Joe Louis Fought Eight Black Fighters

Here is what I the list of black fighters who were at one time or another top ten or probably top ten men in either the heavyweight or light-heavyweight divisions which each white champion fought:

Sullivan--0
Corbett--Jackson
Fitzsimmons--Johnson
Jeffries--Griffin, Jackson, Armstrong, Johnson
Hart--Johnson
Burns--Johnson
Willard--Johnson
Dempsey--John Lester Johnson (a possible at light-heavyweight)
Tunney--0
Schmeling--Gains, Louis
Sharkey--Godfrey, Wills, Winston, Louis
Carnera--Godfrey, Louis, Haynes
Baer--Louis
Braddock--Lewis, Louis
Marciano--Louis, Walcott, Charles, Moore
Johansson--Machen, Patterson (and possibly Bygraves)

 

Didn't know that Max and Primo got along outside of the ring. Thanks for this info!

Yeah, Max was just very unlucky in his career. He was the best fighter in the world between Tunney and Louis eras. With more fair circumstances that would be clear. Imagine him getting a decision against Schmeling, then defending against Walker, Gains and maybe Uzcudun, then losing title to Baer and beating Braddock for the title. That would make his legacy one of the best ever at least until 1970s.

 

when Schmeling got rooked out of his title shot against Braddock. Nazi Germany put together a fight for Schmeling to face top European challenger Tommy Farr and it would of been billed as the HW championship. I think the Nysac didn’t acknowledge Louis right away I could be wrong my memory a little rusty - this story is in a recent book on Louis and Schmeling. Anyway Louis’s camp and America feared the title being fractured so they stepped in at the very last moment and offered Farr much more money and that’s how he became Louis’s first title defense. Farr was really good despite high loss rate him vs Schmeling would of been good fight. Anyway that’s little piece of history for you.

 

If things went as you are speculating, would there have been a Schmeling-Louis rematch?

And if there never were a rematch, how would this change heavyweight history and all time rankings?