− | Big Bob Baker had very impressive amateur career. He only lost one amateur fight and won the 1949 New York Golden Gloves & Intercity Golden Gloves championships in the heavyweight division. He also won 2 other major tournaments. He started his professional career with twenty-six consecutive wins. However, his winning streak came to an end when he was defeated by another leading contender, Clarence Henry, in 1954. In his previous fight, only days before, he drew with bulky Kid Riviera. He also lost to Bob Satterfield, Archie Moore and other contenders during this era. After his defeat to Archie Moore in 1954, he never lost by a knockout or TKO again. There was talk of Baker facing heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano between January 4 and February 3 1956. However, even though Baker defeated Nino Valdez on December 7 1955, the championship bout never materialized. The bout against Valdez was a rematch of a bout fought in May of 1953 and both were won by Baker by unanimous decisions. | + | Big Bob Baker had very impressive amateur career. He only lost one amateur fight and won the 1949 New York Golden Gloves & Intercity Golden Gloves championships in the heavyweight division. He also won 2 other major tournaments. He started his professional career with twenty-six consecutive wins. However, his winning streak came to an end when he was defeated by another leading contender, Clarence Henry, in 1954. In his previous fight, only days before, he drew with bulky Kid Riviera. He also lost to Bob Satterfield, Archie Moore and other contenders during this era. After his defeat to Archie Moore in 1954, he never lost by a knockout or TKO again. There was talk of Baker facing heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano between January 4 and February 3 1956. However, even though Baker defeated Nino Valdez on December 7 1955, the championship bout never materialized. Baker had excellent results against shorter opponents & had very fast hands. The bout against Valdez was a rematch of a bout fought in May of 1953 and both were won by Baker by unanimous decisions. |
| Before losing unfair split decision to Tommy "Hurricane" Jackson on Friday February 3 1956[http://boxrec.com/media/index.php?title=Tommy_Jackson_vs._Bob_Baker_(1st_meeting)&diff=395010&oldid=395009], (day Rocky was supposed to fight Baker | | Before losing unfair split decision to Tommy "Hurricane" Jackson on Friday February 3 1956[http://boxrec.com/media/index.php?title=Tommy_Jackson_vs._Bob_Baker_(1st_meeting)&diff=395010&oldid=395009], (day Rocky was supposed to fight Baker |