Where is joe lewis the boxer from

While Schmeling defeated Louis in a match, their was portrayed by the press as a battle between Nazi ideology and American democratic ideals Louis defeated Schmeling by knockout in the first round, becoming an American hero. He was the seventh of eight children and a grandson of slaves. His parents made a modest living: His father, Mun Barrow, was a sharecropper, while his mother, Lillie Barrow, was a laundress.

When he was 2 years old, his father was committed to an asylum. His mother soon remarried, and moved the family to Detroit with her new spouse, Patrick Brooks. It was in Detroit that Joe Louis discovered boxing, using money his mother had given him for violin lessons on boxing classes at Brewster Recreation Center instead. He began boxing in the amateur circuit in At the end of his amateur career, he had won 50 of 54 matches—43 by knockout.

He was ready for the pros. In , Joe Louis beat James J. But on June 19, , he faced off with German boxer Max Schmeling, who knocked Louis out in the 12th round. Louis had experienced his first professional defeat, but he was determined to get a rematch.

On June 22, , Joe Louis and Max Schmeling, whom Adolf Hitler saw as an exemplary representative of the Aryan race, faced off in front of 70, fans in a dramatic rematch at Yankee Stadium. Louis defeated Schmeling in two minutes and four seconds, knocking him out in the first round. The press seized on the victory as symbolic of the victory of democracy over fascism.

In , he joined the Army. During his service he was part of over 96 boxing exhibitions and performed for over two million members of the military. After an eleven-year and eight-month streak as heavyweight champion—the longest run in history at the time—Joe Louis retired form boxing on March 1, His retirement would be short-lived.

With the IRS coming after him for not paying taxes, year-old Joe Louis came out of retirement in He was successful in his fight against Freddie Beshore on January 3, , prompting excitement about a major comeback.

Sports columnist Red Smith wrote of the match:. Then Rocky hit him another hook and knocked him out. A right to the neck followed that knocked him out of the ring. And out of the fight business. Joe Louis Barrow was born on May 13, His family moved to Detroit in , 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. Following this win, Louis turned professional and won twelve contests within the first year. His boxing prowess, as well as his reputation, was growing at an incredible rate.

In June of , he fought Primo Carnera, the former heavyweight champion, before a Yankee Stadium crowd of 62, Louis followed this fight with a pairing against Max Baer, who he defeated by knockout in the fourth round. Joe Louis was seemingly invincible, until his meeting with Max Schmeling on June 19, 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 , Louis faced world heavyweight champion James J. Braddock in Chicago. He came out of retirement in , needing to earn money, but he could not recapture his previous winning streak; he lost his last major bout on October 26, , against future champion Rocky Marciano.

He ended his extraordinary year career with a record of 68 wins 54 of them knockouts and three losses. When Joe Louis died on April 12, , he had not been champion for more than 32 years. But for millions throughout the world who paid him homage, he would always be "The Champ. Since his death, thousands of visitors have come to view the gravestone that bears a bas-relief image of the famous fighter and the inscription, "The Brown Bomber.

Pictured: In June , the 80th anniversary of the Joe Louis vs. Privacy Statement Disclosure. I Accept. ANC is open daily from 8am-5pm.