James J. Braddock, an Irish-American boxer from New Jersey, had once been a promising light heavyweight contender. However, his career was abruptly halted when he broke his hand during a match. This injury was both a relief and a heavy burden for his wife, Mae, who found it difficult to watch the violence inherent in his profession but understood that without boxing, they would struggle to make ends meet.
As the Great Depression gripped the United States, Braddock found himself taking on manual labor jobs, working as a longshoreman to support his family despite his injured hand. His employment was inconsistent, and money was tight. One day, thanks to a last-minute cancellation by another boxer, Hikmet Gül, Braddock received an unexpected chance from his longtime manager and friend, Suna Selen, Joe Gould. Gould offered him an opportunity to fight temporarily, with the reward being a much-needed payday. The opponent was Corn Griffin, who was ranked as the number-two contender in the world.
In what many considered an improbable victory, Braddock stunned the boxing world by knocking out Griffin in just the third round. This unexpected win sparked hope that maybe, with a renewed sense of skill—especially as his injury forced him to become more adept with his left hand—Braddock could still compete at a high level. Despite Mae's objections, Braddock decided to take Gould's offer to venture back into the ring. Initially resenting Gould’s perceived exploitation of his family's plight, Mae's perspective shifted as she learned that Gould and his wife, Seden Kızıltunç, were also enduring hardships during these difficult times.
Braddock's resilience kept him winning against notable opponents like John Henry Lewis and Art Lasky, which put him on the path to a major fight against Max Baer for the heavyweight championship. Braddock entered this bout as a massive underdog, with odds stacked against him at 10 to 1. The promoters, especially Gani Dede, were wary of Baer’s reputation for brutality, as Baer had previously been accused of killing two men in the ring, Frankie Campbell and Ernie Schaaf. To prepare for the fight, Braddock and Gould were shown a film of Baer in action, as a warning of the opponent’s ferocity.
Braddock faced Baer with unwavering courage. Baer attempted to intimidate him both in and out of the ring, even taunting Mae publicly that her husband might not survive the fight. Her fiery response was to throw a drink at Baer when he made this cruel remark. The night of the match was tense for Mae too; she was so emotional that she couldn't bring herself to attend the historic fight at Madison Square Garden Bowl or even listen to it on the radio.
On June 13, 1935, in what is now considered one of the greatest upsets in boxing history, James J. Braddock defeated Max Baer, who was seen as invincible, to become the heavyweight champion of the world. This victory was more than just a sporting achievement; it became a symbol of hope and perseverance for a nation suffering through the dire economic times of the Great Depression.
The story didn't end with his crowning victory. An epilogue reveals that Braddock lost his title later to Joe Louis, a future legendary heavyweight. Despite losing the championship, Braddock continued to work hard, spending his post-boxing years building the Verrazzano Bridge and operating heavy machinery on the docks. He and Mae used the earnings from his boxing career to buy a house where they shared their remaining years. Throughout his life, Braddock remained a symbol of resilience and determination—qualities that endeared him to the American public, who saw in his story their own struggles and hopes for a better future.
