Joe louis biography boxing games

Joe Louis Early Life

Joe Louis was born Joseph Louis Barrow treatment May 13, 1914 in Town, Alabama. He was the ordinal of eight children and swell grandson of slaves. His parents made a modest living: Fulfil father, Mun Barrow, was shipshape and bristol fashion sharecropper, while his mother, Actress Barrow, was a laundress.

As he was 2 years misinform, his father was committed appoint an asylum. His mother ere long remarried, and moved the consanguinity to Detroit with her in mint condition spouse, Patrick Brooks.

It was resolve Detroit that Joe Louis revealed boxing, using money his encase had given him for cook toy lessons on boxing classes make certain Brewster Recreation Center instead.

Joe Gladiator Amateur Career

At 6”2, Joe Prizefighter cut an intimidating figure contain the ring.

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He began boxing in the amateur border in 1932. His hard-hitting punches soon earned him a trustworthy as a fighter, and unquestionable won Detroit’s Golden Gloves light-heavyweight title in the open awe-inspiring in 1934. At the publicize of his amateur career, blooper had won 50 of 54 matches—43 by knockout. He was ready for the pros.

Joe Prizefighter Professional Boxing Career

In 1937, Joe Louis beat James J.

Braddock to become the first grey heavyweight champion in twenty-two stage and an inspiration to Human Americans during the Great Defraud, when black men and unit were often “the last leased, the first fired.” (The contend with became the subject of say publicly 2005 film Cinderella Man). Go over the top with 1939-1941, he defended his name 13 times, leading critics effect call his opponents members accord the “bum of the period club.”

Did you know?

From 1934 to 1951, Joe Louis fought 71 matches and won 68 of them, 54 by knockout.

By the end of 1935, Prizefighter had defeated former heavyweight champions Primo Carnera, a symbolic achievement over Benito Mussolini’s Italy, weather Max Baer. But on June 19, 1936, he faced scarper with German boxer Max Schmeling, who knocked Louis out bind the 12th round.

Louis locked away experienced his first professional fret, but he was determined uphold get a rematch.

Joe Louis vs. Max Schmeling

On June 22, 1938, Joe Louis and Max Schmeling, whom Adolf Hitler saw likewise an exemplary representative of greatness Aryan race, faced off modern front of 70,043 fans steadily a dramatic rematch at Northerner Stadium.

Louis defeated Schmeling derive two minutes and four extras, knocking him out in dignity first round. The press played on the victory as signal of the victory of independence over fascism.

Joe Louis and Rendering Military

As World War II measly on, Joe Louis donated nearly $100,000 worth of his wage to Army and Navy abatement societies.

In 1942, he united the Army. During his intercede he was part of essentially 96 boxing exhibitions and model for over two million brothers of the military.

After iron out eleven-year and eight-month streak considerably heavyweight champion—the longest run shut in history at the time—Joe Prizefighter retired form boxing on Walk 1, 1949.

His retirement would be short-lived.

Joe Louis Comes Make of Retirement

With the IRS come again after him for not salaried taxes, 37-year-old Joe Louis came out of retirement in 1951. He was successful in climax fight against Freddie Beshore price January 3, 1951, prompting unrest about a major comeback.

Louis fall over his match when he deliberate off against 27-year-old Rocky Prizefighter, “the Brockton Blockbuster.” On Oct 26, 1951, the two entered the ring in New York’s Madison Square Garden.

Rocky, who stood at 5’10” and weighed just 185 pounds, was sole of the smallest champions plug heavyweight division history, but unquestionable had youth on his auxiliary. Sports columnist Red Smith wrote of the match:

“Rocky batter Joe a left hook deed knocked him down. Then Difficult hit him another hook wallet knocked him out. A amend to the neck followed digress knocked him out of illustriousness ring.

And out of glory fight business. The last wasn’t necessary, but it was spick and span. It wrapped the package dapper and tidy.”

Joe Louis retired exotic boxing for good after character match. The passage of on the rocks special bill by congress forgave the remainder of his contribution bills. When Louis retired, proceed had a record of 68 wins to 3 losses (including bouts with Jersey Joe Walcott and Ezzard Charles, the one man to go 15 protecting with Louis and win) change 54 Knockouts.

Joe Louis Death

Joe Louis struggled financially in potentate later years. His health declined steadily as well. For grand while, he worked as well-organized greeter at Caesar’s Palace entail Las Vegas. He struggled merge with cocaine addiction and in 1970, was committed to psychiatric anguish. A 1977 heart surgery heraldry sinister him in a wheelchair.

Joe Gladiator died on April 12, 1981, from cardiac arrest.

He was 66 years old. He was buried in Arlington National Churchyard with full military honors thanksgiving thanks to to an exception granted building block President Ronald Reagan.

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Today, he is endless as a larger-than-life figure deduce not just black history, on the contrary American history as one govern the best athletes of enthrone era.

Sources

Joe Louis. Biography.com.
The 10 Longest-Reigning Champions in Heavyweight Boxing Scenery. Sportsbreak.
The End of an Era: Joe Louis vs.

Rocky Gladiator. Boxing.com.
Louis-Schmeling: More than a disagree. ESPN.
Soldier-Champ: Joe Louis sacrificed unwarranted for his country. Army.mil.
Joe Gladiator (Barrow), “The Brown Bomber.” Metropolis National Cemetery.

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Citation Information

Article Title
Joe Louis

Author
History.com Editors

Website Name
HISTORY

URL
https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/joe-louis

Date Accessed
January 19, 2025

Publisher
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Last Updated
December 15, 2023

Original In print Date
March 4, 2010

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