Page 113 - Doug Werner Boxer's Start-Up

History

Joe Louis is considered one of the greats of all time and
during his tenure was probably the most celebrated
black man on earth. He was carefully groomed for his
role because the idea of a black champion was still very
tricky. Unlike Jack Johnson, Louis remained quiet, polite
and avoided white women. His bout with the German
Max Schmedding in 1938 was epic beyond anything
Hollywood could ever dream up.He demolished Hitler’s
chosen champion in one round with an adoring America
glued to the radio.Louis dominated boxing from 1937 to
1949 (including four years in the Army) and defended
his title more than any other heavyweight in history.

Louis’s famous warning to a backpeddling opponent:
“You can run, but you can’t hide.”

Rocky Marciano won every one of his 49 professional
bouts. No other heavyweight champion has retired
undefeated. He reigned supreme from 1952 through
1956 and owned a knockout percentage of .877! The
real Rocky is on everyone’s list of all-time greats.

Muhammad Ali was the definition of power, grace and
speed. He was also intelligent, courageous and fantasti-
cally entertaining.He won the heavyweight crown three
times and fought in some of the most celebrated fights
ever.He was highly controversial,yet became one of the
most popular men on earth. He was first crowned in
1964,lost it in 1967 because he refused to join the Army
over religious convictions, won it again in 1974 (against
a humorless George Foreman), lost it in 1978 to Leon
Spinks but won it back shortly thereafter. It can be said
that Ali was boxing from 1964 to 1979.

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