3. “The Brown Bomber” Joe Louis 66-3, 52 KOs
Joseph Louis Barrow was a born Heavyweight tipping the scales at 11 pounds in LaFayette, Alabama on May 13, 1914. Louis’ family eventually left the poor southern, rural neighborhood when he was 12 and relocated to the district known as Black Bottom in Detroit, Michigan.
With The Great Depression hitting families with full force Louis opted out of street life and into boxing. He hid this from his mother and carried his boxing equipment in a violin case so that she wouldn’t find out. Eventually the truth came out and he was allowed to continue the sport in which he quickly excelled. Louis had a successful amateur career and eventually wining the United States Amateur Champion National AAU tournament in St. Louis, Missouri.
Louis had his first paid fight in Chicago in 1934. He scored a first-round knockout over Jack Kracken dropping him with a left hook. Upon gaining his feet, Louis sent him sprawling through the ropes and out of the ring. This victory set a precedent from which Louis did not stray as he trudged down an unsure a path toward the championship.
This was a period wrought with abject racism and America was still fuming at the perceived insolence of the flamboyant first and only Black Heavyweight champion, Jack Johnson who had been dethroned in 1915. Even though Louis was getting quality fights against respected contenders, the road to the championship was quite uncertain. His management advised him well, however and Louis was guardedly viewed as a humble, clean living man.
Rebounding from a shocking 12th round knockout loss at the hands of German and supposed Nazi sympathizer Max Schmeling, Louis strung together seven wins with six by stoppage. His management’s public relations strategy was a success and he met “Cinderella Man” James Braddock for the championship which he annexed with an eighth-round knockout.
Louis successfully defended the title three times with two by knockout before giving Schmeling the rematch for which the world was clamoring. With World War II in full swing and hatred of Nazi Germany internationally prominent the stakes of a prize fight had never been so great. It was East vs. West, Good vs. Evil, Black American vs. The Master Race. Louis unleashed a frightful beating upon the German, pulverizing him in the first round. Joe Louis became an American hero worshipped by millions and idolized children of all races.
Louis reigned over the heavyweight division for a record 11 years and 10 months. He also defended his championship against all contenders recording 25 title defenses, almost all coming by way of knockout. He retired as Champion in 1948 only to come back 2 years later. Louis retired for good in 1951.
