Hi Tyson,
As his name implies, Max Baer Jr. ("Jethro Bodine") is the son of the legendary boxer Max Baer Sr. I kinda doubt that he was related to the ace
Paul Baer.
If you watch the movie "Cinderella Man", Max Baer Sr. is portrayed as quite a nasty villain. I think they overdid it. I'm not a boxing fan or authority, but from what I understand Max Baer Sr. was indeed a formidable and flamboyant boxer, who wasn't afraid to display his Jewish faith by wearing a Star of David on his trunks. I think he boxed the German Max Schmaeling with trunks like that.
Someone who knows far more than I do may jump in here, hopefully.
Greg