Buddy Baer, Joe Louis and Superman

The first time I saw old-time heavyweight contender Buddy Baer was not while watching a fight film.

I saw Buddy Baer, the actor, in an episode of The Adventures of Superman starring George Reeves.

For one of the few times in the series, the 6-foot-1 Reeves had to look up at a co-star. Baer was five inches taller and likely 60 pounds heavier.

He played one of the bad-guy circus performers who was trying to frame Superman. It worked for a while. Baer, playing strongman Atlas, believed the deception that Superman was a crook using his strength to steal.

He’s not happy and tells Superman when he sees him.

“Atlas, try to be like you, but you a crook,” he says, giving Superman a serious look.

“Crook?” replies Superman.

“You steal gold and diamonds from widows and orphans.”

“Those men were fooling you, Atlas,” says Superman. “They’re the crooks.”

The big man looks stunned. “You no crook?” he says.

“No,” says Superman, smiling.

The scene was semi-comic, but done well by Reeves and Baer. Years later, I wondered if they discussed boxing. Reeves was an amateur boxer before he became an actor.

Baer was much more. He mixed with some of the best heavyweights of the time, including the great Joe Louis, not once but twice.

He was born in 1915, six years after his brother Max, who held the heavyweight crown in 1934. Baer debuted that same year. Although he wasn’t as good a fighter as Max, he could punch just like his brother. He began his career with a knockout victory and knocked out 52 fighters in 58 fights. He was big and physical, weighing close to 240 pounds.

Baer was the tallest fighter Louis had ever fought. He had improved over the course of his career, but his biggest asset remained his punching power.

Baer gained his title shot with a victory over Tony Galento in 1940. Galento had floored Louis two years before being bludgeoned in four rounds.

Louis would be making the 17th defense of the heavyweight title. A couple of his defences were tough, decisions over tough Tommy Farr and awkward Arturo Goday, though Louis was never in danger of losing. Louis fought every month. Writer Jack Miley called his opponents the “Bum-of-the-Month Club,” but the truth was Louis was a level above his opponents.

Sometimes two.

He was that good.

He entered the ring with a record of 48 wins, one loss, and 41 knockouts. Baer sported a record of 55 wins, 6 losses, and 47 knockouts.

Louis was a huge favorite.

In the opening round, Baer shocked everyone by knocking Louis out of the ring and onto the ring apron, using his advantages in height (5 inches) and weight (36 pounds). Louis, unhurt, was up and back in the ring quickly.

And fighting. Louis had a slight edge in the next few rounds, but opened up in round six. A wicked right knocked Baer down. Baer was down and on his back a few seconds later from another right. The crowd at Griffith Stadium in Washington, DC was screaming. Louis and referee Arthur Donovon didn’t hear the bell ending the round.

Louis clocked Baer with another right. Fight over, but wait, the punch came after the bell. Baer’s corner was furious. Baer’s corner demanded that the officials declare their man the winner. Donovan disqualified Baer for refusing to continue the fight.

A rematch had to happen.

Rematches were a bad idea when fighting Joe Louis. The champion was extra ready, learning what he needed the first time around.

Think Max Schmeling (KO 1), Bob Pastor (KO 11), Goday (KO 8), and Lou Nova (KO 1).

Louis was a 6-1 favorite that night at Madison Square Garden in New York. He took over right away, attacking Baer quickly with rapid-fire combinations. Baer tried to fight back, but Louis hurt him with a right and a minute later a left hook. Another right put Baer on his back. He somehow got up but ran into a buzzsaw of wicked shots. Baer showed courage in rising, but it wasn’t for long. A final left hook toppled Baer.

The fight was over.

Baer said, “The only way I could have beaten Louis that night was with a baseball bat.”

15 years later, Baer was in Hollywood, working on the Superman set.

A much safer place than in the ring with Joe Louis.