The Jim Braddock-Max Schmeling Affair: an Assessment of a Jewish Boycott of a Professional Prizefight

In: Journal of sport and social issues: the official journal of Northeastern University's Center for the Study of Sport in Society, Volume 6, Issue 2, p. 1-12

Abstract

The impact of the Jewish boycott of the Jim Braddock-Max Schmeling fight in the latter 1930s is assessed in this paper. The author's interpretation of historical evidence surround ing this event is that the Jewish boycott played only a minor role in the cancellation of this sporting event. It is suggested that the cancellation of this sporting event is better understood in the light of the search for the "Great White Hope." This study demonstrates how groups infuse sport with socially significant symbolic political values to further some desired objective. Through the process of using sport as a political weapon, athletes defined as political adversaries are often denied or restricted from competitive opportunities.