James J. Braddock  "The Cinderella Man"  Born: June 7, 1905 Died: Nov. 29, 1974 Won: 46 Lost: 25 Draw: 4 KOs: 26 No Contest: 2 Hall of Fame Induction: 2001

With the release of the movie  "The Cinderella Man" , one more of boxings pioneers will receive the recognition his skill and courage earned him.

Jim Braddock was born one of seven children to poor Irish immigrants. The Braddocks soon moved their family to Northern New Jersey where the young Braddock lived a normal "little boys" life, marbles, ball games, swimming holes, and such while dreaming of becoming a Fireman or a train engineer.

As a young man Braddock worked a series of jobs, messenger boy, errand boy and mill hand. During this time he was getting his education for the future in amateur boxing.
 

Braddock's amateur boxing career was successful enough to bring him to turn pro in 1926, when he was about 20 years old. Two years and approximately 30 fights later the 6'2" Light-Heavyweight Stopped Tuffy Griffith in the 2nd round. Griffith was then undefeated and a rising star. Braddock was beginning to make his mark. The following year Braddock fought and  lost a close decision to Light-heavyweight Champion Tommy Loughran in Yankee stadium. The poor Irish kid had gone big time.

Shortly after the Loughran fight the stock market crashed and Braddock like millions of others fell on hard times. For the next four years Braddock continued fighting to support his young family, losing more often than winning.
 

Then in 1934 , struggling to support a wife and three children Braddocks fortunes began the turn around that would cause journalist Damon Runyon to dub him "The Cinderella Man" to describe his rags to riches life. It began when Braddock upset Corn Griffin, then John Henry Louis, then in March of 1935 a win over Art Lasky garnered him a shot at the "Brass Ring", the Heavyweight Championship of the World.

Reigning Champion Max Baer, had dethroned Primo Carnera the previous year and Jim Braddock appeared to be just another journeyman for the talented Baer to add to his win column. Max Baer was known to be a thunderous puncher, and the Sporting public saw little chance for Braddock, and Braddock being wary of the dynamite in Baers punch spent 15 rounds sticking and moving. The Unanimous decision which made Jim Braddock Heavyweight champion was then  as big a shock to sports fans as the Douglas KO of Tyson in the 90's. Then called the biggest upset since Corbett had beaten John L. Sullivan.
 

Two years later Braddock defended and lost to the rising star that was Joe Louis. Braddock had dropped Louis hard in the 1st round , but was out boxed there after, finally succumbing to a murderous right in the 8th round. However the news was not all bad. Braddocks Manager Joe Gould struck  a deal with  Mike Jacobs before the fight with Louis. The deal   would give  Braddock 10% of the gross from  Louis fights for the next ten years. No more hard times for the Cinderella man.

Braddock only fought once more , a decision win over Welshman Tommy Farr the following year. Braddock's arthritis was progressing steadily so he  stepped down a winner.

Braddock worked as a used equipment supplier in his later years, died in 1974, and was Inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame in 2001.

Now you know why he was called the Cinderella Man, an ordinary Joe who made it to the top, made history, and now there will be few who don't know his story.
 

References from Boxrec, and The Jim Braddock Official Web Site.