Joe Gould (manager)

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Braddock (left) and Gould (center), training as officers at the Atlantic Coast Transportation Corps Officers Training School in Fort Slocum, New York

Joe Gould was the manager and good friend of boxer James J. Braddock, who in 1935 upset Max Baer to take the world heavywight championship. Later, Gould, who was of Jewish descent, played a role in having Braddock fight Joe Louis rather than Max Schmeling, in order to prevent a propaganda victory by the Nazi regime.

Gould, it could be argued, pulled off one of the most astute deals in sport business history. As Braddock's manager he negotiated as part of the deal for Louis' title shot 10% of Louis' future purses. Mike Jacobs who represented Louis believed he would be able to talk his way out of the contract at a later date, but it is a little known fact that Braddock and Gould became relatively rich men even after Braddock lost the title because of this astonishing deal.

Gould enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1942, and rose to the rank of 1st Lieutenant. In the 2005 film, Cinderella Man, Gould is portrayed by actor Paul Giamatti.

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