Clock Strikes 12 for Cinderella Man

On this date, 68 years ago, Jim Braddock lost his heavyweight title to Joe Louis.

Braddock was the subject of the current movie Cinderella Man (a movie I give two enthusiastic thumbs up to).

Think about how much has changed in boxing over the past 68 years.

Back then Max Baer was the heavyweight champ. Baer killed a man in the ring and most blame the death of a second man on the punishment Baer doled out in the ring. Baer was beaten by Braddock - a man who became the symbol for the common working man who refused to be beaten by the Great Depression. Braddock was beaten by Joe Louis - a man who gave hope to the even more downtrodden black America. Louis was beaten by Max Schmeling - a man who became a symbol of the power of the Nazi party and of the superiority of the Aryan race. Schmeling was beaten by Louis - who became the symbol of freedom defeating fascism.

Back then the whole world including Presidents and Dictators cared about the outcome of matches.

Today we have Mike Tyson. It's amazing how much things have changed.