Bob Baker was at one time seen as the world's #1 HW prospect.

From the Oct. 1950 issue of The Ring. Note the comparison to Louis, no joke for those guys!




Generally rated as the best of the freshmen who have been attracting varying degrees of attention of late are LaStraza of New York, Rocky Marciano of Brockton, Rex Layne of Jordan, Frankie Burford of Oakland, Clarence Henry of LA, Cesar Brion of the Argentine, Jack Gardner of England, Connie Rux of Germany - and Bob Baker of Pittsburgh.

Of the lot, Baker shapes up as one of the best. The powerful 23 year old 205lb negro seems to have many of the answers for which the promoters and fans have been eagerly hunting. He can box, he can punch, and he has proved his ability to survive rough going and fight back to win.

...

In many respects, there is a remarkable parallel in the respective careers of Joe Louis and Baker. Both were developments of amateur competition, and both turned pro immediatly after winning major titles. Just as Louis celebrated his pro debut with a one round KO victory, so did Baker. Of his 17 outings to date, Bob has won 13 by KO and four by decision. That happened to be the exact score posted by Louis after 17 bouts for pay.

...

In Baker's 13th pro bout...it was felt that Baker had progressed to the point where he could take a chance with a "name" opponent. John Flynn, the Rochester veteran was imported. He knocked Flynn out in the 6th.

Despite Baker's sensational string of KO's, there was doubt about his ability to take it. How would the youngster react if the going got tough? Baker would prove he could take as well as give against Rusty Payne.

Rusty [after surviving a fast Baker start] came on in the third t ohur tBaker with a vicious right to the body and two left hooks to the jaw. The kid refused to become discouraged. He charged out for the fourth, outslugged Payne in a vicious exchange, and dropped the veteran for the full count.

An even more severe test was supplied in Baker's next bout, and Battling Bob showed he could come back from near-disaster to win.

His opponent was Louisville giant, Sid Peaks, who if he cannot do much of anything else in the ring, certainly can punch.

The fight had hardly gone a minute when Peaks connected with two thurderous left hooks and Baker went crashing to the canvas. He staggered up at seven and managed to last the round. He was still unsteady at the start of the second and another left hook sent him sprawling once more. But Baker gamely fought his way out of trouble...flooring Peaks three times before the affair was halted in the fifth.

...

Chris Dundee who recently purchased Baker's contract: "I suppose I'm biased in the matter but I honestly believe that Baker is the best young HW in the world. We're in no hurry however. Louis, Walcott, Savold and Charles and the other old timers can have the stage to themselves a little longer. We'll be satisfied to go along, playing around with LaStraza, Marciano(!), Layne and that crowd. In another year we'll be ready to shoot for the title. I can't see how we'll miss."




It didn't work out quite that way of course. Baker would beat Peaks again, then Brothers, then Agramonte and then Bivins, before losing his unbeaten record to Clarence Henry, who lifted his shine by stopping him in 8. He would lose four of his next ten, and although he would add to resume beating guys llike Valdes, Chuvalo and Holman but he would also lose a total of 16 fights, and missed out on the title shot - as well as that mooted match with Rock.

It's interesting though that he was held at one time as the world's #1 prospect.


[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvvs8Y4xaqs[/ame]

 

Decent comparison, I think, though someone will no doubt be along to tell you why it's not!

 

I think you're unquestionably right but one thing, why Satterfield rather than Henry I? This was a devastating KO after all.

 

That first loss is certainly a devastating one.

 

My entire point was contained within that post. Some of us are interested in this sort of thing. You, on the other hand, are not, but still come into these threads to ask strange, irritating questions.