Joe Louis
“You can run, but you can’t hide.”
Biography of Joe Louis
Joseph Louis Barrow (May 13, 1914 – April 12, 1981) was n professional boxer who reigned as world heavyweight champion from 1937 to 1949. Nicknamed “The Brown Bomber,” he is widely regarded as one of the greatest heavyweights of all time.
Born in Lafayette, Alabama, Louis grew up in Detroit, Michigan. He took up boxing as a teenager and quickly made a name for himself in the amateur ranks before turning professional in 1934.
- Won the world heavyweight title by defeating James J. Braddock in 1937
- Defended his title a record 25 times—more than any other heavyweight champion
- Notable victories include two wins over Max Schmeling (1938 rematch symbolized resistance to fascism), and wins over Billy Conn and Jersey Joe Walcott
- Retired in 1949 with a professional record of 66 wins (52 by knockout), 3 losses, and 0 draws
Louis was the first Black American to achieve widespread national hero status, helping to break down racial barriers in professional sports. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, participating in exhibition bouts to raise troop morale. Posthumously, he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame and remains an enduring sports icon (Image source).
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