Get to Know Joe

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 Joe Louis was an American boxer who was world heavyweight champion from 1937 until 1949, the longest reign in the history of any weight division. Louis successfully defended his title 25 times, more than any other champion in any division, scoring 21 knockouts. 

 Joe's first loss as a professional was against the German champion Max Schmeling, in 1936.  Two years later,  Joe knocked Schmeling out during the first round, in two minutes and four seconds in front of over 70,000 fans at Yankee Stadium. The American media described Joe’s victory as a symbolic victory of democracy over fascism and he became a national hero. 

  Joe was at his peak when enlisted in the U.S. Army to fight World War II, in 1942. While serving, he performed almost 100 boxing exhibitions for over two million military members to elevate the troops’ morale.

  Joe retired from boxing on March 1, 1949, with a record of 68 wins and one loss before turning to business and golf. Joe Louis became the first black golfer to play a PGA-sponsored tourney.  

Joe  was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990. His legacy is not only that of a dominant champion but also a cultural figure who paved the way for future African American athletes. 

 Joe Louis died in 1981 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. His life and his achievements prompted writers to say “Joe Louis is a credit to his race – the human race.”When he was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor in 1992, Congress stated that he “did so much to bolster the spirit of the American people during one of the most crucial times in American history which has endured throughout the years as a symbol of strength for the nation.