Should Louis have fought more than two black men in his 26 title defenses?

"manager with any savvy"

Jacobs was the guy who ran boxing and had Louis under contract.

I think if Jacobs said Franklin fights Pastor before he gets a shot at Louis at Yankee Stadium in June, the manager would have to go along with it or see Jacobs simply match Louis with someone else.

Don't forget, there would be a lot more money on the table for Franklin in a ballpark fight with its much bigger gate.

 

Assuming this was his only option? Yes. But assuming Jacobs said " we were originally thinking of taking on Abe Simon in March, but given that your man has won 19 strait fights and beaten Simon twice, we feel him to be the better choice. Of course you can take your chances against Bob Pastor in February and if you win, make more money fighting Louis around the 4th of July?" What would you do? I don't think most people would risk blowing that shot.

 

says who?

 

Yes but it was often not his choice .remember the last black fighter to be heavyweight champ before Joe Louis. People had short memories and there was a huge amount of bigotry around and Jack Blackburn told him don't be flash and brag when you knock the white fighters out. Just act humble

 

Some good posts on this thread.

 

Franklin did NOT have to fight Pastor why do you keep repeating this?
Its BULLSH*T!
Show me ONE contemporary newspaper that says Louis's people will only fight Franklin after he beats Pastor?

So is the assertion that Louis signed to fight Simon BEFORE Franklin fought Pastor he DIDN'T .

Franklin broke his hand in the Simon fight, the window of opportunity for him to fight Louis was less than a month!

 

"Joe Louis felt the pressure and promoter Jacobs knew he couldn’t circumvent Franklin for long. Elimination matches with Melio Bettina and Bob Pastor were suggested by Jacobs, with the winner to get a title shot with Louis in September of 1942."

 

Suggested but not mandatory.

Source of quote?

Louis has many books about him I've read probably 6.I don't recall Franklin being mentioned in any:huh.

 

Whatever.. Franklin kicked Simon's ass and Jacobs chose the loser instead of the winner, and "suggested" that Franklin fight an elimination match before getting a shot. Pretty obvious what was going on there. 'Nuff Said.

 

That's a lot of assuming.

 

Its also common sense.

 

Jacobs didn't choose Simon, actually the original suggestion came from The Army Relief Fund.

 

I find common sense ain't that common.:think

 

Simon was chosen because they were trying to raise money for the army relief fund, and they knew they could sell tickets with his name.. My argument was never that Louis personally "ducked" Franklin, only that he was more DESERVING than Simon.. And anyone who disputes this is a fool... I mean the results are written in black and white ( no pun intended. ) Franklin had been kicking ass left and right through some 18 fights, while Simon had only won 2 of his last 6.. Is this really so hard to see?

 

Precisely why I considered it courtesy to provide when I can.