Did the 'Bums of the Month' HELP or HURT Louis?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Dubblechin, Aug 10, 2017.


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  1. Nighttrain

    Nighttrain 'BOUT IT 'BOUT IT Full Member

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    Obviously, Bum of the Month wouldnt be the best name from a marketing standpoint and to a large extent is unfair depending on over which period it is applied. I think it is accepted to be more of a badge of his dominance than the quality of his opposition. Regardless, Louis was named Fighter of the Year during his height of the Bum of the Month run so it certainly didn't seem to harm him at the time.

    I doubt the premise that many black fans resented his numerous defenses. I think it was probably looked at making money and taking names.

    The claim that he was exposed in victory is utter nonsense and is fuel for fools and sophists.
     
    Nighttrain, Aug 21, 2017
    Nighttrain, Aug 21, 2017
    #46
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  2. Chuck1052

    Chuck1052 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    I don't believe that the so-called "Bum of the Month" title defenses has a positive effect on Joe Louis's legacy to any great degree. Yet Louis probably had to fight quite a few less than stellar opponents because there were very few fighters who could really extend him.

    - Chuck Johnston
     
    Chuck1052, Aug 21, 2017
    Chuck1052, Aug 21, 2017
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  3. Dubblechin

    Dubblechin Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    It's not a premise, though.

    As soon as Louis won the title, it was announced he'd be defending TWO months later against the top fighter in the UK (Tommy Farr). And black newspaper writers complained because other heavyweight champs got to hold on to the title for a while - often a year or more before making his first defense.

    Prior to Louis, the longest-reigning heavyweight champ had been, I believe, Dempsey, who only made five successful defenses in seven years ... and who waited 14 months before making his first defense ... and another 15 months before making a second.

    Louis made four defenses in his first year, including fighting Farr and Schmeling, who many considered the uncrowned champ.

    At that time, a long reign and a lot of defenses didn't tend to go hand in hand. The thinking was the more often you defended the title, the more opportunities you had to lose it.

    And Louis didn't look so good against Farr, and he wasn't a "sure thing" to win against Schmeling in their rematch, either. Many thought he was being set up.

    Black writers at the time felt it was just another way Louis was being treated unfairly compared to the leeway given other heavyweight champs.
     
    Dubblechin, Aug 21, 2017
    Dubblechin, Aug 21, 2017
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  4. Dubblechin

    Dubblechin Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I tend to believe it had a positive impact on his career because the number of successful title defenses he strung together was such a big number. And having A LOT of defenses does tend to carry weight, regardless of who they are against.

    You could make the argument that a fighter like Virgil Hill is in the Boxing Hall of Fame based solely on the number of successful title defenses he made. Because he never beat anyone who is in the Hall of Fame. But he's got 20 or so successful WBA title defenses.

    If Joe Louis only made six or seven title defenses, and still beat all the champs he did before he won the title, I don't know if he'd be rated #1, or even #3. He might be seen more like Marciano.

    Hell, if Marciano made 25 successful defenses, he'd probably be hands down #1.

    25 is such a huge number, regardless of the quality.
     
    Last edited: Aug 21, 2017
    Dubblechin, Aug 21, 2017
    Dubblechin, Aug 21, 2017
    #49
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  5. richdanahuff

    richdanahuff Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Agreed, every time he defended the challenger brought his best game, trained harder than ever and was as mentally ready as he would ever be while Louis would have tried to maintain the championship level and focus to rise every defense
     
    richdanahuff, Aug 21, 2017
    richdanahuff, Aug 21, 2017
    #50
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