SteemSports Presenter:
SteemSports Editor:
The 1930s belonged to swing, and in a ring, the world had Joe Louis. The Great Black Hope they called him, and he was the one to relinquish the crown and break down segregation through his brilliant fighting prowess. Louis was an entertainer first, a gentleman second, and a boxer third.
Joe's series against Jersey Joe Walcott made him an absolute legend, and that first bout showed just how innovative Joe was in the ring. His fight IQ was beyond his years, and his meat and potatoes style made him a mystery to his opponents. This man was undefeated in his first 62 fights, and incredible feat for his day.
One may also notice that Joe has no fight record on-line, or on file anywhere. We know of his classics with Walcott and Schmeling, but asides from images and a few primitive films, we can only know that Louis fought hundreds of fight both recorded and not. The man was a true all time great and Hall of Famer.
A lot like today, young men also made their names of old legends in the old era. Rocky Marciano was a young Brockton Bomber seeking the heavyweight belt when Joe Louis was already and older man. Louis fought for nearly four eras starting in the 20s, and retiring at the edge of 1949.
Louis took a beating the night he faced Rocky, but he showed true heart and warrior spirit that same eve. The fans knew Louis was the more technical boxer with a more than sufficient jab, but Rocky's young and durable frame caused problems with his blitzing brawler style.
We must remember the legends of old, many paved the way for young men who fight today. The influence of a time gone by remains, and fighters of the modern era still use the shoulder rolls and hip thrusts of the old timers. Boxing is a gentleman's sport, and Joe Louis was an immaculate gentleman.
