 days | Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. | |||
| 28 | |||||||||
| 26-2 | Wally Hunt | KO | 1 (4), 1:36 | Feb 19, 1936 | 20 years, 253 days | Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S. | |||
| 27 | |||||||||
| 25-2 | Ford Smith | PTS | 6 | Sep 24, 1935 | 20 years, 105 days | Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York, U.S. | |||
| 26 | |||||||||
| 25-1 | Jack Doyle | KO | 1 (6), 2:38 | Aug 29, 1935 | 20 years, 79 days | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |||
| 25 | |||||||||
| 24-1 | Artie Suess | TKO | 4 (6) | Jul 26, 1935 | 20 years, 45 days | Boardwalk Arena, Long Branch, New Jersey, U.S. | |||
| 24 | |||||||||
| 23-1 | Al Delaney | KO | 4 (4), 0:34 | Jul 18, 1935 | 20 years, 37 days | Offermann Stadium, Buffalo, New York, U.S. | |||
| 23 | |||||||||
| 22-1 | Frank Wotanski | KO | 1 (4), 0:54 | Jun 25, 1935 | 20 years, 14 days | Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York, U.S. | |||
| 22 | |||||||||
| 21-1 | Big Boy Brackey | KO | 1 (4), 1:42 | May 23, 1935 | 19 years, 346 days | Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, U.S. | |||
| 21 | |||||||||
| 20-1 | Ed Anderson | PTS | 4 | Apr 18, 1935 | 19 years, 311 days | National Guard Armory, Kalamazoo, Michigan, U.S. | |||
| 20 | |||||||||
| 19-1 | Tommy Davenport | KO | 1 (6) | Apr 17, 1935 | 19 years, 310 days | I.M.A. Auditorium, Flint, Michigan, U.S. | |||
| 19 | |||||||||
| 18-1 | Corn Griffin | KO | 2 (4) | Apr 12, 1935 | 19 years, 305 days | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |||
| 18 | |||||||||
| 17-1 | Harry Nelson | TKO | 3 (10) | Apr 10, 1935 | 19 years, 303 days | Civic Auditorium, Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S. | |||
| 17 | |||||||||
| 16-1 | Frank Connolly | KO | 1 (6) | Mar 20, 1935 | 19 years, 282 days | Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S. | |||
| 16 | |||||||||
| 15-1 | Tommy Davenport | KO | 1 (10) | Jan 28, 1935 | 19 years, 231 days | Municipal Stadium, Miami, Florida, U.S. | |||
| 15 | |||||||||
| 14-1 | Monty Hogan | KO | 1 (4), 0:31 | Jan 21, 1935 | 19 years, 224 days | Rikard Recreation Center, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. | |||
| 14 | |||||||||
| 13-1 | Babe Hunt | PTS | 4 | Jan 10, 1935 | 19 years, 213 days | Rikard Recreation Center, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. | |||
| 13 | |||||||||
| 13-0 | Jack O'Dowd | TKO | 1 (6), 2:10 | Jan 4, 1935 | 19 years, 207 days | Olympia Stadium, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | |||
| 12 | |||||||||
| 12-0 | Gene Stanton | TKO | 1 (6) | Dec 28, 1934 | 19 years, 200 days | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |||
| 11 | |||||||||
| 11-0 | Henry Surrette | KO | 1 (4), 2:47 | Dec 21, 1934 | 19 years, 193 days | Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. | |||
| 10 | |||||||||
| 10-0 | Bumbo Myers | KO | 2 (4), 2:00 | Dec 19, 1934 | 19 years, 191 days | Wheeling, West Virginia, U.S. | |||
| 9 | |||||||||
| 9-0 | Bob Cook | KO | 1 (6) | Dec 14, 1934 | 19 years, 186 days | Convention Hall, Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. | |||
| 8 | |||||||||
| 8-0 | Mickey McGoorty | TKO | 1 (6), 1:22 | Dec 10, 1934 | 19 years, 182 days | Public Hall, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. | |||
| 7 | |||||||||
| 7-0 | Red Fields | TKO | 1 (6), 0:50 | Dec 6, 1934 | 19 years, 178 days | Coliseum, Des Moines, Iowa, U.S. | |||
| 6 | |||||||||
| 6-0 | Johnny Baker | KO | 2 (6), 0:35 | Dec 4, 1934 | 19 years, 176 days | Waterloo Theatre, Waterloo, Iowa, U.S. | |||
| 5 | |||||||||
| 5-0 | Frank Ketter | KO | 1 (4), 0:25 | Nov 23, 1934 | 19 years, 165 days | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |||
| 4 | |||||||||
| 4-0 | Gene Garner | KO | 1 (6), 1:31 | Nov 13, 1934 | 19 years, 155 days | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S. | |||
| 3 | |||||||||
| 3-0 | Jack Petric | KO | 5 (6) | Oct 24, 1934 | 19 years, 135 days | Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S. | |||
| 2 | |||||||||
| 2-0 | Max Brown | KO | 1 (4), 1:30 | Oct 10, 1934 | 19 years, 121 days | Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S. | |||
| 1 | |||||||||
| 1-0 | Tiny Abbott | KO | 1 (8), 1:54 | Sep 23, 1934 | 19 years, 104 days | Eureka, California, U.S. |
4.2. Unofficial record
This record includes newspaper decisions in the win/loss/draw column, providing a broader view of his career results.
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Age | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 66 | |||||||||
| 59-7 | Joe Louis | KO | 1 (15), 2:56 | Jan 9, 1942 | 26 years, 212 days | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | For NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring heavyweight titles | ||
| 65 | |||||||||
| 59-6 | Joe Louis | DQ | 7 (15), 3:00 | May 23, 1941 | 25 years, 346 days | Griffith Stadium, Washington, D.C., U.S. | For NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring heavyweight titles; Baer disqualified after his manager refused to leave the ring | ||
| 64 | |||||||||
| 59-5 | Tony Galento | TKO | 7 (10) | Apr 8, 1941 | 25 years, 301 days | Uline Arena, Washington, D.C., U.S. | |||
| 63 | |||||||||
| 58-5 | Eddie Blunt | PTS | 10 | Jan 15, 1941 | 25 years, 218 days | Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S. | |||
| 62 | |||||||||
| 58-4 | Harold Blackshear | TKO | 3 (10), 2:45 | Dec 17, 1940 | 25 years, 189 days | Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S. | |||
| 61 | |||||||||
| 57-4 | Valentin Campolo | KO | 1 (12), 1:53 | Jun 6, 1940 | 24 years, 361 days | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |||
| 60 | |||||||||
| 56-4 | Nathan Mann | TKO | 7 (12), 1:36 | May 3, 1940 | 24 years, 327 days | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |||
| 59 | |||||||||
| 55-4 | Lee Savold | NWS | 8 | Oct 30, 1938 | 23 years, 141 days | Coliseum, Des Moines, Iowa, U.S. | |||
| 58 | |||||||||
| 54-4 | Charley Neaves | KO | 2 (10) | Oct 13, 1938 | 23 years, 124 days | Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. | |||
| 57 | |||||||||
| 53-4 | Maxie Doyle | TKO | 3 (10) | Oct 12, 1938 | 23 years, 123 days | Little Rock, Wyoming, U.S. | |||
| 56 | |||||||||
| 52-4 | Sandy McDonald | KO | 2 (10) | Oct 5, 1938 | 23 years, 116 days | Hubber Park, Lubbock, Texas, U.S. | |||
| 55 | |||||||||
| 51-4 | Big Boy Brackey | TKO | 2 (10), 1:10 | Apr 4, 1938 | 22 years, 297 days | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S. | |||
| 54 | |||||||||
| 50-4 | Chuck Crowell | KO | 1 (10), 0:54 | Mar 10, 1938 | 22 years, 272 days | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |||
| 53 | |||||||||
| 49-4 | Gunnar Bärlund | TKO | 7 (10) | Mar 4, 1938 | 22 years, 266 days | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |||
| 52 | |||||||||
| 49-3 | Eddie Hogan | TKO | 3 (10), 2:21 | Dec 17, 1937 | 22 years, 189 days | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |||
| 51 | |||||||||
| 48-3 | Abe Simon | TKO | 3 (6), 2:38 | Aug 30, 1937 | 22 years, 80 days | Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York, U.S. | |||
| 50 | |||||||||
| 47-3 | Jack London | PTS | 10 | May 24, 1937 | 21 years, 347 days | Vetch Field, Swansea, Wales | |||
| 49 | |||||||||
| 46-3 | Jim Wilde | TKO | 4 (10) | May 6, 1937 | 21 years, 329 days | Harringay Arena, Harringay, London, England | |||
| 48 | |||||||||
| 45-3 | Patrick Michael Barry | KO | 1 (10), 2:46 | Dec 9, 1936 | 21 years, 181 days | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |||
| 47 | |||||||||
| 44-3 | Salvatore Ruggirello | KO | 2 (10) | Oct 19, 1936 | 21 years, 130 days | Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Ontario, Canada | |||
| 46 | |||||||||
| 43-3 | Art Oliver | KO | 4 (6) | Oct 8, 1936 | 21 years, 119 days | Platteville, Wisconsin, U.S. | |||
| 45 | |||||||||
| 42-3 | Babe Davis | KO | 6 (6) | Oct 6, 1936 | 21 years, 117 days | Coliseum, Evansville, Indiana, U.S. | |||
| 44 | |||||||||
| 41-3 | Verne Trickle | KO | 5 (6) | Sep 21, 1936 | 21 years, 102 days | Sheldon, Iowa, U.S. | |||
| 43 | |||||||||
| 40-3 | Pret Ferrar | NWS | 6 | Sep 14, 1936 | 21 years, 95 days | Coliseum, Des Moines, Iowa, U.S. | |||
| 42 | |||||||||
| 39-3 | Fred Schultz | KO | 1 (4), 1:28 | Sep 7, 1936 | 21 years, 88 days | Rock Springs, Wyoming, U.S. | |||
| 41 | |||||||||
| 38-3 | Babe Hunt | KO | 1 (6) | Sep 4, 1936 | 21 years, 85 days | Rock Springs, Wyoming, U.S. | |||
| 40 | |||||||||
| 37-3 | Jack Conroy | KO | 1 (10) | Sep 2, 1936 | 21 years, 83 days | Lincoln Field, Twin Falls, Idaho, U.S. | |||
| 39 | |||||||||
| 36-3 | James J. Russell | KO | 1 (6) | Aug 31, 1936 | 21 years, 81 days | Memorial Ball Park, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, U.S. | |||
| 38 | |||||||||
| 35-3 | Don Baxter | PTS | 6 | Aug 29, 1936 | 21 years, 79 days | Recreation Park, Lewiston, Idaho, U.S. | |||
| 37 | |||||||||
| 34-3 | Bill Devere | KO | 2 (6), 0:07 | Aug 25, 1936 | 21 years, 75 days | Multnomah Stadium, Portland, Oregon, U.S. | |||
| 36 | |||||||||
| 33-3 | Mickey Simpson | KO | 2 (6) | Aug 24, 1936 | 21 years, 74 days | Armory, Marshfield, Oregon, U.S. | |||
| 35 | |||||||||
| 32-3 | Ray Jarecki | KO | 1 (6), 0:34 | Jul 24, 1936 | 21 years, 43 days | Ogden Stadium, Ogden, Utah, U.S. | |||
| 34 | |||||||||
| 31-3 | Rags Wood | KO | 1 (4) | Jul 17, 1936 | 21 years, 36 days | Convention Hall, Ada, Oklahoma, U.S. | |||
| 33 | |||||||||
| 30-3 | James Merriott | KO | 1 (?) | Jul 16, 1936 | 21 years, 35 days | Coliseum, Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S. | |||
| 32 | |||||||||
| 29-3 | Charles Montgomery | KO | 1 (4) | Jul 13, 1936 | 21 years, 32 days | Avey's Open-Air Arena, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. | |||
| 31 | |||||||||
| 28-3 | Andre Lenglet | PTS | 6 | Apr 22, 1936 | 20 years, 316 days | Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S. | |||
| 30 | |||||||||
| 28-2 | Jack Petric | KO | 1 (4) | Mar 25, 1936 | 20 years, 288 days | Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S. | |||
| 29 | |||||||||
| 27-2 | Harold Murphy | PTS | 4 | Mar 2, 1936 | 20 years, 265 days | Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. | |||
| 28 | |||||||||
| 26-2 | Wally Hunt | KO | 1 (4), 1:36 | Feb 19, 1936 | 20 years, 253 days | Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S. | |||
| 27 | |||||||||
| 25-2 | Ford Smith | PTS | 6 | Sep 24, 1935 | 20 years, 105 days | Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York, U.S. | |||
| 26 | |||||||||
| 25-1 | Jack Doyle | KO | 1 (6), 2:38 | Aug 29, 1935 | 20 years, 79 days | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |||
| 25 | |||||||||
| 24-1 | Artie Suess | TKO | 4 (6) | Jul 26, 1935 | 20 years, 45 days | Boardwalk Arena, Long Branch, New Jersey, U.S. | |||
| 24 | |||||||||
| 23-1 | Al Delaney | KO | 4 (4), 0:34 | Jul 18, 1935 | 20 years, 37 days | Offermann Stadium, Buffalo, New York, U.S. | |||
| 23 | |||||||||
| 22-1 | Frank Wotanski | KO | 1 (4), 0:54 | Jun 25, 1935 | 20 years, 14 days | Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York, U.S. | |||
| 22 | |||||||||
| 21-1 | Big Boy Brackey | KO | 1 (4), 1:42 | May 23, 1935 | 19 years, 346 days | Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, U.S. | |||
| 21 | |||||||||
| 20-1 | Ed Anderson | PTS | 4 | Apr 18, 1935 | 19 years, 311 days | National Guard Armory, Kalamazoo, Michigan, U.S. | |||
| 20 | |||||||||
| 19-1 | Tommy Davenport | KO | 1 (6) | Apr 17, 1935 | 19 years, 310 days | I.M.A. Auditorium, Flint, Michigan, U.S. | |||
| 19 | |||||||||
| 18-1 | Corn Griffin | KO | 2 (4) | Apr 12, 1935 | 19 years, 305 days | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |||
| 18 | |||||||||
| 17-1 | Harry Nelson | TKO | 3 (10) | Apr 10, 1935 | 19 years, 303 days | Civic Auditorium, Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S. | |||
| 17 | |||||||||
| 16-1 | Frank Connolly | KO | 1 (6) | Mar 20, 1935 | 19 years, 282 days | Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S. | |||
| 16 | |||||||||
| 15-1 | Tommy Davenport | KO | 1 (10) | Jan 28, 1935 | 19 years, 231 days | Municipal Stadium, Miami, Florida, U.S. | |||
| 15 | |||||||||
| 14-1 | Monty Hogan | KO | 1 (4), 0:31 | Jan 21, 1935 | 19 years, 224 days | Rikard Recreation Center, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. | |||
| 14 | |||||||||
| 13-1 | Babe Hunt | PTS | 4 | Jan 10, 1935 | 19 years, 213 days | Rikard Recreation Center, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. | |||
| 13 | |||||||||
| 13-0 | Jack O'Dowd | TKO | 1 (6), 2:10 | Jan 4, 1935 | 19 years, 207 days | Olympia Stadium, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | |||
| 12 | |||||||||
| 12-0 | Gene Stanton | TKO | 1 (6) | Dec 28, 1934 | 19 years, 200 days | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |||
| 11 | |||||||||
| 11-0 | Henry Surrette | KO | 1 (4), 2:47 | Dec 21, 1934 | 19 years, 193 days | Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. | |||
| 10 | |||||||||
| 10-0 | Bumbo Myers | KO | 2 (4), 2:00 | Dec 19, 1934 | 19 years, 191 days | Wheeling, West Virginia, U.S. | |||
| 9 | |||||||||
| 9-0 | Bob Cook | KO | 1 (6) | Dec 14, 1934 | 19 years, 186 days | Convention Hall, Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. | |||
| 8 | |||||||||
| 8-0 | Mickey McGoorty | TKO | 1 (6), 1:22 | Dec 10, 1934 | 19 years, 182 days | Public Hall, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. | |||
| 7 | |||||||||
| 7-0 | Red Fields | TKO | 1 (6), 0:50 | Dec 6, 1934 | 19 years, 178 days | Coliseum, Des Moines, Iowa, U.S. | |||
| 6 | |||||||||
| 6-0 | Johnny Baker | KO | 2 (6), 0:35 | Dec 4, 1934 | 19 years, 176 days | Waterloo Theatre, Waterloo, Iowa, U.S. | |||
| 5 | |||||||||
| 5-0 | Frank Ketter | KO | 1 (4), 0:25 | Nov 23, 1934 | 19 years, 165 days | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |||
| 4 | |||||||||
| 4-0 | Gene Garner | KO | 1 (6), 1:31 | Nov 13, 1934 | 19 years, 155 days | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S. | |||
| 3 | |||||||||
| 3-0 | Jack Petric | KO | 5 (6) | Oct 24, 1934 | 19 years, 135 days | Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S. | |||
| 2 | |||||||||
| 2-0 | Max Brown | KO | 1 (4), 1:30 | Oct 10, 1934 | 19 years, 121 days | Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S. | |||
| 1 | |||||||||
| 1-0 | Tiny Abbott | KO | 1 (8), 1:54 | Sep 23, 1934 | 19 years, 104 days | Eureka, California, U.S. |
5. Post-Boxing Career and Later Life
After his second bout with Joe Louis, Buddy Baer retired from professional boxing and embarked on a diverse set of careers, including military service, business ventures, and a notable presence in the entertainment industry.
5.1. Military Service
Following his boxing retirement, Baer enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces in 1942, serving at McClellan Air Force Base. His service occurred during the early years of America's involvement in World War II. He was honorably discharged from the Army in September 1945, after the war concluded.
5.2. Business Ventures and Public Service
Upon his return to Sacramento after military service, Baer ventured into business. His most successful endeavor was "Buddy Baer's Bar of Music," located at 1411 11th Street, which he opened in partnership with Fred Cullincini. He also explored other less successful business ventures, including a health food store, a clothing shop, heavy equipment sales, and real estate. After the passing of his brother Max in 1959 due to a heart ailment, Buddy Baer took on a significant public service role as the national chairman for the Fraternal Order of Eagles Max Baer Heart Fund. In the 1970s, he served as a marshal, or sergeant-at-arms, for the California State Legislature.
5.3. Entertainment and Performance Activities
Beyond his boxing and business pursuits, Buddy Baer cultivated a career in entertainment. He performed as a nightclub singer, utilizing his bass-baritone voice at venues such as Leon and Eddie's in New York City and the Charles Club in Baltimore. In 1952, he notably performed with Pearl Bailey at the Paramount Theatre in New York. His powerful physique and distinctive voice also led him to a career in film and television, where he made numerous appearances throughout the 1950s and 1960s.
6. Filmography
Buddy Baer appeared in a variety of films, often cast in roles that utilized his imposing stature.
- Take It from Me (1937) as Kid Brody
- Africa Screams (1949) as Boots Wilson
- Quo Vadis (1951) as Ursus, Lygia's bodyguard
- Two Tickets to Broadway (1951) as Sailor on Bus
- Flame of Araby (1951) as Hakim Barbarossa
- Jack and the Beanstalk (1952) as Sgt. Riley / The Giant
- The Big Sky (1952) as Romaine
- Fair Wind to Java (1953) as King
- Dream Wife (1953) as Vizier
- The Marshal's Daughter (1953) as Buddy Baer - Poker Game Player
- Jubilee Trail (1954) as Nicolai Gregorovitch Karakozeff 'Handsome Brute'
- Slightly Scarlet (1956) as Lenhardt
- Hell Canyon Outlaws (1957) as Henchman Stan
- Giant from the Unknown (1958) as Vargas the Giant
- Once Upon a Horse... (1958) as Beulah's Brother
- Snow White and the Three Stooges (1961) as Hordred
- The Magic Fountain (1961) as Big Benjamin (voice)
- The Bashful Elephant (1962) as Tavern Owner
- Ride Beyond Vengeance (1966) as Mr. Kratz (final film role)
7. Television Appearances
Buddy Baer's television career included guest roles and notable appearances across various popular series of the 1950s and 1960s.
In 1957, Baer appeared in an episode of the television series Gunsmoke, titled "Never Pester Chester." In 1958, he featured in an episode of the syndicated Adventures of Superman TV series, portraying Atlas, a circus strongman. In this role, Atlas is deceived by fellow circus performers who convince him that Superman is a criminal, thereby manipulating him into stealing. Also in 1958, Baer appeared in Season 1 Episode 33 of Wagon Train, "The Daniel Hogan Story," where he played a boxer nicknamed "The Tinsmith."
Baer's other television credits included guest roles on The Abbott and Costello Show, Captain Midnight, Cheyenne, Circus Boy, Climax!, Have Gun - Will Travel, Peter Gunn, Rawhide, Sky King, Tales of the Vikings, Toast of the Town, and the adventure series Sheena, Queen of the Jungle. His portrayal of Stobo in the aforementioned Gunsmoke episode is often considered one of his most memorable character roles.
8. Personal Life and Death
Buddy Baer was married four times throughout his life. His final marriage was to Vicki Farrell Brumbelow in 1964, who survived him. He was also survived by a daughter, Sheila, and three grandchildren. In his later years, Baer faced significant health challenges, battling diabetes, hypertension, and Alzheimer's disease. He was transferred from Sutter Memorial Hospital and admitted to the Martinez Veterans Hospital one week before his death. Buddy Baer passed away on July 18, 1986, in Martinez, California. He is interred at East Lawn Sierra Hills Memorial Park in Sacramento.
9. Legacy and Evaluation
Buddy Baer, along with his brother Max, was widely known as one of the "professional good guys" or "the genial giants" within the boxing community, a testament to their amiable public personas. Despite not winning a world title, Baer's boxing prowess was recognized when he was included in The Ring magazine's 2003 list of the 100 greatest punchers of all time, highlighting his significant impact as a powerful fighter. Following their deaths, Sacramento sports reporter Billy Conlin aptly summarized their legacy, stating, "When they died, the 'sweet science' lost two of the sweetest!" His career transcended boxing, leaving a lasting mark in both sports and entertainment.