The Heavyweight Top Champions of All Time THE HEAVYWEIGHT TOP CHAMPIONS OF ALL TIME 06/20/98 Disclaimer: The list below is based on each boxer's last name. 1. Muhammad Ali Started his pro career 1960 until 1981, Muhammad Ali - previously known as Cassius Clay, has booked professional fight record of 56-5 (57 KO). He was nicknamed as "The Greatest" as he always proved every words he said before afight was done. Ali was also known as the one who invented rope and dope technique in boxing. "Dance like a butterfly and sting like a bee" was always reflected in his fights. Ali was the first man in the world who succeeded to be a three times Heavyweight champion, before Evander Holyfield did it again in 1997. Ali fist got the world title after defeating Sonny Liston by KO7 in Miami Beach, Fl, February 25, 1964. 2.

Ezzard Charles He fought in 1940-1959, and finally became a world champion in 1950-1951 after he defeated the legend Joe Louis on September 27, 1950 in New York. After he lost his title defeated by Jersey Joe Walcott (PA, July 18, 1051), Charles failed twice in his attempt to get back the title from Rocky Marciano in 1954. 3. Jack Dempsey The 1919-1926 Heavyweight world champion , Jack Dempsey, fought in professional boxing in 1914-1940. He first got his title from Jess Willard in Toledo, OH (July 4, 1919). He then lost the title in September 1926 after defeated by Gene Tuney in Chicago, IL. 4. George Foreman "Big George" started his pro debut in 1969 and ended it nicely in 1997. He is the oldest Heavyweight world champion in history, and he has become a legend for that.

Collecting 76 wins (68 KO) and only 5 losses, Foreman was really an amazing champion. He first got the title by defeating Smokin' Joe Frazier in Jamaica by KO2 (Jan. 22, 1973). Ali seized the title on October 30, 1974 by KO4 in Kinsasha, Zaire. He decided to retire after Jimmy Young defeated him in 1997, but then he made a spectacular moment when he knocked out Michael Moorer in Las Vegas when he was 45 (January 23, 1989). 5. Joe Frazier He was world champion in 1970-1973, the time of the toughest competition in heavyweight world. Frazier fought in 1965-1981 and collecting 32-4 (27 KO) fight record. He got the Heavyweight title in February 16, 1970 from Jimmy Ellis by KO5 in NY. He was forced to give the crown to Foreman after he was KO'd in round 2. 6.

Larry Holmes This "Easton Assassin" almost got the 49 consecutive victories as Marciano did, but he failed after Michael Spinks defeated him in 1985. Holmes (66-6, 42 KO's) boxed from 1973-1997. He was a consecutive champion for 7 years, 1978-1985. Holmes got the world title on June 9, 1978 from Ken Norton by points in Las Vegas. In his come back, Holmes has tried to get back his lost title several times, including Tyson (1988), but he never made it. Evander Holyfield "The Real Deal" is a very religious boxer. Until today, he has gathered fight records of 35-3 (25 KO's). He was Cruiserweight champion (1986-1990), then to KO James Douglas in round 3 on October 25, 1990. He is the second man in history after Ali who could be the 3 times Heavyweight world champion. He is considered as a legend after his 2 consecutive spectacular victories against Tyson in 1997.

8. Jack Johnson Johnson, 78-13-11 (49 KO's), boxed in 1897-1945. He was the world champion in 1908-1914 after defeating Tommy Burns in Sydney by KO14 (December 26, 1908). 9. Sonny Liston Liston was the 1962-1964's Heavyweight champion. He professionally boxed in 1953-1970, owning fight records of 50-4 (39 KO's). Liston got the title from Floyd Patterson by KO1 in Chicagi, IL. (September 25, 1962). 10. Lennox Lewis Lewis became the Brittish pride after becoming the world champion defeating Tonny Tucker by points on May 8, 1993. After being defeated by Oliver McCall by KO2, Lewis has returned to be the world champion since 1994 until today. He has fight records of 33-1 (27 KO's). 11.

Joe Louis Louis was the world champion in 1937-1948, with fight records of 68-3 (54 KO's). He professionally boxed in 1934-1951, and to get the world championship crown on June 22, 1937 by KOing James Braddock in round 8 in Chicago, IL. 12. Rocky Marciano He is the only man in history having a consecutive victory record 49-0 in his Heavyweight career. Marciano, started his debut in 1947 and announced retirement in 1956 when he was still a champion. The Brocton Blockbuster, the way he was called, seized the heavyweight championship title from Jersey Joe Walcott by KO13 on September 23 in PA. Marciano, the original Rocky, died in a plane crash in August 31, 1968 when he was 46. 13. Floyd Patterson The former youngest heavyweight champion before Tyson did it.

This 1956-1962's champion got the title on November 30, 1956 by defeating Archie Moore (KO5) in Chicago, IL. Since his professional debut (1952) until his retirement (1972) Patterson has collected 52 wins (40 KO's) - 8 - 1. 14. Max Schmelling This German pride was the champion in 1930-1932, that the title was taken from Jack Sharkey by disq. 4 (New York, June 12, 1998). Schmelling's boxing record (1924-1948) is 56-10-4 (39 KO's) - He was forced to give the championship crown to Joe Louis after he was KO'd in round 1 on June 22, 1938. 15. John L. Sullivan "Boston Strong Boy" was born in 1858, started his professional debut in 1878.

He became the greatest in Heavyweight after sending Dominic McCaffrey in round 6 on August 29, 1885. He was the champion until 1892 before he retired in 1892. His boxing record was 41-1-3 (36 KO's) 16. Gene Tuney Tuney, 1926-1928 champion, started his pro career in 1915 and retired in 1928. He got the title from Jack Dempsey on September 23, 1926 in Philadelphia. His record noted 65-1-1 (47 KO's). 17. Mike Tyson "Iron" Tyson was declared as the most scarry boxer of the century, following his outrageous KO victories in early rounds. This controversial fighter started his pro career in 1986 and got his world title on November 22, 1986 from Trevor Berbick in Las Vegas (TKO2).

He was then inactive for being enjailed (1992-1994), and got again his lost champion belt on March 16, 1996 by defeating Frank Bruno by TKO3. One worst thing in his life was when he was suspended from boxing after he bite Holyfield's ears in an emotional fight in 1997. He's planned to return to the ring in this year. 18. Jersey Joe Walcott Started his pro debut in 1930, Walcott became the world champion on July 18, 1951 by defeating Ezzard Charles (KO7) in PA. After he lost his belt in 1952, he tried to get it back for several times with failures. Finally he decided to retire in 1953 after being KO'd by Marciano in the first round in Chicago, IL. He had bout records of 53-18-1 (33 KO's).

Jeff Joe Louis, 66, Heavyweight King Who Reigned 12 Years, Is Dead Joe Louis, 66, Heavyweight King Who Reigned 12 Years, Is Dead By DEANE McGOWEN Joe Louis, who held the heavyweight boxing championship of the world for almost 12 years and the affection of the American public for most of his adult life, died yesterday of cardiac arrest in Las Vegas, Nev. He was 66 years old. Mr. Louis, who was champion from 1937 until 1949, collapsed in the bathroom of his home at approximately 9:30 A.M. (P.S.T.). Efforts by Noel Larimer, his personal therapist, and by paramedics to revive Mr. Louis were unsuccessful. He was pronounced dead at Desert Springs Hospital at 10:05 A.M. His wife, Martha, was with him at the hospital. Defended Title 25 Times Slow of foot but redeemingly fast of hands, Joe Louis dominated heavyweight boxing from 1937 to 1948. As world champion he defended his title 25 times, facing all challengers and fighting the best that the countries of the world could offer.

In the opinion of many boxing experts, the plain, simple, unobtrusive Brown Bomber - as he was known - with his crushing left jab and hook, was probably the best heavyweight fighter of all time. The 6-foot-1 1/2-inch, 197-pound Louis won his title June 22, 1937, in Chicago, by knocking out James J. Braddock in eight rounds, thus becoming the first black heavyweight champion since Jack Johnson, who had reigned earlier in the century. Before Louis retired undefeated as champion on March 1, 1949, his last title defense had been against Jersey Joe Walcott. Louis knocked him out on June 25, 1948, in New York. As the titleholder, his fights had grossed more than $4.6 million, of which he received about $800,000. A fighter who wasted little time in dispatching his opponents, Louis's earnings per round were extraordinarily high. Of the 25 title defenses, only three went the full 15 rounds.

Tony Galento, for example, survived four rounds in 1939, and Buddy Baer managed one round in 1942. Excluding exhibitions, Louis won 68 professional fights and lost only three. He scored 54 knockouts, including five in the first round. After retiring, he continued to appear in exhibitions and in 1950 he decided to make a comeback, but was beaten by Ezzard Charles in 15 rounds. His final professional bout took place on Oct. 26, 1951, when he lost to Rocky Marciano in New York. His final competition, an exhibition, took place Dec. 16, 1951, in Taipei against Cpl. Buford J. DeCordova. Schmeling Blitzed The most spectacular victim of Louis's robust punches was Max Schmeling, the German fighter who was personally hailed by Adolf Hitler as a paragon of Teutonic manhood. Schmeling, who had knocked out Louis in 12 rounds in 1936, was given a return bout on June 22, 1938, in Yankee Stadium.

He was knocked out in 2 minutes 4 seconds of the first round. Describing the bout in The New York Times, John Kieran wrote: ''Well, of all things! It's on and it's over. Just as Joe promised. He stepped in and started a lightning attack. Lefts and rights - Bang! Bang! Bang! Schmeling reeled into the ropes on the first-base side of the ring and clung like a shipwrecked soldier to a lifeline. ''Swaying on the ropes, Max peered out in a bewildered manner. He pushed himself off and Louis struck like dark lightning again. A ripping left and a smashing right. The right was the crusher. Schmeling went down. He was up again and then, under another fusillade, down again. Once more, and barely able to stand, and then down for the third and final time.'' Not all of Louis's fights were so savage. Many of his adversaries entered the ring already quaking and his task of finishing them off was thus a matter of a half dozen solid punches at the proper moment. A Considerate Man There was no Joe Louis behind any facade.

He was the same slowspoken, considerate person in a close social group as he was to the vast crowds that surged in on him to clutch his every word when he was at the apogee of the boxing world. A simple dignity was characteristic of Louis, who never pretended that his sharecropper origins in Alabama were more than humble. Louis was born Joseph Louis Barrow on May 13, 1914, in the cottonfield country near Lafayette, Ala., the eighth child of Munn and Lilly Barrow. His boyhood was one of want and little schooling. In his teens, he did odd jobs to help his family until the they moved to Detroit. He worked as a laborer there in the River Rouge plant of the Ford Company. Studied Cabinet-Making The future champion attended Bronson Vocational School for a time to learn cabinet-making, before turning to amateur boxing at the request of a schoolmate. He made his boxing debut in an amateur tournament in Detroit, where he was then making his home, as a lightheavyweight. He lost the decision, getting knocked down three times by Johnny Miler in a three-rounder.

However, he persevered and, in 1934, won the national Amateur Athletic Union light-heavyweight title. That ended his career as an amateur. His record included 43 knockout victories in 54 bouts. On July 4, 1934, Louis appeared as a professional fighter for the first time and knocked out Jack Kracken in one round in Chicago. Much of Louis's success was due to the capable manner in which he was handled as a professional. His amateur record brought him to the attention of Julian Black and John Roxborough, who engaged the late Jack Blackburn, one of the ring's great competitors, to polish the rough spots in the young fighter's style and to get the maximum results out of his tremendous strength and punching power. Louis had 11 more fights in 1934 and 14 in 1935. By then his prowess had attracted the attention of Mike Jacobs in New York. Mr. Jacobs was competing against Madison Square Garden for the right to promote boxing. He went to Detroit to see Louis fight Natie Brown in March 1935. After outpointing Brown, Louis soon joined the New York promoter.

First New York Fight On June 25, 1935, Louis appeared for the first time before New York fans and was an immediate success, knocking out Primo Carnera in six rounds. He was so impressive that fans clamored for a match between him and Max Baer. Baer had lost the heavyweight championship to Braddock only two weeks before Louis stopped Carnera. Louis and Baer met on Sept. 24 of that year, and the young fighter, already recognized as a punching machine, pounded Baer into helplessness in four rounds. Altogether Louis had 14 bouts in 1935 and earned a total of $368,037, an almost incredible sum then for a fighter in his second year as a professional. On June 19, 1936, Louis had his first meeting with Schmeling in New York and suffered his first professional defeat, a 12th-round knockout. Schmeling told reporters before the bout that he had seen faults in Louis's style. After the bout, Schmeling disclosed that Louis had a habit of lowering his left shoulder and arm, leaving his chin open for a right-hand counter punch.

Floored in Fourth Round Schmeling floored Louis with that weapon in the fourth round, and finally knocked him out with more of the right-hand blows in the 12th. Schmeling was promised a title bout against Braddock after he stopped Louis, but Mr. Jacobs wanted Louis to get the chance. After stalling Schmeling, Braddock agreed to meet Louis. They fought in Chicago and Louis knocked out Braddock in the eighth round to win the heavyweight title. In 1938 the new champion had only three bouts, but one of those was his second against Schmeling. Germany was then expounding its superman propaganda to the world, and Hitler had made it known that Schmeling was one of those supermen. Schmeling made the mistake of believing Hitler and made some disparaging remarks about Americans in general and blacks in particular. Champion in a Rage When Louis and the challenger met on June 22, 1938, in New York, the champion was in a rage. Louis cut his opponent down with terrific head and body punches. Schmeling went to a local hospital to recuperate before he returned to Germany.

The 2-minute-4-second time span was a record for turning back a challenger in a heavyweight title bout. The bout was the first million-dollar gate Louis attracted during his career. After that Louis had things pretty much his own way in the ring. Tony Galento had him on the canvas briefly in 1939, Arturo Godoy's crouching nose-to-the-floor tactics puzzled Louis the full 15 rounds in 1940, and Buddy Baer, brother of Max, knocked Louis out of the ring for a nine-count in 1941 before losing. That last event came during Louis's so-called ''bum-of-the-month campaign.'' During it, beginning in December 1940, he met challengers at the rate of one a month, a performance that no other heavyweight champion ever attempted. Louis came close to losing his crown in the first fight with Billy Conn of Pittsburgh on June 18, 1941, at the Polo Grounds. Conn, the light-heavyweight king, relinquished his title to meet Louis. A Lesson in Boxing Before that fight many boxing writers had said that Conn would be too speedy and would outbox Louis.

The champion had the perfect answer when he said, ''He can run but he can't hide.'' For 12 rounds Louis received a lesson in boxing from the stylish challenger. However, in the 13th, Conn dropped his successful tactics and attempted to slug it out with Louis. The move cost him the championship. Louis knocked him out with two seconds left in the round. Three months later Louis stopped Lou Nova, and in January 1942, he defeated Buddy Baer again, in 2:56 of the first round. That bout in Madison Square Garden was for the Navy Relief Society, which received $47,000. Two months later Louis knocked out Abe Simon in the sixth round of a fight in New York. The Army Relief society gained by $36,146. Louis then went into the Army as a private. Traveled Widely in Army As a soldier, Louis traveled more than 21,000 miles and staged 96 boxing exhibitions before two million soldiers. Louis came out of the Army on Oct. 1, 1945, and shortly after signed to defend his title against Conn.

The bout was the second million-dollar gate Louis drew and earned him the largest purse of his career, $625,916.44. The champion stopped Conn in the eighth round at Yankee Stadium on June 19, 1946. The champion defended his title three more times after the Conn fight, knocking out Tami Mauriello and Jersey Joe Walcott twice. After the second Walcott bout on June 25, 1948, Louis retired - officially on March 1, 1949. He later tried a comeback but failed to regain his championship form. Ezzard Charles outpointed him in 15 rounds at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 27, 1950. A year later Louis's ring career came to an end when Rocky Marciano knocked him out in the eighth round of their bout at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 26, 1951. Although he made a lot of money, it passed through his fingers quickly - and without the sort of accounting that the Internal Revenue Service expects.

As a result, the Government calculated that his delinquent taxes - after penalties and interest - amounted to $1.25 million, a sum that Louis found staggering. ''I liked the good life,'' Louis said. ''I just don't know where the money went. I wish I did. I got 50 percent of each purse and all kinds of expenses came out of my cut.'' In the mid-1960's, an accommodation was reached with the Government and the boxer was able to pay off his obligations. In 1965, Dana Latham, the commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service, informed Congress: ''We have gotten all we could possibly get from Mr. Louis, leaving him with some hope that he can live. His earning days are over.'' Louis was not officially forgiven by the tax collectors, but attempts at getting the money he owed ceased, according to a close friend of the boxer. Food Chain Planned Out of the ring for good, Louis tried to establish himself in a variety of careers. He wrestled briefly and engaged in various sports and commercial promotions.

In 1969, he and Billy Conn, who had lost twice to Louis in title fights, set up the Joe Louis Food Franchise Corporation in the hope of operating an inter-racial chain of food shops. In 1969, he collapsed on a lower Manhattan street and was rushed to Beekman-Downtown Hospital for treatment of what was then described as ''a physical breakdown.'' And in 1970, he spent five months at the Colorado Psychiatric Hospital and the Veterans Administration Hospital in Denver. He was hospitalized by his wife, Martha, and his son, Joe Louis Barrow Jr., suffering from paranoia. Because of his confinement he was unable to attend a tribute to him in Detroit that was attended by more than 8,000 people. Louis disclosed the truth about some of his problems in 1971 in a book, ''Brown Bomber, The Pilgrimage of Joe Louis,'' by Barney Nagler. He said that his collapse in 1969 had been caused by cocaine. And he admitted that his hospitalization had been prompted by his fear of a plot to destroy him.

Louis's son once said of his father: ''I couldn't help thinking of Arthur Miller's play, 'Death of a Salesman.' In the play, the man's name was Willy Loman, wasn't it? Well, there's a correlation between them. Wasn't Willy a grand guy, just like my father, and then he started growing old and losing his customers? He was never really aware that he had lost his territory. That's the tragedy of it, just like my father's.'' Louis's third wife, Martha, said, during her husband's troubles, ''Joe's not broke. He's rich-rich with friends. If he said he needed a dollar, a million people would send him a dollar and he'd be a millionaire.'' Joe Louis was more than just a boxing champion. He also had a role in the social history of the United States. In a 1970 article about Louis in Ebony magazine, Chester Higgins wrote: ''He gave inspiration to downtrodden and despised people. When Joe Louis fought, blacks in ghettos across the land were indoors glued to their radios, and when Louis won, as he nearly always did, they hit the streets whooping and hollering in celebration.

For Joe's victory was their victory, a means of striking back at an oppressive and hateful environment. Louis was the black Atlas on whose broad shoulders blacks were lifted, for in those days, there were few authentic black heroes.'' In 1974 he took time off from his job as a ''greeter'' at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nev., to referee the heavyweight fight between Joe Frazier and Jerry Quarry, proclaiming Frazier the winner after the fifth round because of heavy cuts on Quarry's face. Mr. Louis and Marva Trotter, a 19-year-old Chicago secretary, were married on Sept. 24, 1935. The marriage took place in a Harlem apartment just a few hours before Louis stepped into the ring and knocked out Max Baer. The couple were divorced in March 1945, but remarried a year later. They were divorced a second time in February 1949. A daughter, Jacquelin, was born to the couple on Feb. 8, 1943, and a son, Joe Jr., on May 28, 1947. Mr.

Louis's third marriage was to Rose Morgan, a New York cosmetics manufacturer, on Christmas Day, 1955. His fourth marriage was to Mrs. Martha Jackson, a Los Angeles lawyer. It took place March 17, 1959, after his union with Rose Morgan Louis was terminated by annulment. Mr. Louis's death came only a few hours after he had attended the heavyweight championship fight on Saturday night between Larry Holmes and Trevor Berbick at Caesars Palace where for many years he was employed as a ''greeter.'' Since 1977, Mr. Louis had been confined to a wheelchair following surgery to correct an aortic aneurysm. His health over the last decade had been poor, beset with heart problems, emotional disorders and strokes. An electronic pacemaker was implanted near his heart last Dec. 23 in Houston. ''He was in a cardiac arrest when he arrived,'' said Shirley Brown, the nursing supervisor at Desert Springs Hospital. ''They did everything they could to revive him. He had been ill for quite some time. He had been hospitalized before.'' ''Mrs. Louis is taking it as well as can be expected,'' said Harry Wald, the president of Caesars Palace.

''We're very shocked at what happened. He was at the fight last night. He was really enjoying himself and his pacemaker was working very well. He was looking forward to attending the Diana Ross Show tomorrow night at the hotel and then this morning he just collapsed. It's very sad.'' A spokesman for the Louis family said that the former champion's body would lie in state on Thursday at Caesars Palace. Burial will be on Friday morning at a burial site yet to be determined. Louis becomes champ - Jun 22, 1937 - HISTORY.com Louis becomes champ Publisher A+E Networks In Chicago’s Comiskey Park, Joe Louis wins the world heavyweight boxing title when he defeats American Jim Braddock in an eighth-round knockout. Louis was the first African American heavyweight champ since Jack Johnson, who lost the title in 1915. During his subsequent reign, the longest in the history of the heavyweight division, Louis successfully defended his title 25 times, scoring 21 knockouts. Joe Louis, born in 1914, was the seventh son of a sharecropping family that worked in the cotton fields of Lexington, Alabama.

His family moved to Chicago when he was 10, and two years later Louis dropped out of school to work in a Ford factory. He took up boxing at the Brewster East Side Gymnasium and at age 16 entered his first amateur tournament. He proved an outstanding amateur, winning the U.S. Amateur Athletic Union light heavyweight crown in 1934. On July 4, 1934, he defeated Jack Kracken in his professional debut. Louis went on to win his first 27 professional fights, beating the likes of former heavyweight champions Primo Carnera and Max Baer, both by knockouts. Remembering the experience of Jack Johnson, who fled the United States in 1912 to escape persecution stemming from his marriage to a white woman, Louis’ black managers instructed their protege to keep a tight lip, never be photographed with a white woman, and never smile after knocking down a white man. On June 19, 1936, Louis met Max Schmeling, a former heavyweight champ from Germany, at Yankee Stadium. Schmeling handed Louis his first defeat, knocking him out in the 12th round.

Many white Americans celebrated the victory of Schmeling, a dutiful Nazi at the time, over the previously invincible Louis. Joe Louis, however, did not stay down for long, and on June 22, 1937, he met champ Jim Braddock in Comiskey Park for a title fight. Louis was dropped early in the bout, but he rose from the canvas to knock out Braddock in the eighth round. After easily defeating two challengers, Louis met Schmeling for a dramatic rematch at Yankee Stadium on June 22, 1938–exactly one year after he won the heavyweight title. By the summer of 1938, Adolf Hitler was menacing Europe, and America found itself changing loyalties to root for Louis over Schmeling, who was condemned as a symbol of Nazi oppression. It took Louis two minutes and four seconds to defeat the German. Louis, already a great hero of African Americans everywhere, was hailed as a hero for all Americans. Joe Louis went undefeated in his nearly 12-year heavyweight reign, defeating a total of 25 challengers. During World War II, he was inducted into the U.S.

Army, and he traveled extensively, staging matches, giving boxing exhibitions, and refereeing bouts. After the war, he defended his title a few more times and in March 1947 announced his retirement. In September 1950, he returned to boxing, but lost to his successor as champ, Ezzard Charles, in a 15-round decision. He won eight more fights during the next year but in October 1951 was knocked out in the eighth round by the up-and-coming Rocky Marciano. He retired permanently after this comeback attempt. In his retirement, Joe Louis suffered from tax problems and financial difficulties. He later worked as a host at a Las Vegas casino. He died in 1981. Related Videos All heavyweight title fights and champs - SuperSport - Boxing All heavyweight title fights and champs by Ron Jackson 01 April 2015, 20:45 Tweet How many times did Joe Louis fight for a heavyweight title? And how many times did Muhammad Ali? And Mike Tyson? No more arguing. No more digging around in old record books. The answers to these questions are right here at your fingertips.

The results of all heavyweight championship fights have been meticulously compiled by SuperBoxing's Ron Jackson. It is a list that will solve many queries. Remember Karl Mildenberger? Not? You should. He fought for the world heavyweight title. Against Muhammad Ali, no less. And stuck around for twelve rounds. His name, and those of many other forgotten and forgettable heavyweights, can be found in this list. But it will take a long time before anyone comes close to the record compiled by Joe Louis. Check it out. World Heavyweight Championship Fights Joe Louis, American boxer, 1938. Pictures | Getty Images Joe Louis, American boxer, 1938. January 01, 1938 License Joe Louis , American boxer, 1938. Nicknamed the 'Brown Bomber', Joe Louis ... Joe Louis , American boxer, 1938. Nicknamed the 'Brown Bomber', Joe Louis (1914-1981) is one of the iconic figures of heavyweight boxing history.

He won the world championship in 1937 when he knocked out James J Braddock and retained it until 1949, making 25 successful defences of the title. He then retired, but unwisely made a comeback in 1950, making an unsuccessful attempt to reclaim the world championship from new champion Ezzard Charles. A Churchman's Cigarettes picture card. LessMore The Official Site of Joe Louis FACEBOOK Joe Louis burst onto the professional boxing scene in 1934 with style and skill such as the boxing world has seldom seen. Known to many as the "Brown Bomber," Louis emerged victorious from his first 27 fights, all but four of which he won in knockouts. In the early days of his career, he destroyed such great heavyweight fighters as Stanley Poreda, Natie Brown, and Rosco Toles. It was here that Louis delivered to the entire world a premonition of the reign of domination that he was to begin. Joe Louis Barrow was born on May 13, 1914. His father, "Mun Barrow," was a cotton picker from Alabama and his family fought with poverty for most of his childhood.

His family moved to Detroit in 1924, at which point Joe first became involved in boxing. Having grown up in the Old South, Louis had acquired the instinct and anger of a true fighter, even amidst the evils of racial discrimination and intolerance. His early career was a period of hard work and determination, and was one without glamour or fame. Ten years after his arrival in Detroit, Louis won the Golden Gloves as a light heavyweight. Following this win, Louis turned professional and won twelve contests within the first year. The first few years of Louis' pro career involved a steady ascension up the pyramid of the Heavyweight class. His boxing prowess, as well as his reputation, was growing at an incredible rate. In June of 1935, he fought Primo Carnera, the former heavyweight champion, before a Yankee Stadium crowd of 62,000. Louis followed this fight with a pairing against Max Baer, who he defeated by knockout in the fourth round. Ernest Hemingway described this fight as "the most disgusting public spectacle outside of a public hanging" that he had ever seen.

Joe Louis was seemingly invincible, until his meeting with Max Schmeling on June 19, 1936. Schmeling was the underdog but, to the surprise of all, gave Louis a defeat that would continue to sting long after the cuts had healed. Louis was counted out in the 12th round of this lengthy fight and suffered the first and most painful defeat of his boxing career. In 1937, Louis faced world heavyweight champion James J. Braddock in Chicago. In an eight round match, Louis captured the heavyweight title of the world by knocking Braddock out. After this victory, Louis stated, "I don't want nobody to call me champ until I beat Schmeling." Louis had ascended to the top of the boxing world, but in his estimate his journey was far from complete. His embarrassing loss to Max Schmeling was the only dark spot on a career that otherwise was the stuff of dreams, and he was consumed by a desire for revenge. Following this successful title defense against Welsh boxer Tommy Farr in a 15-round marathon match, Louis initiated his "Bum of the Month" campaign.

The idea was for Louis to take on a variety of fighters, whether they were contenders or not. During this period, on the day of June 22, 1938, Louis once again took on the only opponent who had ever beaten him, Max Schmeling. This time around, Louis knocked Schmeling out and captured the admiration of countless Americans. Louis gained a moral victory for himself and for his country, and simultaneously struck a damaging blow to Hitler and his pretentious beliefs. Louis' first punches, a pair of powerful left hooks, began his opponent's eventual demise. Schmeling complained bitterly about being hit with foul kidney punches, but every punch was a fair one. The fight was nothing short of ridiculous, with Schmeling falling to the floor in just two minutes and four seconds. It was this time period that bore witness to Louis' reign of terror in the heavyweight boxing world. Beginning in 1937, he began a 12-year reign as boxing's heavyweight champion of the world. During this stretch, Louis had victories over Lou Nova, Tony Galento, Gus Dorazio, Buddy Baer, and Johnny Paycheck.

Louis' epic battle with Billy Conn at the Polo Grounds also occurred during this time. In 1942, Joe Louis began a period of service in the Army and worked as a physical education teacher. It would be four years before Louis again returned to the ring. Between 1946 and 1949, Louis flawlessly defended his title four times, including two victorious fights against 'Jersey' Joe Walcott. Louis retired in 1949, still the undefeated heavyweight champ. Succumbing to financial pressures and government debts, Louis was forced back into the ring. In 1950, he attempted to recapture his title in a bout against Ezzard Charles. However, in a points decision, Louis was handed a loss. Not ready to accept defeat, he again tried his hand in 1951 against Rocky Marciano. During this unsuccessful return to the ring, Marciano knocked Louis through the ropes in the 8th round. This was Joe Louis' final time in the ring. He had earned $5 million in his illustrious boxing career. But at 37, Joe Louis had not a single cent to show for it.

To support himself, Louis decided to make a living as a Las Vegas casino host. Joe Louis still holds the distinction of having successfully defended his title more times than any other heavyweight in history. He knocked out five world champions and will remain a powerful part of boxing history for many decades to come. His life and success story serve as proof that black and white Americans can coexist. Joe Louis is a role model for all of us and proved that good sportsmanship can exist even in a sport as violent as boxing. When he died in 1981, Joe Louis was eulogized - and continues to be known - as one of the greatest prizefighters of all time.

Heavyweight Boxing History - Muhammad Ali, Rocky Marciano, Joe Louis, Jack Dempsey World Heavyweight Championship Fights UNDISPUTED WBC WBA IBF WBO 07/09/1892 James J Corbett KO21 John L Sullivan 25/01/1894 James J Corbett KO3 Charlie Mitchell 17/03/1897 Bob Fitzsimmons KO14 James J Corbett 09/06/1899 James J Jeffries KO11 Bob Fitzsimmons 03/11/1899 James J Jeffries PTS25 Tom Sharkey 11/05/1900 James J Jeffries KO23 James J Corbett 15/11/1901 James J Jeffries RTD5 Gus Ruhlin 25/07/1902 James J Jeffries KO8 Bob Fitzsimmons 14/08/1903 James J Jeffries KO10 James J Corbett 26/08/1904 James J Jeffries KO2 Jack Monroe 03/07/19

05 Marvin Hart TKO12 Jack Root 23/02/1906 Tommy Burns PTS20 Marvin Hart 02/10/1906 Tommy Burns KO15 Jim Flynn 28/11/1906 Tommy Burns D20 Jack O'Brien 08/05/1907 Tommy Burns PTS20 Jack O'Brien 04/07/1907 Tommy Burns KO1 Bill Squires 02/12/1907 Tommy Burns KO10 Gunner Moir 10/02/1908 Tommy Burns KO4 Jack Palmer 17/03/1908 Tommy Burns KO1 Jem Roche 18/04/1908 Tommy Burns KO5 Jewey Smith 13/06/1908 Tommy Burns KO8 Bill Squires 24/08/1908 Tommy Burns KO13 Bill Squires 02/09/1908 Tommy Burns KO6 Bill Lang 26/12/1908 Jack Johnson TKO12 Tommy Burns 16/10/

1909 Jack Johnson KO12 Stanley Ketchel 04/07/1910 Jack Johnson TKO15 James J Jeffries 04/07/1912 Jack Johnson KO9 Jim Flynn 28/11/1913 Jack Johnson KO2 Andre Sproul 19/12/1913 Jack Johnson D20 Jim Johnson 27/06/1914 Jack Johnson PTS20 Frank Moran 05/04/1915 Jess Willard KO26 Jack Johnson 25/03/1916 Jess Willard ND10 Frank Moran 04/07/1919 Jack Dempsey RTD3 Jess Willard 06/09/1920 Jack Dempsey KO3 Billy Miske 14/12/1920 Jack Dempsey KO12 Bill Brennan 02/07/1921 Jack Dempsey KO4 Georges Carpentier 04/07/1923 Jack Dempsey PTS15 Tom Gibbons 14/09/1923 Jack Dempsey

 KO2 Luis Firpo 23/09/1926 Gene Tunney PTS10 Jack Dempsey 22/09/1927 Gene Tunney PTS10 Jack Dempsey 26/07/1928 Gene Tunney TKO11 Tom Heeney 12/06/1930 Max Schmeling DQ4 Jack Sharkey 03/07/1931 Max Schmeling TKO15 Young Stribling 21/06/1932 Jack Sharkey PTS15 Max Schmeling 29/06/1933 Primo Carnera KO6 Jack Sharkey 22/10/1933 Primo Carnera PTS15 Paolino Uzcudun 01/03/1934 Primo Carnera PTS15 Tommy Loughran 14/06/1934 Max Baer TKO11 Primo Carnera 13/06/1935 James J Braddock PTS15 Max Baer 22/06/193

7 Joe Louis KO8 James J Braddock 30/08/1937 Joe Louis PTS15 Tommy Farr 23/02/1938 Joe Louis KO3 Nathan Mann 01/04/1938 Joe Louis KO5 Harry Thomas 22/06/1938 Joe Louis KO1 Max Schmeling 25/01/1939 Joe Louis TKO1 John Henry Lewis 17/04/1939 Joe Louis KO1 Jack Roper 28/06/1939 Joe Louis TKO4 Tony Galento 20/09/1939 Joe Louis KO11 Bob Pastor 09/02/1940 Joe Louis PTS15 Arturo Godoy 23/09/1940 Joe Louis KO2 Johnny Paycheck 20/06/1940 Joe Louis TKO8 Arturo Godoy 16/12/1940 Joe Louis RTD6 Al McCoy 31/01/1941 Joe Louis KO5 Red Burman 17/02/1

941 Joe Louis KO2 Gus Dorazio 21/03/1941 Joe Louis TKO13 Abe Simon 08/04/1941 Joe Louis TKO9 Tony Musto 23/05/1941 Joe Louis DQ7 Buddy Baer 18/06/1941 Joe Louis KO13 Billy Conn 29/09/1941 Joe Louis TKO6 Lou Nova 09/01/1942 Joe Louis KO1 Buddy Baer 27/03/1942 Joe Louis KO6 Abe Simon 19/06/1946 Joe Louis KO8 Billy Conn 18/09/1946 Joe Louis KO1 Tami Mauriello 05/12/1947 Joe Louis PTS15 Jersey Joe Walcott 25/06/1948 Joe Louis * KO11 Jersey Joe Walcott 22/06/1949 Ezzard Charles PTS15 Jersey Joe Walcott 10/08/1949 Ezzard Charles TKO7

 Gus Lesnevich 14/10/1949 Ezzard Charles KO8 Pat Valentino 15/08/1950 Ezzard Charles TKO14 Freddie Beshore 27/09/1950 Ezzard Charles PTS15 Joe Louis 05/12/1950 Ezzard Charles KO11 Nick Barone 12/01/1951 Ezzard Charles TKO10 Lee Oma 07/03/1951 Ezzard Charles PTS15 Jersey Joe Walcott 30/05/1951 Ezzard Charles PTS15 Joey Maxim 18/07/1951 Jersey Joe Walcott KO7 Ezzard Charles 05/06/1952 Jersey Joe Walcott PTS15 Ezzard Charles 23/09/1952 Rocky Marciano KO13 Jersey Joe Walcott 15/05/1953 Rocky Marciano KO1 Jersey Joe Walcott 24/09/1953 Rocky Marciano TKO11 Roland La

Starza 17/06/1954 Rocky Marciano PTS15 Ezzard Charles 17/09/1954 Rocky Marciano KO8 Ezzard Charles 16/05/1955 Rocky Marciano TKO9 Don Cockell 21/09/1955 Rocky Marciano * KO9 Archie Moore 30/11/1956 Floyd Patterson KO5 Archie Moore 29/07/1957 Floyd Patterson TKO10 Tommy Jackson 22/08/1957 Floyd Patterson KO6 Pete Rademacher 18/08/1958 Floyd Patterson RTD12 Roy Harris 01/05/1959 Floyd Patterson KO11 Brian London 26/06/1959 Ingemar Johansson TKO3 Floyd Patterson 20/06/1960 Floyd Patterson KO5 Ingemar Johansson 13/03/1961 Floyd Patterson KO6 Ingemar Johansson 04/12/1961 Floyd Patterson KO4 Tom McNeeley 2

5/09/1962 Sonny Liston KO1 Floyd Patterson 22/07/1963 Sonny Liston KO1 Floyd Patterson 25/02/1964 Muhammad Ali RTD6 Sonny Liston 05/03/1965 Ernie Terrell PTS15 Eddie Machen 25/05/1965 Muhammad Ali KO1 Sonny Liston 01/11/1965 Ernie Terrell PTS15 George Chuvalo 22/11/1965 Muhammad Ali TKO12 Floyd Patterson 29/03/1966 Muhammad Ali PTS15 George Chuvalo 21/05/1966 Muhammad Ali TKO6 Henry Cooper 28/06/1966 Ernie Terrell PTS15 Doug Jones 06/08/1966 Muhammad Ali KO3 Brian London 10/09/1966 Muhammad Ali TKO12 Karl Mildenberger 14/11/1966 Muhammad Ali TKO3 Cleveland Williams 06/0

2/1967 Muhammad Ali PTS15 Ernie Terrell 22/03/1967 Muhammad Ali KO7 Zora Folley 04/03/1968 Joe Frazier TKO11 Buster Mathis 27/04/1968 Jimmy Ellis PTS15 Jerry Quarry 24/06/1968 Joe Frazier RTD2 Manuel Ramos 14/09/1968 Jimmy Ellis PTS15 Floyd Patterson 10/12/1968 Joe Frazier PTS15 Oscar Bonavena 22/04/1969 Joe Frazier KO1 Dave Zyglewicz 23/06/1969 Joe Frazier TKO7 Jerry Quarry 16/02/1970 Joe Frazier RTD4 Jimmy Ellis 18/11/1970 Joe Frazier KO2 Bob Foster 08/03/1971 Joe Frazier PTS15 Muhammad Ali 15/01/1972 Joe Frazier TKO4 Terry Daniels 26/05/197

2 Joe Frazier TKO4 Ron Stander 22/01/1973 George Foreman TKO2 Joe Frazier 01/09/1973 George Foreman KO1 Jose Roman 26/03/1974 George Foreman TKO2 Ken Norton 30/10/1974 Muhammad Ali KO8 George Foreman 24/03/1975 Muhammad Ali TKO15 Chuck Wepner 16/05/1975 Muhammad Ali TKO11 Ron Lyle 01/07/1975 Muhammad Ali PTS15 Joe Bugner 01/10/1975 Muhammad Ali RTD14 Joe Frazier 20/02/1976 Muhammad Ali KO5 Jean-Pierre Coopman 30/04/1976 Muhammad Ali PTS15 Jimmy Young 24/05/1976 Muhammad Ali KO5 Richard Dunn 28/09/1976 Muhammad Ali PTS15 Ken Norton 16/05/1977 Muhammad Ali PTS15 Alfred

o Evangelista 29/09/1977 Muhammad Ali PTS15 Earnie Shavers 15/02/1978 Leon Spinks PTS15 Muhammad Ali 10/06/1978 Larry Holmes PTS15 Ken Norton 15/09/1978 Muhammad Ali * PTS15 Leon Spinks 10/11/1978 Larry Holmes KO7 Alfredo Evangelista 23/09/1979 Larry Holmes TKO7 Ossie Oscasio 22/06/1979 Larry Holmes TKO12 Mike Weaver 28/09/1979 Larry Holmes TKO11 Earnie Shavers 20/10/1979 John Tate PTS15 Gerrie Coetzee 31/03/1980 Larry Holmes KO6 Lorenzo Zannon 31/03/1980 Mike Weaver KO15 John Tate 31/03/1980 Larry Holmes TKO8 Leroy Jones 07/07/1980 Larry Holmes TKO7 Scott Ledoux 

02/10/1980 Larry Holmes RTD10 Muhammad Ali 25/10/1980 Mike Weaver KO13 Gerrie Coetzee 11/04/1981 Larry Holmes PTS15 Trevor Berbick 12/06/1981 Larry Holmes TKO3 Leon Spinks 03/10/1981 Mike Weaver PTS15 James Tillis 06/11/1981 Larry Holmes TKO11 Renaldo Snipes 11/06/1982 Larry Holmes TKO13 Gerry Cooney 26/11/1982 Larry Holmes PTS15 Randall 'Tex' Cobb 10/12/1982 Michael Dokes TKO1 Mike Weaver 26/03/1983 Larry Holmes PTS 12 Lucien Rodriquez 20/05/1983 Michael Dokes D15 Mike Weaver 20/05/1983 Larry Holmes PTS12 Tim Witherspoon 10/09/1983 Larry Holmes TKO5 Scott

 Frank 23/09/1983 Gerrie Coetzee KO10 Michael Dokes 25/11/1983 Larry Holmes * TKO1 Marvis Frazier 09/03/1984 Tim Witherspoon PTS12 Greg Page 31/08/1984 Pinklon Thomas PTS12 Tim Witherspoon 09/11/1984 Larry Holmes TKO12 James Smith 01/12/1984 Greg Page KO8 Gerrie Coetzee 15/03/1985 Larry Holmes TKO10 David Bey 29/04/1985 Tony Tubbs PTS15 Greg Page 20/05/1985 Larry Holmes PTS15 Carl Williams 15/06/1985 Pinklon Thomas KO8 Mike Weaver 21/09/1985 Michael Spinks PTS15 Larry Holmes 17/01/1986 Tim Witherspoon PTS15 Tony Tubbs 22/03/1986 Trevor Berbick PTS12

 Pinklon Thomas 19/04/1986 Michael Spinks PTS15 Larry Holmes 19/07/1986 Tim Witherspoon TKO11 Frank Bruno 06/09/1986 Michael Spinks * TKO4 Steffen Tangstad 22/11/1986 Mike Tyson TKO2 Trevor Berbick 12/12/1986 James Smith TKO1 Tim Witherspoon 07/03/1987 Mike Tyson PTS12 James Smith 30/05/1987 Mike Tyson TKO6 Pinklon Thomas 30/05/1987 Tony Tucker TKO10 James Douglas 01/08/1987 Mike Tyson PTS12 Tony Tucker 16/10/1987 Mike Tyson TKO7 Tyrell Biggs 22/01/1988 Mike Tyson TKO4 Larry Holmes 21/03/1988 Mike Tyson TKO2 Tony Tubbs 27/06/1988 Mike Tyson KO1 Michael Spinks 2

5/02/1989 Mike Tyson TKO5 Frank Bruno 06/05/1989 Francesco Damiani TKO3 Johnny DuPlooy 21/07/1989 Mike Tyson TKO1 Carl Williams 16/12/1989 Francesco Damiani TKO2 Daniel Netto 11/02/1990 James Douglas KO10 Mike Tyson 25/10/1990 Evander Holyfield KO3 James Douglas 11/01/1991 Ray Mercer TKO9 Francesco Damiani 19/04/1991 Evander Holyfield PTS12 George Foreman 18/08/1991 Ray Mercer * TKO5 Tommy Morrison 23/11/1991 Evander Holyfield TKO7 Bert Cooper 15/05/1992 Michael Moorer * TKO5 Bert Cooper 19/06/1992 Evander Holyfield PTS12 Larry Holmes 13/11/1992 Riddick Bowe PTS12 Evander Holyfield 

06/02/1993 Riddick Bowe TKO1 Michael Dokes 08/05/1993 Lennox Lewis PTS12 Tony Tucker 22/05/1993 Riddick Bowe TKO2 Jesse Ferguson 07/06/1993 Tommy Morrison W12 George Foreman 30/08/1993 Tommy Morrison TKO4 Tim Tomashek 02/10/1993 Lennox Lewis TKO7 Frank Bruno 29/10/1993 Michael Bent TKO1 Tommy Morrison 06/11/1993 Evander Holyfield PTS12 Riddick Bowe 19/03/1994 Herbie Hide KO7 Michael Bent 22/04/1994 Michael Moorer PTS12 Evander Holyfield 06/05/1994 Lennox Lewis TKO8 Phil Jackson 25/09/1994 Oliver McCall TKO2 Lennox Lewis 05/11/1994 George Foreman KO10 Michael Mo

orer 11/03/1995 Riddick Bowe KO6 Herbie Hide 08/04/1995 Oliver McCall PTS12 Larry Holmes 08/04/1995 Bruce Seldon TKO7 Tony Tucker 22/04/1995 George Foreman * PTS12 Axel Schulz 17/06/1995 Riddick Bowe KO6 Jorge Luis Gonzales 19/08/1995 Bruce Seldon TKO10 Joe Hipp 02/09/1995 Frank Bruno PTS12 Oliver McCall 09/12/1995 Francois Botha # PTS12 Axel Schulz 16/03/1996 Mike Tyson TKO3 Frank Bruno 22/06/1996 Michael Moorer PTS12 Axel Schulz 29/06/1996 Henry Akinwande TKO3 Jeremy Williams 07/09/1996 Mike Tyson KO1 Bruce Seldon 09/11/1996 Henry Akinwande

 TKO10 Alexander Zolkin 09/11/1996 Evander Holyfield TKO11 Mike Tyson 09/11/1996 Michael Moorer TKO12 Francois Botha 11/01/1997 Henry Akinwande * W12 Scott Welch 07/02/1997 Lennox Lewis TKO5 Oliver McCall 29/03/1997 Michael Moorer PTS12 Vaughn Bean 28/06/1997 Evander Holyfield DQ3 Mike Tyson 28/06/1997 Herbie Hide TKO2 Tony Tucker 12/07/1997 Lennox Lewis TKO5 Henry Akinwande 04/10/1997 Lennox Lewis TKO1 Andrew Golota 08/11/1997 Evander Holyfield TKO8 Michael Moorer 28/03/1998 Lennox Lewis TKO5 Shannon Briggs 18/04/1998 Herbie Hide TKO1 Damon Reed 19/

09/1998 Evander Holyfield PTS12 Vaughn Bean 26/09/1998 Herbie Hide TKO2 Willi Fischer 26/09/1998 Lennox Lewis PTS12 Zeljko Mavrovic 13/03/1999 Lennox Lewis D12 Evander Holyfield 26/06/1999 Vitali Klitschko TKO2 Herbie Hide 09/10/1999 Vitali Klitschko TKO3 Ed Mahone 13/11/1999 Lennox Lewis PTS12 Evander Holyfield 11/12/1999 Vitali Klitschko TKO9 Obed Sullivan 01/04/2000 Chris Byrd TKO10 Vitali Klitschko 29/04/2000 Lennox Lewis KO2 Michael Grant 15/07/2000 Lennox Lewis KO2 Francois Botha 26/08/2000 Evander Holyfield PTS12 John Ruiz 1

4/10/2000 Wladimir Klitschko W12 Chris Byrd 12/11/2000 Lennox Lewis PTS12 David Tua 03/03/2001 John Ruiz PTS12 Evander Holyfield 24/03/2001 Wladimir Klitschko TKO2 Derrick Jefferson 21/04/2001 Hasim Rahman TKO5 Lennox Lewis 04/08/2001 Wladimir Klitschko TKO6 Charles Shufford 17/11/2001 Lennox Lewis KO4 Hasim Rahman 15/12/2001 John Ruiz D12 Evander Holyfield 16/03/2002 Wladimir Klitschko TKO8 Francois Botha 09/06/2002 Lennox Lewis KO8 Mike Tyson 29/06/2002 Wladimir Klitschko TKO6 Ray Mercer 27/07/2002 John Ruiz DQ10 Kirk Johnson 07

/12/2002 Wladimir Klitschko TKO10 Jameel McCline 18/12/2002 Chris Byrd W12 Evander Holyfield 02/03/2003 Roy Jones Jnr * W12 John Ruiz 08/03/2003 Corrie Sanders * TKO2 Wladimir Klitschko 21/06/2003 Lennox Lewis * TKO6 Vitali Klitschko 20/09/2003 Chris Byrd W12 Fres Oquendo 13/12/2003 John Ruiz W12 Hasim Rahman 10/04/2004 Lamon Brewster TKO5 Wladimir Klitschko 17/04/2004 John Ruiz TKO11 Fres Oquendo 17/04/2004 Chris Byrd D12 Andrew Golota 24/04/2004 Vitali Klitschko TKO8 Danny Williams 04/09/2004 Lamon Brew

ster W12 Kali Meehan 14/11/2004 John Ruiz W12 Andrew Golota 14/11/2004 Chris Byrd W12 Jameel McCline 11/12/2004 Vitali Klitschko * TKO8 Corrie Sanders 30/04/2005 John Ruiz NC12 James Toney 21/05/2005 Lamon Brewster TKO1 Andrew Golota 13/08/2005 Hasim Rahman W12 Monte Barrett 09/28/2005 Lamon Brewster TKO9 Luan Krasniqi 01/10/2005 Chris Byrd W12 DaVarryl Williamson 17/12/2005 Nicolai Valuev W12 John Ruiz 18/03/2006 Hasim Rahman D12 James Toney 01/04/2006 Sergei Lyakhovic W12 Lamon Brewster 22/04/2006 Wladimir Klits

chko TKO7 Chris Byrd 03/06/2006 Nicolai Valuev TKO3 Owen Beck 12/08/2006 Oleg Maskaev TKO12 Hasim Rahman 07/10/2006 Nicolai Valuev TKO11 Monte Barrett 04/11/2006 Shannon Briggs TKO12 Sergei Lyakhovic 11/11/2006 Wladimir Klitschko TKO7 Calvin Brock 10/12/2006 Oleg Maskaev W12 Peter Okhello 20/01/2007 Nicolai Valuev TKO3 Jameel McCline 10/03/2007 Wladimir Klitschko TKO2 Ray Austin 14/04/2007 Ruslan Chagaev W12 Nicolai Valuev 02/06/2007 Sultan Ibragimov W12 Shannon Briggs 07/07/2007 Wladimir Klitschko TKO6 Lamon Brewster 13

/10/2007 Sultan Ibragimov W12 Evander Holyfield 19/01/2008 Ruslan Chagaev # W12 Matt Skelton 23/02/2008 Wladimir Klitschko W12 Sultan Ibragimov 08/03/2008 Samuel Peter TKO6 Oleg Maskaev 12/07/2008 Wladimir Klitschko KO11 Tony Thompson 30/09/2008 Nicolai Valuev W12 John Ruiz 11/10/2008 Vitali Klitschko TKO9 Samuel Peter 13/12/2008 Wladimir Klitschko TKO7 Hasim Rahman 20/12/2008 Nicolai Valuev W12 Evander Holyfield 21/03/2009 Vitali Klitschko TKO9 Juan Carlos Gomez 21/06/2009 Wladimir Klitschko TKO10 Ruslan Chagaev 2

6/09/2009 Vitali Klitschko TKO10 Chris Arreola 07/11/2009 David Haye W12 Nicolai Valuev 12/12/2009 Vitali Klitschko W12 Kevin Johnson 20/03/2010 Wladimir Klitschko KO12 Eddie Chambers 04/04/2010 David Haye TKO9 John Ruiz 30/05/2010 Vitali Klitschko TKO10 Albert Sosnowski 11/09/2010 Wladimir Klitschko KO10 Samuel Peter 16/10/2010 Vitali Klitschko W12 Shannon Briggs 13/11/2010 David Haye TKO3 Audley Harrison 19/03/2011 Vitali Klitschko TKO1 Odlanier Solis 02/07/2011 Wladimir Klitschko W12 David Haye 27/08/

2011 Alexander Povetkin W12 Ruslan Chagaev 10/09/2011 Vitali Klitschko TKO10 Tomasz Adamek 03/12/2011 Alexander Povetkin KO8 Cedric Boswell 03/03/2012 Wladimir Klitschko KO4 Jean Marc Mormeck 18/02/2012 Vitali Klitschko W12 Dereck Chisora 25/02/2012 Alexander Povetkin W12 Marco Huck 07/07/2012 Wladimir Klitschko TKO6 Tony Thompson 08/09/2012 Vitali Klitschko TKO4 Manuel Charr 29/09/2012 Alexander Povetkin TKO2 Hasim Rahman 10/11/2012 Wladimir Klitschko W12 Mariusz Wach 04/05/2013 Wladimir Klitschko TKO6 Francesco Pianeta 1

7/05/2013 Alexander Povetkin TKO3 Andrzej Wawrzyk 05/10/2013 Wladimir Klitschko W12 Alexander Povetkin 26/04/2014 Wladimir Klitschko TKO5 Alex Leapai 10/05/2014 Bermaine Stiverne TKO6 Chris Arreola 06/07/2014 Ruslan Chagaev W12 Fres Oquendo 15/11/2014 Wladimir Klitschko KO5 Kubrat Pulev 17/01/2015 Deontay Wilder W12 Bermaine Stiverne UNDISPUTED WBC WBA IBF WBO * Relinquished title # Stripped of title Nebraska Athletic Commission Home Rules and Regulations Physical Form Promoter Guidelines Event Permit Application Events Licensees Training Seminars Links Athletic Commission Info NE Boxing History Scholarships Photo Gallery Staff State of Nebraska NEBRASKA BOXING HISTORY Boxing, both professional and amateur, have been part of Nebraska's sports scene from the days Nebraska became a

 state.

A photo exists of a bare-knuckle fight between Dan Daly and Tommy White that lasted for 91 rounds and took 5 hours and 56 minutes to complete. This fight that ended in a draw took place on December 6, 1890 at the Old Germania Hall in South Omaha. Max Baer who was the heavyweight champion in 1934 and 1935 was born in Omaha, Nebraska on February 11, 1909. He fought on a professional bout in Omaha on September 4, 1938. Perry (Kid) Graves, who claimed the welterweight title in 1914, was born in Plattsmouth, Nebraska on July 11, 1892. He fought twice in Omaha in 1920. Luther McCarty was recognized as the WHITE heavyweight champion in 1913 and was born near Trenton, Nebraska on March 19, 1892 although RING record book lists his place of birth as Driftwood Creek, Wild Horse Canyon, Hitchcock County, Nebraska.. Many world-boxing champions have been in and out of Nebraska going back to John L.

Sullivan who performed on a Lincoln stage right after the turn-of-the-century. Gentlemen James J. Corbett was a frequent visitor to the state of Nebraska. Heavyweight champion Jack Johnson fought an exhibition bout in Omaha in 1910. Former heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey won a four-round decision over Ed "Bearcat" Wright in Omaha in 1931. Primo Carnera fought twice in Omaha, once in 1930 and once in 1932, on his march to the heavyweight championship. The Golden Gloves became part of Nebraska fistic history in 1934. The following Nebraska fighters became national Golden Gloves champions. 1936 175 pounds Carl Vinciquerra 1936 & 1937 Heavyweight Paul Hartnek 1960 147 pounds Ferd Hernandez 1963 Heavyweight Harley Cooper 1964 175 pounds Harley Cooper 1980 165 pounds Lamont Kirkland Joe Louis fought an exhibition bout in Omaha in 1949. Light-heavyweight champion Joey Maxim fought in Omaha in 1950.

Welterweight and Middleweight champion "Sugar" Ray Robinson fought in Omaha three times, twice in 1949 and once in 1964. Lightweight champion Joe Brown performed in Omaha in 1964. On May 25, 1972 Joe Frazier battled Ron Stander for the World's heavyweight title in Omaha and George Foreman was there to challenge the winner. Former light-heavyweight champion Archie Moore was in Omaha in 1970 and saw Billy Smith, an Omaha light-heavyweight, who fought a draw with Archie in 1946. Future lightweight champion Sean O'Grady fought many times in Omaha in 1978, 1979, and 1980. In the 1990's future world champions Tracy Patterson, Montel Griffin, and Wayne McCullough as well as former heavyweight champion James "Bonecrusher" Smith, displayed their fistic talents in Omaha.

Question: Who was world heavyweight boxing champion from 1937 to 1950?
Answer: Joe Louis