Today ESB posters cannot understand how beloved Joe Louis was by the Americans during his long title reign. As a youngster growing up I was aware of the love and respect and AWE my favorite heavyweight received from all Americans regardless of race or nationality...In the ring and out of the ring Louis til he became ill, was a National Treasure and the greatest combination puncher this planet spawned...Bless him...
burt, during the war big joe was as loved in the uk as later on ali was. the men in uniform particularly like joe and appreciated him being in the forces.my dad thought joe was invincible and would have kicked ali's arse any night of the week
T, your dad was a very smart man.The Joe Louis of the Max Baer/Schmeling #2 fight would have destroyed any version of Clay/Ali of that I am sure of...Louis at this stage was describes as a "taut spring unwinding ". One other point : For every one person who "loved" Ali in the USA there were two persons who despised his personna, calling his opponents vile names and flaunting some opponents he defeated...This was cruelty to another fighter who was trying to make a living after all...And embracing the Nation of Islam, whilst throwing Malcom X under the bus showed another unfavorable side of Ali. Joe Louis on the other hand was truly beloved and respected by everyone in the boxing world and by all in America. He was I recall growing up a modest and idolized figure by all Americans, more so than any sports figure in American history. cheers.
