"I see somesing" - Max Schmelling (1905-2005)

In 1930, 24-year old Max Schmeling became the first German heavyweight boxing champion of the world by beating American Jack Sharkey before a huge crowd in New York City. In 1936 at age 31, and now a former champ, Schmeling was brought back to the States as a sort of sacrificial lamb to fight the undefeated 22 year old Joe Louis. Max was a 10-1 underdog. In an interview with sportscasters before the fight, he was asked why he thought he had any sort of chance against America’s rising star. The always soft-spoken and humble Schmeling replied simply, “I see somesing.”

What the former champ had seen when he studied Louis’ fight films was that the American dropped his shoulder every time he threw his famous left jab, leaving his head unprotected for a split second. Exploiting this vulnerability over and over with his powerful right, it took Schmeling until the twelfth round to finally knock out the younger fighter in what many consider the greatest upset in boxing history. All because he “saw somesing.”