Imperial Valley press., 1937-10-27
Bench
BY b. Kinne
Post Press
Sports Editor



When Joe Louis enters the ring
against Max Schmeling in June to
defend his worlds heavyweight box
ing title. it may be the last time
the Brown Bomber is seen in action
whether he wins or loses
Robert La Blonde. United Press
Correspondent. gives another slant
on Louis fistic career, however. and
outlines the Bomber's ring record
and his hope to retire from the
ring as champion of the world.
When Joe Louis embarked on his
career as a professional boxer in
1894, he lifted himself out of a
labor job in an automobile body
plant to become the greatest fin
ancial success of any fighter in
ring history.
Within a year after his first
professional bout, Louis was sur
rounded with an aura of ballyhoo
that made him the biggest ring
attraction of his time. His power
full punch sent sports writers to
new heights in search Of nick
names. Louis became the Brown
Bomber. Alabama Assassin, Sepia
Slasher, Tan Thunderbolt. Detroit
Dynamiter. Black Menace, Jolting
Joe and Dead Pan.
Fight fans flocked to arenas to
see this new mauler. His purses
rose from $50 Qais take from his
first pro match to six figure
amounts. Some statisticians have
estimated Louis received about
$500 per round At present his
worth in cash and investments is
saround S500.000, including several
rich annuities which make him in
dependently wealthy.
Roxborough Took Lead
When Louis abandoned amateur
ranks, he went under the wing of
John Roxborough, Detroit lawyer
and insurance salesman. A smart
operator, Roxborough enlisted Ju-
lian Black of Chicago as CO.
manager. and together they OBJ
tanned Jack Blackburn, veteran
Philadelphia lightweight, as Louis
trainer. Black saw Immediately
Iildl OOC lidd 41dluA al dOA4t3s 81
his job was merely to polish up
this terrific fighting machine-and
offer advice.
From the start of his pro career,
Louis piled knockout upon knock
out to reach the heights. He was
laying his opponents low in the
early rounds. making his future
difficult because fans were begin
ming to expect quick knockouts in
all of his battles. One thing Joe
did accomplishing supplied plenty
of evidence that there was nothing
phony about his bouts. He was
knocking on the doors of the
heavyweight title less than two
years after he started his pro
career His total purses after the
decision over Tommy Farr amount
ed to about $950.000.
Joe's first fight was staged in
Chicago in july 1884, against Jack
McCracken. who became a kayo
victim in less than three minutes.
That year Louis scored 10 knock
outs in 12 fights. winning two
others by decisions. The next year
in 10 fights the Bomber won eight
by the kayo route and two be de-
cisions. Notable among his knock
out victims that year were Primo
Carnera, Max Baer. King I,eyinsky
Pauline Uzcudun and Lee Ramage.
He won 10-round decisions from
Patsy Perroni and Matte Brown
Then Came Schmeling
The first major setback in Louis
climb came in June, 1896, when he
was knocked out by Max Schmel-
ing. He came back. however. in
following months TO knock out
Jack Sharkey. Al Ettore, Jorge
Brescia AMI Eddie Simms. work
ing his way toward a title bout.
Schmeling's objections and pro
moter's lawsuits Notwithstanding
Louis was signed to meet James j.
Braddock in Chicago last June.
After seven game rounds. Brad
rcck dropped his title to the De-
troit Negro
Thus. the son of an Alabama
cotton picker became worlds cham
pion at the age of %. the youngest
fighter ever to win the crown
There had been only one other
Negro heavyweight champion, Jack
johnson.
The Bomber believes he has at
least four goc1 years Of fighting
left. He confides that it's his one
ambition to retire as indicated
champion. as did Gene Tunney. II
he still holds the title after four
years, he viii do just that, his
managers assert.