leverage

[keannu]

What does this "leverage" mean? to maximize one's ability?

ex)Max Baer, infamous as much for his extravagant lifestyle as his boxing skills, won the heavyweight championship on June 14, 1934. Despite his obvious proficiency, Baer's reign would last a mere 364 days, as he succumbed to dockworker James Braddock the following year. Intending to leverage his superior technical ability, Baer came into the fight with an inadequate appraisal of his opponent's skill and suboptimal physical conditioning.....


teps-173.35

[Tdol]

To use to his advantage, exploit, etc, IMO

[keannu]

To use to his advantage, exploit, etc, IMO

Why did he fight an unknown opponent to use his ability to his advantage? I don't understand what the sentence is trying to say.

[JMurray]

Why did he fight an unknown opponent to use his ability to his advantage? I don't understand what the sentence is trying to say.

Braddock wasn't an unknown and was a legitimate contender for the heavyweight championship, but nobody really gave him a chance. Max Baer was sure that he could use his superior technique to his advantage and win against an opponent who was widely considered to be the inferior boxer. But Baer was overconfident and under-prepared.

not a teacher