Who was the Greatest Fighter Joe Louis Defeated?

[HitmanHattonAY]

Conn, Schmeling or Walcott are the names that immediately come to mind.

James Braddock !!

[Jim Jeffries]

James Braddock !!

Kind of odd how Schmeling beats Louis, yet it's Louis that gets the only title shot at Braddock, isn't it?

[The Beatles]

Kind of odd how Schmeling beats Louis, yet it's Louis that gets the only title shot at Braddock, isn't it?

i never really understood that....why did Louis get the title shot first?? was it because Schmeling was too inactive??

[Jim Jeffries]

i never really understood that....why did Louis get the title shot first?? was it because Schmeling was too inactive??

It was only a year later.

Louis was very active during that year, but he wasn't exactly fighting world beaters.

I read somewhere that Braddock's manager talked Louis out of a percentage of his career earnings, though I cannot remember the figure (think it was 10%,) nor confirm it.

This says Braddock fought Louis to avoid fighting Schmeling and risk losing the title to a German:

http://americanhistory.si.edu/archives/d9002c.htm

And this says Braddock got 10 percent of all Mike Jacobs' promotions in which Louis fought due to an agreement made when Braddock agreed to defend his title against Louis.

http://www.murphsplace.com/crowe/braddock/own-words.html

[JAB5239]

Kind of odd how Schmeling beats Louis, yet it's Louis that gets the only title shot at Braddock, isn't it?

i never really understood that....why did Louis get the title shot first?? was it because Schmeling was too inactive??

Braddock was promised 10% of all future earnings from Louis fights. Seeing Joe blaze his way thru other fighters and how popular he was, Jim was in a win/win situation. Lose and get the money. Win and keep the title. Had he fought Schmeling and lost he most likely would have been ostracized and been out of the money and title. The Louis fight simply made the most sense.

[Jim Jeffries]

Braddock was promised 10% of all future earnings from Louis fights. Seeing Joe blaze his way thru other fighters and how popular he was, Jim was in a win/win situation. Lose and get the money. Win and keep the title. Had he fought Schmeling and lost he most likely would have been ostracized and been out of the money and title. The Louis fight simply made the most sense.

Yeah I think Braddock knew he had pretty much no chance with either, which is why he waited two whole years to finally defend his title.

Nice story, excellent movie and huge accomplishment for what was basically a club fighter. Can't say I blame him too much for holding onto that glory for as long as possible and then taking the money.

[JAB5239]

Yeah I think Braddock knew he had pretty much no chance with either, which is why he waited two whole years to finally defend his title.

Nice story, excellent movie and huge accomplishment for what was basically a club fighter. Can't say I blame him too much for holding onto that glory for as long as possible and then taking the money.

Its funny but both Louis and Braddock admired each other very much. Louis had said Braddock was the toughest man he ever fought. Braddock commented that getting hit with Joe's jab was like getting hit by other fighters rights. When asked about getting hit with Louis' right he said it was like getting hit with a tire iron.

[EzzardFan]

For me its Jersey Joe Walcott. A future heavyweight champ, one of the best technicians ever, fast, slippery, KO power in both hands. True he lost to lesser fighters over the course of his career but when he was on form he was spectacular.

Joe Louis got off the canvas to win a disputed decision in their first fight. He also got off the canvas in their second fight to KO Walcott when behind on points.

Louis was not prime in either of these fights, but I'd argue that the 'peak' Walcott that he fought and beat was his best opponent.

Also remember that although Charles and Walcott traded several decisions with each other at heavyweight, Walcott knocked Charles spark out and gave Marciano more of a boxing lesson than Charles did in their first fight prior to the 13th round KO.

I'm with you there.

[ManniePhresh]

I'm with you there.

max baer, schmelling, braddock

[Fiasco]

i never really understood that....why did Louis get the title shot first?? was it because Schmeling was too inactive??

It's because he was German.