What if Joe Louis hadn't existed?

It is probably fair to say that you would have had a number of aditional lineal champions, and that this number would have included more than one member of the bum of the month club.

Jimmy Braddock would have likley defended his title against Schmeling or Baer, and it is possible that they would have faced off to decide who. If you put a gun to my head and ask me to call it, I think that Schmeling probably takes back the title then faces off against Baer again later.

Subsequent probable title challengers would include Tommy Farr, Nathan Mann, Lou Nova and eventualy Billy Conn.

The postwar era would have seen possible title challenges from Tami Maurellio, Jimmy Bivins, Elmer Ray, and Jersey Joe Walcott.

The verry absence of Louis would effectivley move some of the #2 and #3 contenders up a slot.

 

Hm, Schmeling would have hold the title a second time and probably a bit longer this time. Until he would have run in someone like Murray or such when beeing past prime.

 

If Schmeling had won back the title I imagine the nazi's would have him defending the title against no-marks in germany for as long as they could milk it and churn out oodles of propaganda.

 

**** Germany may have won the war

 

If Schmelling gets the shot instead of Louis, he's going to beat Braddock, Schmelling is quicker, straighter punches, better jab and right. I actually see Schmelling doing better in a rematch with Baer to, and pulling out a decision. I prefered Schmelling's work prior to Baer landing a shot that put Schmelling on ***** street

But as has been mentioned, Schmelling is probably going to be called back to German to be a propaganda tool, maybe the US would devise a break away title or strip Schmelling

 

Schmeling indicated that if he had won the title from Braddock he would have retired. He might of course have changed his mind.

If he didnt then that would have left the way open for two American based fighters to fight for the vacant title. Baer Farr might be a possibility.

 

These are all possibilities, but I dont think that Braddocks layoff would have helped him against either Baer or Schmeling.

Baer Schmeling II might well have seen a different result.

Then sombody like Tommy Farr could step into the mix.

 

It also begs the question 'when would a black fighter get a title shot', and if so when and against who. Louis was very saleable and had to sell a percent of future earnings to get his shot. 1 reason a black champion became acceptable is it differentiated the 'land of freedom' from 'those evil Nazi's'. This was embodied in the Louis-Schmelling fight, where Louis would become a national hero. Without Louis it would likely be harder for other black fighters like Walcott and Charles to get their title shot and easier for the colour line to be drawn.

 

I always felt that the rise of Joe Louis to the title was essentialy a triumph of black dollars. He became such a big draw that it was impossible to sideline him indefinitely.

I doubt that anybody other than Louis would have given John Henry Lewis a title shot. He was ranked at heavyweight, and a former light heavyweight champion, but not a huge draw at heavyweight.

Walcott would have been verry hard to sideling because he basicaly cleaned out the top 10. Had he not been granted a title fight, he would have become the Harry Wills figure of that era.

 

Had the heavy weight division been without a Joe Louis, I think the title would have changed hands on a rather frequent basis, and you may even have seen some two and three time repeat champions.