The full extent of the injuries Schmeling suffered in the second fight with Joe Louis? There are a few that get talked about in every recounting of the fight (like the broken vertebrae in Schemling's back) but with most of his other injuries the story seems to change every time or be recounted slightly differently. For example, I've heard that Schmeling suffered broken ribs, but sometimes that's not included and when it does the number generally seems to change. Similarly, I remember hearing like that a chip of bone was sent in Schemling's liver or kidney, and so on and so forth. Does anyone know the full story on this?
An Xray was released by the hospital proving that two vertebrae were fractured (at Schmelings request). Part of the spinous proscess was driven into his kidney. Schmeling was bedridden for a substantial period after the fight. Some reports indicate that ribs were broken but no Xray confirms this. If you crack a rib the hospital generaly dosnt do anything except tell you that you have a cracked rib.
Thanks, Janitor. I'm planning to do a small Joe Louis tribute/highlight in the near future focusing on his destructive power, and I wanted to have the right info before getting started.