A lot of folks commonly credit Joe Louis as giving deserving challengers title shots, and furthermore rematches for good efforts. But, did all these guys really deserve second opportunities or even first ones to begin with? In 1941, Joe Louis fought a contender named Abe Simon. He gave Simon a second chance in 1942. Simon had been beaten prior to both occasions by Lem Franklin, including in the last fight leading up to Simon's second meeting with Louis. Should Lem Franklin have gotten a title shot before Simon did, and did Simon really deserve to fight Louis on two occasions?
Yes Powerful Punching # 2 ranked Lem Franklin deserved a title shot over a Abe Simon Rematch. He deserved it the first time, but he did not deserve rematch
For my money Lem Franklin would have been a more deserving challenger than Abe Simon though Simon was a decent oponent. Simon was a big draw among the jewish community which probably had more to do with him getting a rematch than any problems he gave Louis in their first meeting. The fight was devised to raise money for the army and navy relief fund and was something of an improvisation. Tommy Farr deserved a rematch because although he went on a loosing streak he manifestly deserved the decision in some of those fights. Louis had to work with the oficial verdicts of course. For my money the potential Louis oponent who got most shafted was Jimmy Bivins. He spent the war years building up his standing but when the war ended all prewar rankings were restored. This meant that fighters who had been inactive for the past four years were able to leapfrog over all the work he had done over this period.
I will always credit Louis for his dominance and impressively beating quality men such Schmeling, Walcott, B. Baer, M. Baer, Sharkey, Braddock and Carnera. He definately fought some very good fighters, but Simon simply was not one of them. Of course, any long term reigning champion is going to have a few weaker opponents on his record. Holmes, Ali, Tyson and Frazier all fought their share of less deserving challengers. Lem Franklin needed a title shot and I think that much is obvious. Simon was a very inconsistant fighter who actually went into his rematch with Louis having been Tko'd in his last fight by Franklin, and drawing with Turkey Thompson. Politics has always played a role in who gets the shot and who doesn't, but unfortunately such politics kept a number of the best black fighters in the 1940's down in the ratings.
I agree that Franklin was more deserving of this shot than was simon (Although Janitor brough up an intersting twist)..But it is understandable why he did not recieve one after this as he had lost to Bob Pastor before the Simon/Louis fight ever took place...would lose agian 3 days after Louis/Simon II and go on to lose 6 of his next 7 fights and 7 of 9 to end his carear. So although at this time he probably at least deserved consideration it is easy to see why later he never got it!
Pity he didn't fight Franklin, though the Simon rematch did bring some of the most beautiful displays of heavyweight punching skills i've ever seen.
