(Thanx KOKid from Boxrec) Here are the exact Ring Magazine ratings of fighters when they stepped in the ring with Joe Louis 1934 Lee Rampage - # 10 1935 Patsy Perroni - # 6 Natie Brown - # 10 Primo Carnera - # 4 King Levinsky - # 10 Max Baer - # 1 1936 Charley Retzlaff - # 4 Max Schmeling - # 2 - Lost Jack Sharkey - # 4 Al Ettore - # 3 James Braddock - World Heavyweight Champion Tommy Farr - # 3 1938 Nathan Mann - # 3 Max Schmeling - # 1 1939 John Henry Lewis - World Light-Heavyweight Champion Tony Galento - # 3 Bob Pastor - # 2 1940 Johnny Paychek - # 5 Arturo Godoy (2) - # 1 1941 Red Burman - # 4 Buddy Baer - # 5 Billy Conn - World Light-Heavyweight Champion Lou Nova - # 1 1942 Buddy Baer - # 4 Abe Simon - # 6 1946 Billy Conn - # 1 Tami Mauriello - # 1 1947 Jersey Joe Walcott - # 1 1948 Jersey Joe Walcott - # 1 1950 Ezzard Charles - World Heavyweight Champ- Lost 1951 Lee Savold - # 4 Cesar Brion - # 8 Rocky Marciano - # 3 - Lost Record vs. Top 10 Ring Magazine: 30-3
Notice that the only times he didn't fight the #1 contender is if he had already beaten them, ie: Galento at the end of '39, Baer in late '40. He was also scheduled to rematch #1 rated Conn in '42, but the fight was postponed when Conn injured his hand (reportedly while punching his father-in-law in the head) and then postponed indefinitely when the two went into the war.
This record should be pointed out to Louis' critics who ask "who did he fight during his reign" and those who bring up the bum-of-the-month mythology. Also see: http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=12459&more=1
