The story of The Cinderella Man, James J Braddock
James J. Braddock is the top contender in light heavyweight boxing. However, his career began to sink after losing to Tommy Loughran. His performance began to decline and he suffered 16 defeats from the last 26 matches he participated in. From competing at Madison Square Garden with an audience of thousands, Jim Braddock now has to fight second-class boxers in night arenas before an audience of only hundreds of people.
The audience's insults and ridicule as well as bad reviews from journalists have become his daily food. However, that wasn't what made him stop boxing, but his fractured right hand made him have to rethink about continuing his career in boxing. Finally, in 1929, Braddock decided to retire from boxing. At the same time, the investments he had made for his future in a bank and a taxi company were lost. America was hit by the great recession at the end of 1929. He also became bankrupt.
Having no skills other than boxing, Braddock had to find work to support his wife and three children. Every day, he walked the five kilometers to the ports of Weehawken and Hoboken just to get a job there, if there was one. Usually, he becomes a porter for goods that have just arrived at the port. If not, he goes to West New York to continue the three kilometer journey to find work. If that doesn't work either, he returns home, clearing the piles of snow that cover the streets and yards of his house. Neighbors who used to shake hands and greet him every day, now just kept quiet and walked away to see him. For nine months of his life Braddock had to follow this routine.
Joe Gould, who is a friend and manager of Braddock, persuaded Jimmy Johnston, one of the promoters at Madison Square Garden, to give a fight for Braddock. Jim Braddock can finally box again. His first opponent is Corn Griffin which he can beat easily. His next opponent was John Henry Lewis and then Art Lasky. All of his opponents were defeated and that gave him the ticket to become the main heavyweight challenger against Max Baer.
With no longer young age, Braddock is not favored. But he had a new gun from his job at the harbour. His hands got stronger. Because his right hand was sore at the time, Braddock worked more with his left. His left hand is almost as good at jabbing as his right hand. Even though only Braddock's right hand was scary.
The result? Braddock won and became the new world heavyweight champion. His journey from a life of poverty as a loser and is now a world champion wallowing in wealth has earned him the nickname 'The Cinderella Man'.
Jim
Braddock gives a lesson about the importance of patience and persistence to
seize opportunities. Everyone has experienced failure, but only those who
struggle will win.
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