70 Years Ago Today When Louis Won the Title From Braddock

[C. M. Clay II]

On June 22, 1937, heavyweight champion of the world James J. Braddock climbed into the ring at Comiskey Park to make his first defense since winning the crown from Max Baer two years before. His opponent was the acclaimed 6'-2" diabolical killing machine, Joe Louis from Detroit, hailed heir apparent to Jack Johnson.

This was the first time an African American ever received a shot at the heavyweight championship since 1915. For twenty-two years many black figthers were frozen out of a chance at the big one. Sam Langford, Harry Wills, George Godfrey, and others were deserving at the chance, but didn't get it. Louis however was something beyond that. Louis, essentially was the "uncrowned" champion. In his short three year career, the "brown bomber" had left total destruction on the heavyweight scene. He had taken care within one year, most of the top 10 heavyweights, and then came the ex-champions. Primo Carnera - six rounds, Max Baer - four rounds, Jack Sharkey - three rounds; this time Braddock would be next. The only one that escaped was Germany's Max Schmeling, who had scored at that time the greatest upset in the history of boxing. But at the time, Joe wasn't prepared. This time he was.

Braddock knew he was in for the fight of his life, but not without security. Louis' promoter Mike Jacobs, owner of 20th Century outfoxed Max Schmeling's promoter Jimmy Johnston at Madison Square Garden by giving Joe Gould, Braddock's manager in addition to the gate percentage, 10% of Joe Louis' earnings for the next ten years. At least Braddock had one pleasant thought to think about when in the ring.

At the start of round one, Braddock carried the fight to the hungry challenger, suprising everyone by decking the heavy favorite early. Louis got up without a count and lasted the round. However, that success for Braddock was short lived. Louis became once again the dynamo that had pulverized Max Baer. He pounded Braddock into submission for the next seven rounds. Braddock showed the heart of a lion, but was essentially overpowered. In the eighth, Louis hit Braddock with a left that pushed Braddock's left arm out of the way, leaving him defenseless for Joe's right that nearly decapitated the bloodied combabtant. Braddock went down like a sack of grain, and didn't gain consciousness until the fight was over.

There are many moments when boxing and history intersect. One of them was this fight. Louis became the first heavyweight champion since Jack Johnson and broke the color line, again. This time it was for good. This was also important because it forced many whites to stand up and take notice. This was about as important IMO as Jackie Robinson breaking into the major league, because Louis made America feel comfortable about blacks in the mainstrem of not only sports, but thee sport.

LvhscZl7He4

This was a very historic day in boxing history, and American history. Once again, Joe Louis 70 years ago today knocks out Jim Braddock in eight rounds to become the second black heavyweight champion in history!

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

:good

[Sizzle]

Everytime I watch Braddock fight I have to cringe, he was absolutely awful. That he was the "World Champion" says so much about what the sport was like in that era. And that he won the title from Baer, a fighter who was barely any better, speaks volumes too.

His punches were so wide and telegraphed, his balance was all over the place, he couldn't defend, he simply would struggle in most amateur circuits today. I can barely believed he lasted 8 rounds with Louis and knocked him down.

I think Kevin McBride would destroy him.

[Lacyace]

Cool info.

I'm still suprised there has only been ONE official movie about Joe Louis. It wasn't any good either. However from what I understand, Spike Lee is currently producing a new movie about the boxer pre-titled, "Save Us, Joe Louis". The early candidate to play the Brown Bomber is Terrance Howard.

[Ramon Rojo]

So long time.

I wonder if there´s anyone alive who was watching it.

[ChrisPontius]

Louis is the ultimate killing machine. Cool, clinical. Watch that youtube film at 1:30 seconds left. Louis throws a beautiful, hard left hook after the jab. I don't think i've seen a heavyweight hook off the jab like that before his time.

[thunder06]

A prime Jim Braddock would beat 90% of the heavyweights today.

[Ramon Rojo]

A prime Jim Braddock would beat 90% of the heavyweights today.


90% of what heavyweights?

[thunder06]

Bullshit!

No, he wouldn´t.


Yes, he would

[Luigi1985]

A prime Jim Braddock would beat 90% of the heavyweights today.


Exactly!

[Ramon Rojo]

Yes, he would

What heavyweights?

Out of TOP 10000 heavies today?

I agree.

[FlatNose]

Braddock may not look too smooth on those old grainy films, but he didn't get to be champ for nothing.Actually Jim was suffering from a rather severe case of arthiritis by the time he fought Louis.This may account for his less than fluid looking style.But he was still effective, and he sure would beat most of the mediocrities posing as heavyweight contenders today.

[cross_trainer]

On June 22, 1937, heavyweight champion of the world James J. Braddock climbed into the ring at Comiskey Park to make his first defense since winning the crown from Max Baer two years before. His opponent was the acclaimed 6'-2" diabolical killing machine, Joe Louis from Detroit, hailed heir apparent to Jack Johnson.

This was the first time an African American ever received a shot at the heavyweight championship since 1915. For twenty-two years many black figthers were frozen out of a chance at the big one. Sam Langford, Harry Wills, George Godfrey, and others were deserving at the chance, but didn't get it. Louis however was something beyond that. Louis, essentially was the "uncrowned" champion. In his short three year career, the "brown bomber" had left total destruction on the heavyweight scene. He had taken care within one year, most of the top 10 heavyweights, and then came the ex-champions. Primo Carnera - six rounds, Max Baer - four rounds, Jack Sharkey - three rounds; this time Braddock would be next. The only one that escaped was Germany's Max Schmeling, who had scored at that time the greatest upset in the history of boxing. But at the time, Joe wasn't prepared. This time he was.

Braddock knew he was in for the fight of his life, but not without security. Louis' promoter Mike Jacobs, owner of 20th Century outfoxed Max Schmeling's promoter Jimmy Johnston at Madison Square Garden by giving Joe Gould, Braddock's manager in addition to the gate percentage, 10% of Joe Louis' earnings for the next ten years. At least Braddock had one pleasant thought to think about when in the ring.

At the start of round one, Braddock carried the fight to the hungry challenger, suprising everyone by decking the heavy favorite early. Louis got up without a count and lasted the round. However, that success for Braddock was short lived. Louis became once again the dynamo that had pulverized Max Baer. He pounded Braddock into submission for the next seven rounds. Braddock showed the heart of a lion, but was essentially overpowered. In the eighth, Louis hit Braddock with a left that pushed Braddock's left arm out of the way, leaving him defenseless for Joe's right that nearly decapitated the bloodied combabtant. Braddock went down like a sack of grain, and didn't gain consciousness until the fight was over.

There are many moments when boxing and history intersect. One of them was this fight. Louis became the first heavyweight champion since Jack Johnson and broke the color line, again. This time it was for good. This was also important because it forced many whites to stand up and take notice. This was about as important IMO as Jackie Robinson breaking into the major league, because Louis made America feel comfortable about blacks in the mainstrem of not only sports, but thee sport.

LvhscZl7He4

This was a very historic day in boxing history, and American history. Once again, Joe Louis 70 years ago today knocks out Jim Braddock in eight rounds to become the second black heavyweight champion in history!

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

:good

Excellent post/article. :good

[C. M. Clay II]

Excellent post/article. :good

I wrote it myself.:hey

[cross_trainer]

I wrote it myself.:hey
I know. Well done. :D

[Dempsey1238]

why are people bring this up. We all know Braddock thown the fight lol. After he got hit, he look for the perfect spot to land, it seem like a strange ko lol.

[Sizzle]

Braddock may not look too smooth on those old grainy films, but he didn't get to be champ for nothing.Actually Jim was suffering from a rather severe case of arthiritis by the time he fought Louis.This may account for his less than fluid looking style.But he was still effective, and he sure would beat most of the mediocrities posing as heavyweight contenders today.

I'm not judging him just on those clips, I've seen him fight a few times and he was godawful. Arthritis doesn't account for him being horrendously off balance every time he winds up and throws a punch with some power. Or telegraphing it to the extent that you could slip it twice before it arrived.

Louis was a great fighter, I don't want to take anything away from him, but the era he fought in was absolutely the worst in heavyweight history. Baer, Galento, Braddock, are three fighters who would be destroyed by any top50 heavyweight IMO.

[janitor]

[quote=Sizzle]
Louis was a great fighter, I don't want to take anything away from him, but the era he fought in was absolutely the worst in heavyweight history.


I strongly disagre. In terms of the overall body of talent there were more world class heavyweights than there were in the 70s.


Baer, Galento, Braddock, are three fighters who would be destroyed by any top50 heavyweight IMO.

Again I have to disagree. I think that Baer especialy could have beaten any heavyweight active today. Sure he was crude but was he any worse than George Foreman?

[groove]

Bullshit no way was Louis era better than the 70s. That is ridiculous. Ali, Frazier, Foreman, Norton, Holmes, Young, Quarry, Lyle would all murder Bear, Braddock and Galento LOL.

[C. M. Clay II]

I strongly disagre. In terms of the overall body of talent there were more world class heavyweights than there were in the 70s.

I disagree. The top ten heavyweights of the 70s were far superior to the top 10 of the early 30s. Maybe if you averaged out every HW from each time, but who knows that many fighters?

Again I have to disagree. I think that Baer especialy could have beaten any heavyweight active today. Sure he was crude but was he any worse than George Foreman?

Foreman was more refined and had a bigger punch. Baer's left hand was quasi-nonexistant.:good

[Sizzle]

[quote]


I strongly disagre. In terms of the overall body of talent there were more world class heavyweights than there were in the 70s.




Again I have to disagree. I think that Baer especialy could have beaten any heavyweight active today. Sure he was crude but was he any worse than George Foreman?

I strongly disagree, I think 65-75 is as strong as you get. Liston, Ali, Frazier, Foreman, are all top10 all time heavyweights any way you slice it - Head-2-head, greatness, etc. Not to mention the strong list of contenders Quarry, Norton, Cooper etc.

Louis was a very big fish in a very small pond. The best contender to his title was Billy Conn, a very skilled and talented fighter, but a light heavyweight. Not a "natural" lightheavyweight like the 215lbs Spinks that fought Tyson, an ACTUAL lightheavyweight. Baer, Galento and Braddock were jokes beyond belief. Utterly laughable excuses for boxers.

As for your 2nd point, yes he was much much worse than Foreman technically, and nowhere near the natural powerhouse George was. The physical gifts argument is somewhat redundant in any case when you consider what a physically deteriorated George Foreman accomplished at age 45.

[Dempsey1238]

Well I think Baer is on even footage with Foreman when tactics come, Of couse Baer is better in that regard, he did things I never seen Prime Foreman do(Old Foreman would do it, but not in his heyday), like tuck his chin in his shoulder, and roll with punchings(The Schemling fight) Baer is underated in that regard. He could do defense when he FEELS like it. Which is once in a blue moon.

[janitor]

Bullshit no way was Louis era better than the 70s. That is ridiculous. Ali, Frazier, Foreman, Norton, Holmes, Young, Quarry, Lyle would all murder Bear, Braddock and Galento LOL.

OK.

There might not have been people of the calibre of Frazier, Foreman and Holmes challenging Louis for the title but on the other hand you did not get guys like Wepner and Evangelista cracking the top 10.

The 70s had more great fighters.

The 40s had a hell of a lot more good fighters.

[janitor]

[quote=Sizzle]
I strongly disagree, I think 65-75 is as strong as you get. Liston, Ali, Frazier, Foreman, are all top10 all time heavyweights any way you slice it - Head-2-head, greatness, etc. Not to mention the strong list of contenders Quarry, Norton, Cooper etc.


See my previous post.


As for your 2nd point, yes he was much much worse than Foreman technically, and nowhere near the natural powerhouse George was. The physical gifts argument is somewhat redundant in any case when you consider what a physically deteriorated George Foreman accomplished at age 45.


Baer was no Sugar Ray, but he had power comparable to George Foreman and a chin that was a near equal of Oliver McCall. He could also lay it on prety thick when he wanted to.

If you put him in with the curent beltholders he would just plough through them. If you put him in with a peak George Foreman then you would have a Foreman Lyle type slugfest with both fighters hitting the canvas.

[mr. magoo]

Baer was no Sugar Ray, but he had power comparable to George Foreman

53 knockouts in 71 wins, with many of them coming in the mid to late rounds, does not exactly reflect Foremanesque type power. What's more, quite a few of George's decisions came when he was 40+. Few men went the distance, or even made it past the mid point of a fight, when he was in his 20's. Baer was through by about the age of 32.




and a chin that was a near equal of Oliver McCall.


This is doubtful.



If you put him in with the curent beltholders he would just plough through them.


I wouldn't put my money on Baer over Klitschko.


If you put him in with a peak George Foreman then you would have a Foreman Lyle type slugfest with both fighters hitting the canvas.


Lyle's ability to floor Foreman, was more or less a result of stylistic issues as opposed to either power or Foreman's ability to take it. This would not be the case against Baer, as Max's approach would doom him early against Foreman.

[janitor]

[quote=mr. magoo]53 knockouts in 71 wins, with many of them coming in the mid to late rounds, does not exactly reflect Foremanesque type power.

Baer fought a much higher portion of his fights against world class oponents. Foremans knockout percentage is partly a function of the fact that he fought mainly tomato cans.


This is doubtful.


Lets face it. The guy was not a defensive genius and nobody really knocked him out. He could have got up against Louis but he chose not to.

The way the guy clowned around he knew he could aford to take a few.


I wouldn't put my money on Baer over Klitschko.


Neither would I.

The rest of the bunch I would.


Lyle's ability to floor Foreman, was more or less a result of stylistic issues as opposed to either power or Foreman's ability to take it. This would not be the case against Baer, as Max's approach would doom him early against Foreman.


Foreman Baer would rapidly turn intop a mutual exchange of flush shots to the chin for stylistic reasons. Put simply both guys left themselves wide open.

If they ever get this fight together I advise you to stump up the pay per view.

[Stevie G]

On June 22, 1937, heavyweight champion of the world James J. Braddock climbed into the ring at Comiskey Park to make his first defense since winning the crown from Max Baer two years before. His opponent was the acclaimed 6'-2" diabolical killing machine, Joe Louis from Detroit, hailed heir apparent to Jack Johnson.

This was the first time an African American ever received a shot at the heavyweight championship since 1915. For twenty-two years many black figthers were frozen out of a chance at the big one. Sam Langford, Harry Wills, George Godfrey, and others were deserving at the chance, but didn't get it. Louis however was something beyond that. Louis, essentially was the "uncrowned" champion. In his short three year career, the "brown bomber" had left total destruction on the heavyweight scene. He had taken care within one year, most of the top 10 heavyweights, and then came the ex-champions. Primo Carnera - six rounds, Max Baer - four rounds, Jack Sharkey - three rounds; this time Braddock would be next. The only one that escaped was Germany's Max Schmeling, who had scored at that time the greatest upset in the history of boxing. But at the time, Joe wasn't prepared. This time he was.

Braddock knew he was in for the fight of his life, but not without security. Louis' promoter Mike Jacobs, owner of 20th Century outfoxed Max Schmeling's promoter Jimmy Johnston at Madison Square Garden by giving Joe Gould, Braddock's manager in addition to the gate percentage, 10% of Joe Louis' earnings for the next ten years. At least Braddock had one pleasant thought to think about when in the ring.

At the start of round one, Braddock carried the fight to the hungry challenger, suprising everyone by decking the heavy favorite early. Louis got up without a count and lasted the round. However, that success for Braddock was short lived. Louis became once again the dynamo that had pulverized Max Baer. He pounded Braddock into submission for the next seven rounds. Braddock showed the heart of a lion, but was essentially overpowered. In the eighth, Louis hit Braddock with a left that pushed Braddock's left arm out of the way, leaving him defenseless for Joe's right that nearly decapitated the bloodied combabtant. Braddock went down like a sack of grain, and didn't gain consciousness until the fight was over.

There are many moments when boxing and history intersect. One of them was this fight. Louis became the first heavyweight champion since Jack Johnson and broke the color line, again. This time it was for good. This was also important because it forced many whites to stand up and take notice. This was about as important IMO as Jackie Robinson breaking into the major league, because Louis made America feel comfortable about blacks in the mainstrem of not only sports, but thee sport.

LvhscZl7He4

This was a very historic day in boxing history, and American history. Once again, Joe Louis 70 years ago today knocks out Jim Braddock in eight rounds to become the second black heavyweight champion in history!

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

:good
As far as shaping heavyweight boxing the two most signifigant dates in history are this one and February 25 1964. Braddock was brave and tough,but inevitably outclassed.

[Unforgiven]

Braddock did very well, considering the fact that he was something of an ham-and-egger surprise champion who'd been out of the ring for 2 years !

Not one of Louis's best performances, IMO, but it's always fun watching him work.