Schmeling vs Louis: The Men With The World On Their Backs 

Schmeling vs Louis: The Men With The World On Their Backs 

By Simon Graham

When I was a young lad, I had a boxing book one year for Christmas, 100 years of boxing by the great Burt Randolph Sugar. The book glossed over the 80s boxers and all the preceding years before that decade, it was at a young age I was introduced to such names as Rocky Graziano, Willie Pep, Jack Johnson, etc.

Back in those days, boxing on TV was concentrated to little more than Saturday afternoon highlights so this book became my go-to boxing bible, over and over I would read the boxer profiles, and their greatest victories, and ogle over the pictures of these fighters in action.

One picture within that book that always stuck with me was the image of the great ‘Brown Bomber’ Joe Louis lying face down being counted out by the referee. The first non-title fight between Joe Louis and Max Schmeling took place on June 19, 1936, at the famous Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York.

Louis was coming in with a 23-0 record and heading toward a show-down with James Braddock the world heavyweight champion, Schmeling at 30, was considered nothing more than fodder for the ‘Brown Bomber.’

Schmeling had done his homework on Louis who had preferred golf to actual training for the fight, Schmeling noticed a slight flaw, every time Louis threw his left jab he would drop his arm leaving his chin exposed to a right-hand counter, and executed his homework to deadly effect by knocking Louis out in the 12th round.

Schmeling returned home to Germany a hero and catapulted himself to the number one contender to Braddock’s title however during the two years after beating Louis the Nazi War machine had kicked in goose stepping its way across Europe, Schmeling was overlooked resulting in the title fight and championship belt being subsequently won by Louis.

Eager to avenge his defeat to Schmeling two years previous, Louis embedded himself into a strict training regime, as champion a whole new level of responsibility was heaped upon his shoulders, fighting for his race, the whole USA nation including its president paraded and labelled him as the Man to fight for worldwide freedom, a massive load to bare for such a young man.

Schmeling was also used as part of the Nazi Propaganda however at every opportunity would declare his non-allegiance to the Nazi Party Stating, “I’m a fighter, not a politician,” he would say, unfortunately for both men this was not just a fight for the heavyweight title, it was bragging rights for two countries who would soon be at war.

Once again at Yankee Stadium on June 22, 1938, the two Fighters entered the ring with the partisan crowd behind their man Joe Louis.

At the sound of the bell a usually cagey ‘Brown Bomber’ set about ending the fight early taking a surprised Schmeling head-on. Confused by the quick start Schmeling was unable to re-evaluate his game plan, trapped on the ropes Louis unleashed five hooks to the side of Schmeling’s head followed by a crunching body shot which had the fighter clinging to the ropes screaming in pain, the referee stepped in unsure whether to stop the fight or administer a standing count but allowed the fight to continue.

Louis smashed in a right hand sending Schmeling to the canvas, up at the count 4, Louis then blasted in a barrage of punches forcing Schmeling back to the canvas.

Once again, the courageous German got to his feet only to be met by a stunning ‘Bomber’  combination, left to the body short right to the head followed by a tremendous left hook, Schmeling down again, the towel was thrown in, out before the count concluded, Joe Louis had scored a personal 1st round victory and a victory for the Allies.