Boxer Joe Louis: The Champ Before the War

Joseph Louis Barrow was born in May 1914 in Alabama. Joe was the seventh of eight children. His family were cotton pickers and sharecroppers, and Louis himself was the grandson of slaves. In 1924, the family moved to Detroit, seeking better economic opportunities. It was in Detroit that he discovered boxing, and enjoyed a good amateur career, winning the Michigan Golden Gloves as a light heavyweight. In 1934, Joe Louis turned pro.

As a rising heavyweight, Louis was a sensation. He won his first 22 fights, 18 of them by knockout, all in just under a year. Louis was a magnificent physical specimen. Although barely 21 years old, he stood 6'2" and a lean 200lbs at a time when the average American was 7 inches shorter and at least 50 pounds lighter. Louis was a pure puncher. Although his footwork was always awkward and shuffling, he wielded a quick, hard jab and a devastating right hand, creating one of the most potent 1-2 combinations ever seen in boxing. He had a steady, stalking attack, slowly walking his man down and probing for weaknesses, looking for and creating opportunities to unleash his power. He was also one of the greatest finishers who ever lived. When Joe Louis hurt a man, he invariably finished him off with a crushing knockout.

In July 1935, Louis met his first real contender in the form of former heavyweight champ Primo Carnera. Carnera wasn't much of a boxer, lacking in both skill and fire, but what he did have was his mammoth size: "The Ambling Alp" was 6'5", 250lbs, and had 9 inches of reach. To Louis, none of that mattered. When he measured up his man, Louis knocked him down 3 times before making him "utterly helpless" and forcing a 6th Round stoppage.