I remember that some time ago, like 10-12 years, Joe Louis professional boxing record was listed as 68-3 (54 KOs) both at Wikipedia and BoxRec. But later it was changed to 66-3 (52 KOs). What fights were excluded from his record and why did they were excluded?
I think there was one fight that it's not clear if it was an exhibition or not. That's why sometimes you see 26 instead of 25 title defences on his record. Not quite sure which one was it.
The fight against Johnny Davis which was supposed to be an exhibition but due to state rules Louis could only fight official bouts as champ in that state: https://boxrec.com/wiki/index.php/Joe_Louis_vs._Johnny_Davis
Joe Louis knocked out dangerous black contender Roscoe Toles in 6 rounds in 1935. Should be on his record officially. And is in some circles. for some reason they changed it to an exhibition
Theres a 4 rounder and 10 rounder in there against opponents much worse than his typical ones. Dempseys also has a 4 round NYSAC defense against Jimmy Darcy that is pretty resoundingly ignored. Louis does have the 2 BBBC defenses you could plug in to replace those though.
Didn't BBBofC recognized Charles as the champion after Louis beat Savold? "Entering the fight, Charles was recognized as the Heavyweight Champion of the World only by the National Boxing Association. After defeating Louis, all except the British Boxing Board of Control recognized Charles as champion. The BBBofC's champion was Lee Savold. After Louis knocked out Savold in June 1951, the BBBofC declared Charles the champion." https://boxrec.com/wiki/index.php/Ezzard_Charles_vs._Joe_Louis
It took until Marciano beat Louis I think they didn't confer the title to Marciano. Hugmans site was deleted but if you can get it on wayback its got a lot of the more obscure information on this sort of thing. Very helpful resource sad he deleted it. Sources are all over the place on when exactly the BBBC withdrew their recognition but if they weren't going to recognize Louis if he won why even have him fight for the belt? Anyway this whole period was 4 months. Louis's 3 fights after beating Savold were planned for 10 rounds but in the 40s a lot of these duration title fights had been 10 rounds and this is the rarest longer fights ever got. Also these fights were put on in US jurisdictions that didn't recognize Louis as champ not Britain. Louis v Savold in New York was made for 15 rounds though.
