12 Legends of Christmas: Joe Louis

Heavyweight hero made multiple defences of his crown

Name: Joe Louis

Nickname: The Brown Bomber

Date of First Fight: 4th July 1934

Date of Retirement: 26th October 1951

Titles: World heavyweight champion

Biography:

Joe Louis was born Joseph Louis Barrow on 13th May 1914 in LaFayette, Alabama. Louis was born in painful poverty with slavery in his family tree. As a youngster, Joe’s mother wanted him to learn a musical instrument, so he hid his boxing gloves in a violin case.

Louis picked up the sport quickly. In 1934, he won light-heavyweight gold at the Golden Gloves and, later that year, at the US National Championships. Growing fast, displaying a solid left jab and fierce punching power, Louis knocked out nearly all his 50 amateur victims. Turning professional in 1934, Louis won his first fight by first-round KO, which was a sign of things to come.

It was a difficult time for black fighters to get title shots, so Louis relied on his manager and trainer to land him an opportunity. They advised him to live clean and present a perfect public image to the media.

The first big name on Louis’s record was Primo Carnera. Born in Italy, Carnera was a former world champion known as the ‘Ambling Alp’. At 6’5” and 260 pounds, Carnera was a giant man for the time. Louis knocked him out in six rounds.

He got closer to a world title shot by first knocking out former world title holder Max Baer and later Paulino Uzcudun. Both tough men were knocked out in four rounds as Louis signalled his severe punch power.

Louis had his first bout against Max Schmeling in 1936. Some thought the German was past his best, but Schmeling trained hard and knocked Louis out in round 12 to hand the ‘Brown Bomber’ his first loss. That exciting clash was later voted as the 1936 Fight of the Year.

Joe Louis rebuilt with a string of wins before knocking out James J. Braddock for the world heavyweight title. He then embarked on a tremendous run of defences that included a one-round revenge win over Max Schmeling in 1938.

Louis retired in 1948 after two wins over the excellent Jersey Joe Walcott. He returned in 1950 but lost to Ezzard Charles and finally to Rocky Marciano. The eighth-round knockout loss to Marciano for the world heavyweight title in 1951 sent Joe Louis into a permanent retirement.

Louis’ 25 continuous title defences made history as the longest reign for any boxing champion in any weight class. The impact of Joe’s achievements went beyond boxing. His rivalry with Schmeling passed through the period of the Second World War. It united America behind an African American boxer against the Nazi regime.

Across his career Louis used his powerful left jab and right hand to defeat many named opponents. The likes of Buddy Baer, Billy Conn, Tommy Farr and Jack Sharkey are all on his record.

A keen all-round sportsman, Louis enjoyed golf and organised tournaments while campaigning for equality within the game. In 1943, he appeared alongside future US president Ronald Reagan in an army film. Louis struggled with personal problems throughout his life and died in 1981.

Image Credits: The Nation, Fight City.