Joe Louis vs Black 1930s top contenders

Lem Franklin didnt have any better case for fighting Lewis than the guys Louis defended against. Louis beat several guys easily who beat Franklin.

In fact when these black contenders of the 30s and 40s come up as guys Louis could or should have fought Ive never seen a compelling argument for any of them that Louis ducked them or that he should have fought fighter A before fighter B.

 

This bull**** about Bivins fighting Louis and what he could have done, especially comments about him doing as good or better than Conn did, always **** me off. Bivins got a chance to fight Louis. Both were faded but Bivins had WAY more in the tank than Louis did and he absolutely stunk out the joint and ran like a thief. Had Bivins fought Louis in the early/mid 40s he would have done the same thing or gotten his ass handed to him. Bivins never saw the day in his career when he had the tools to beat Louis and hes damn lucky that he "won" the totally meaningless "duration" championship while Louis was inactive or he wouldnt even be remembered as the footnote that he is. The guy was a good fighter but he has become so ridiculously overrated in the last 10 or so years its mind boggling.

 

:blurp

There were no black men on Louis bum of the month tour. Elmer Ray, Lem Franklin and Shepard deserved shots too and were above par of the tour.

Louis only fought two black men in 26 title defenses and one of them was a friend in need of money.

 

Louis beat:
4 men who beat Franklin
2 men who beat Ray
3 men who beat Sheppard

:think

 

So what? I didnt realize that being black suddenly makes you more qualified for a title shot than your peers when your record doesnt.

 

I am more than sold on Louis's title reign, and consider it to be the best ever at the weight, but a couple of observations might be made.

I get the idea that Louis's management set the bar slightly higher for a black contender, i.e. they had to make the case unequivocal.

If Franklin had been white, I get the idea that they would have worked him into the schedule at some point.

Also, Walcott practically cleaned out the top 10 to get his title shot.

The John Henry Lewis fight almost looks like an experiment, to test the waters.

 

Jacobs and Louis's handlers weren't interested in white or black power,they were focused on green power $$$$$:good