Joe Baksi-Iron Man

[BoztheMadman]

One of the best heavyweights who never fought for a world title, Joe Baksi was a noted heavyweight contender of the 1940's. He was probably one of the strongest boxers of his time and all times and was known to simply bully and beat his opponents into submission with his brute strength. He was not a sudden knockout destroyer, he never possessed that kind of power, but broke down his opponents gradually. As well as being physically strong, he was extremely tough and possessed a sturdy chin and was only stopped once, by a late retirement and against Ezzard Charles. His most notable victories were a 7th round TKO against Bruce Woodcock, 6th round corner retirement against Freddie Mills, two decisions over Lee Savold and a decision over Tami Mauriello. Early on in his career, he was often compared to Jim Jeffries, because of their similar stature and physical strength, as well as fighting style. This is the story of Joe Baksi.

 

Joseph William Baksi was born in Marion Heights, Pennsylvania, 14 January 1922, in a Slovak-American family with some Hungarian blood ("Baksi" (pronounced "Buck-shee") is a Hungarian last name). His father was a coal miner and that's what young Joe became also. He never seriously intended to become a boxer, but started boxing as a ticket to a better life. He stood 6'1, a rather common height for heavyweights at that time, and usually weighed between 210 and 220, in the peak of his career. He started his pro career at 18 and won 9 fights in his first year, 1940, including a decision against future actor Jack Palace, who boxed under the name of Jack Brazzo. Most of his early fights were 4-rounders, so he didn't score many knockouts, also because he was still young and unexperienced. Overall, he won 20 fights and drew one before his first defeat against Ted Wint, who decisioned him in 6 rounds in September 1941. In March 1943 he first faced the solid Philadelphian Gus Dorazio and beat him by UD10, but was then beaten by Dorazio in the rematch by the same result, 2 months later. His first really big victory was against Tami Mauriello, who was even younger than he at 20 when they fought, 25 February 1944 at Madison Square Garden; Baksi put Mauriello down and nearly out in the first round but Mauriello got up at the count of 9 and gave him a good fight, but in the end Baksi won by a clear UD. He then dropped a SD10 to the vastly more experienced Lee Savold in March, but beat him in the rematch by UD12, after giving him a beating. "At the finish Savold's left eye was cut, his nose and mouth bleeding, and his left side looked like raw hamburger. Baksi's only wound was an oft broken nose which bled all the way." That was what Associated Press wrote. The two met again in the ring 2 months later and again Baksi prevailed in a boring bout which involved a lot of holding, winning by a MD10.

 

After dropping a decision to Lee Oma, he first beat the solid Finnish contender Gunnar Barlund by TKO10 and then fought Lou Nova, who beat Max Baer twice previously. It was 30 March '45 at MSG and Baksi put Nova down in round 4 with a left hook to the ribs and Nova barely made the count at 9. Baksi also cut Nova over the right brow with a left hook in round 9 but Nova managed to hang on until the end in a 10-rounder, losing by UD. Baksi had been Nova's sparring partner for his fights with Baer and Joe Louis and he thus knew him well. On 2 August he faced his first legend, Jersey Joe Walcott, in Convention Hall in Camden, Pennsylvania. Baksi at 218 outweighed the 188 Walcott by 30 pounds, but Walcott was cagey and fought smart, letting Baksi punch himself out before he went on the offensive late, punching Baksi groggy in the last round. Walcott took home the decision after 10 rounds, 6-3 from the referee and the only judge Paul Cavalier. Baksi then lost his next fight as well, due to getting two points taken away for low blows, against journeyman Jimmy Bell. He lost by a SD10. He rebounded at the tail-end of 1945 by decisioning the 38-0 Freddie Schott. He went to England in November '46 to fight Freddie Mills, a light heavyweight who also fought as a heavyweight occasionally. Mills weighed only 184 to Baksi's 211 1/2 and was beaten into a pulp and cut over both eyes before surrendering on his stool after 6 rounds. This victory got Baksi a showdown against the best British heavyweight back then, the knockout artist Bruce Woodcock. Woodcock was only beaten by Tami Mauriello at the time and had 31 victories, with 28 ko's. The fight happened 15 April '47 at Harringay Arena in London. Baksi took control from the start and sent Woodcock down three times in the first round and twice in the second. Woodcock recovered and made a comeback in round 5 but Baksi again took control after breaking his jaw and was landing at will when the fight was stopped in round 7. Woodcock was hospitalized following the fight and this was the worst punishment he had taken.

 

After these two great victories, Baksi was scheduled to fight Joe Louis for the world title. But first he went to Sweden to fight their hopeful Olle Tandberg, at Råsunda football stadium in Stockholm, 6 July '47. Tandberg fought defensively and the fight was rather uneventful, but to the surprise of many, including Tandberg himself, he was proclaimed as the winner by a majority decision after 10 rounds. Baksi had been favored to win and a 1-to-3 favorite to knock him out by the seventh round. Disappointed by the upset loss, Baksi retired for a year and the Louis fight fell through. He came back in August next year and easily beat the journeyman Willie Brown by a TKO 4. He then signed to fight Ezzard Charles, in what was an eliminator for a world title fight against Louis. The two met in the ring 10 December that 1948, at MSG. Baksi was no match for the lighter, faster and more nimble Charles and was cut over the left eye which was also swollen up, going into round 11. Baksi then asked the referee to stop the fight, saying he could not see. 11,000 came to watch the fight. This marked a downfall for Baksi's career and he would never fight a big name again. He won his next 7 fights and then briefly retired after 1951. He came back for the last time in 1954 and after winning one very easy fight by KO1, he was defeated in his last fight by solid Bob Baker on 24 May at Eastern Parkway Arena in Brooklyn, by UD10. Baksi weighed in at his heaviest at 236 while Baker at 206 was simply fresher and more mobile and frequently landed left jabs and right hand counter-punches. Baksi was very tired at the end. Even worse, his manager Leo Feuereisen had collapsed ringside during the 6th round and then died of a heart attack in the dressing room. With this very depressing ending and knowing his chances of getting another world title shot were gone, Baksi finally retired at the age of 32. After the fight he said:"I don't know. I don't know. I guess I've got to go on for Leo". But it didn't go that way. His record is 60 wins, 31 by ko, 9 losses and 3 draws.

 

Baksi became a teamster and later an ironworker after retirement. Joe Baksi died at the age of 55, 6 August 1977. He later was immortalized in the 1995 Scottish film "Trainspotting", where his name was used as a slang for taxi. It is also interesting how the events of his last bout were similar to those in the film "Rocky III", where Rocky's trainer dies of a heart attack in his dressing room after Rocky loses his fight. Baksi could definitely be compared as a boxer to Rocky Balboa, as he was a powerhouse slugger and very tough, winning by breaking down his opponents. It is very unfortunate that his controversial loss to Tandberg led to him passing down on a chance to fight Joe Louis. Despite not being a great technical fighter, Baksi was coming off two of his most impressive wins at the time, where he seemed downright invincible. One can only imagine how a fight between him and Louis would have played out.

 

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