Three Black guys who never got a chance at Louis's crown. Toles was rated for about 4 years,Brooks and Brown were briefly rated.Brown did several exhibitions with Louis , but none of them got a crack at the crown. Meanwhile Louis was defending against the likes of Natie Mann,Gus Dorazio,Harry Thomas,Jack Roper,and Johnny Paychek.Were they any more deserving of title chances than the trio I mentioned? Were they just a bit too "sunburned" for the powers that be "? Anyone have any thoughts on them?
Mcvey im 60,I talked to some 0l timers 30yrs ago. Toles fought S America good series with Godoy . I HeardBig boy best of trio. I heard a shade above Jersey Joe & I dont mean color.
I have a huge IBRO journal article on Lou Brooks in my room, i will summarize it. Let me start by saying Lou had talent, but he was not one of the better black heavyweights of that period. he did not deserve a title shot. Big Boy Brown was Joe Louis's COUSIN!! so Louis gets a pass here, not to mention Louis beat his poor cousin up in sparring all the time. Brown never developed into a top fighter worthy of a title shot at any time, Louis did say Brown could punch though. Joe Louis knocked Roscoe Toles out in 3 rounds in 1935...why fight him again?
Yes you simply got the wrong names. The guys that were very worthy pre 1942 were Harry Bobo, Lem Franklin, Tiger Jack Fox, Jack Trammell, Jimmy Bivins. The fighters during the WW years all the way through 1948 that were worthy that didnt get shots were lee Q murray, elmer ray, turkey thompson, jimmy bivins
Actually Louis stopped Toles in 6 rds,and after that Toles went on to beat, Louis opponents Godoy, Dorazio,and Thomas .He also beat Buddy Walker and Jack Tramell.So if Louis improved after beating Toles ,maybe Toles improved a bit too ? I certainly think he was as worthy of a title shot as the White challengers I mentioned. Lou Brooks beat Tony Musto ,Buddy Walker and won and lost to Gus Dorazio,so he too could be seen as a credible opponent for Louis, imo.
