19.06.09 – By Shaun Murphy – Yesterday, I was discussing the use and application of the one-inch punch and Joe Louis’s name popped up.
‘’Joe Louis, cor, that man was a master of the one-inch punch’’ said Paddy, while demonstrating the body mechanics of the blow. ‘’No-one could of beaten him,’’ he proclaimed, while self-affirmingly nodding his head. I must admit I admire Joe Louis, but don’t rank him above the modern-day fighters based on boxing’s evolution in skill. ‘’OK then,’’ my friend said. ‘’Tell me anybody who could’ve beaten Joe Louis the day he beat Max Schmeling? – No-one!’’
For the next hour, while sipping Earl Grey Tea, I was treated to an emotion driven seminar on Louis’s technique, conditioning and spirituality. I will admit it, he did well, although I don’t think he was the greatest heavyweight of all time. After my friend’s lecture, I understood some facts. The Joe Louis—Max Schmeling super fight, was one of the most important contests in history..
Joe Louis and Max Schmeling: Two of a Kind
From the beginning of Louis’s career, the ‘’Brown Bomber’’ was told to be the ‘’anti Jack Johnson’’ and was given strict guidelines on how he should conduct himself. Under the tutelage of Jack Blackburn: Louis was shown the importance of balance, the jab and body punching and developed into an exceptional fighter.
Joe Louis first major victory was against the huge Primo Carnera. Jack Blackburn, who fought Harry Greb as a pro, advised his charge to target the body of the Italian ‘’and he’ll fall like a big ‘ole tree.’’ Louis won by six-round KO, and sent shock waves over America as a possible champion. A few fights later he meets a dark-haired German tough guy called Max Schmeling.
It’s no surprise, later in life, Max Schmeling and Joe Louis would become friends. They were two of a kind, and victims of forces outside of their control: for Louis it was his race, and for Schmeling it was his nationality. Unfairly, Germany’s most famous heavyweight has been branded a Nazi and an anti-Semite purely for one photo. Schmeling was pictured doing the Nazi salute after a fight, and some highly immoral people in the press claimed he supported Germany’s fascist polices. Incidentally, in this photo, Schmeling’s Jewish manager is also seen giving the salute. My theory, for Mike Jacobs, it was an instinctive response much like it was for his German client [also, it’s documented, Schmeling risked his life saving a Jewish family in the war.]
Politics aside, from the start of Max Schmeling’s career it became obvious he was a super talent. Inspired by Jack Dempsey, the Teutonic boxer—puncher was an icon to his people. Like the ‘’Brown Bomber’’ Schmeling was a hard puncher, and possessed the hungry, honest toughness that’s sadly lacking in today’s fighters. A former world champion; Schmeling took the Lithuanian-American Jack Sharkey’s title by disqualification in the 4th rd. After that victory, unfortunately, Schmeling lost his title to Sharkey in a rematch. Hungrily, the ‘’Black Uhlan’’ continued to fight and knocked out Mickey Walker in the 8th rd. The next elite fighter Schmeling fought was Max Baer, and the ‘’Livermore Larupper’’ KO’d Schmeling in the 10th rd. So when the ‘’Black Uhlan’’ was set to face the up-and-coming Joe Louis on the 19th of June 1936, no-one expected him to win…
The 19th of June 1936
It’s an accepted truth Adolf Hitler believed Max Schmeling would beat Joe Louis; not so, before the fight the Nazi Party separated themselves from the contest as they didn’t think Schmeling had a chance. In effect, the ‘’Black Uhlan’ was by himself when he fought Louis in the Bronx on the 19th of June 1936. However, Schmeling had spotted a gap in Louis’ defence and entered the ring full of faith that he’d defeat the feared ”Brown Bomber”…
Schmeling had discovered Louis kept his left hand low after throwing his jab, and figured if he timed a right hand counter to exploit this weakness he could defeat him. From the outset, it became clear, Schmeling’s right hand was going to cause Louis trouble. Louis was put down in the 4th rd, and took a frightful beating at the hands of his German opponent. Louis’ misery was ended in the 12th rd when Schmeling landed a series of right hands on the ‘Brown Bomber’s’’ jaw, and proved strategy can overcome raw talent.
The Most Important Rematch of all Time
After the victory Schmeling became the hero of Germany, and Louis had a lot of rebuilding to do. Black America, very unfairly, in significant portions, turned against Louis and children would often sneak up to the ‘’Brown Bomber’’ and cruelly whisper ‘’Max Schmeling.’’ Nevertheless, Louis was very ambitious and silently resolved to defeat Schmeling in a rematch. Luckily, for Louis, Max Schmeling was ousted from challenging James J Braddock for his World Heavyweight Title and the ‘’Brown Bomber’’ was given a shot and he KO’d the Irish-American in 8 rds. Having a conscience, Joe Louis knew he wasn’t the champion until he beat his former conqueror. So on the 22nd of June 1938, in the Yankee Stadium, Max Schmeling fought for Joe Louis’s World Heavyweight title.
Simply put, this fight was a political event. The world was on the cusp of war, and the German War Machine was mobilizing itself to conquer all of Europe. In America, the prospect of a German champion sent waves of fear into American hearts. In Joe Louis they found an unlikely hero, and the ‘’Brown Bomber’’ bore the duty of fighting for democracy with extreme pride. It was this simple, if Joe Louis didn’t win the whole of the USA would have plummeted in moral and lost the important belief that they could defeat the Nazis.
From the outset, Joe Louis was focused on beating his German opponent for his beloved country. The ‘’Brown Bomber’’ had rectified his defensive mistakes, and he brutally massacred Schmeling with a fusillade of rib-breaking body punches. The highlight video, in black and white, shows Schmeling’s pain-contorted face and Louis knocking out the ‘’Black Uhlan’’ in the 1st rd. Louis’s victory had many ramifications; for instance, he was probably the first widely accepted black athlete. More importantly, by Giving Max Schmeling a title shot when he didn’t have to prove he was a real champion.
After years
For many, many people Joe Louis’s illustrious career qualifies him for the status of the Greatest Heavyweight of all Time. Known for his class, throughout his career, Joe Louis displayed exemplary character. Unfortunately, Louis’s extreme philanthropy was taken advantage of by too many people. For example, Louis’s best opponent, the loquacious Billy Conn described the ‘’Brown Bomber’s’’ attitude to money in a 1980’s video: ‘’We were playing cards,’’ Conn said, ‘’and a bum came over and asked for money. Joe just game him 500 dollars; Joe just didn’t care about money!’’
Like his father, tragically, Louis spent his later years suffering from mental illness and developed paranoia that the mob was after him. Charitably, the ‘’Brown Bomber’’ was given a job as a greeter in a night club. By all accounts, the non materialistic Louis enjoyed the job but many people have tried to paint Louis as a victim. In his own way, meeting with his fans and gambling suited Louis more than the elite lifestyle people think he deserved.
Max Schmeling’s life, after the war, gravitated towards business and he sagaciously became Germany’s Coca Cola representative. Like Louis, Schmeling was a philanthropist and he also Germany’s most loved sportsman. Although The German hero didn’t believe in Nazi ideology; he was very nationalistic. For example, when he was a prospect, Luan Krasniqi promised Schmeling he’d win the World Heavyweight Title for Germany, and it greatly pleased the German legend. I believe, in life, our consciousness vibrates at a certain frequency, and those people who are destined to become friends are on the same level.
Schmeling and Louis became very close friends in retirement, and I believe it was due to their personalities sharing so many similarities, and their shared experiences of prejudice. In a way Max Schmeling lives on; as Vitally Klitschko’s son is named after his idol. And Schemeling will never be forgotten by the German people.
Joe Louis once famously said, ‘’you only get one shot at life, but if you work it enough that’s all you need’’ That was Schmeling’s philosophy too: as they weren’t just athletes they inspired generations of people to achieve their dreams.