In New York’s Yankee Stadium last week, Germany’s Max Schmeling knocked out Detroit’s Negro Joe Louis in the twelfth round of a scheduled 15-round prizefight. The bout was watched by a crowd of 40,000 ...

Before he became heavyweight champion of the world, Joe Louis’s mother forced him to play the violin. Or so she thought. She handed over a quarter a week for lessons. But he never showed up, choosing ...

Just off the boat -- A regime's embrace -- A star rises in the Midwest -- New York falls in love -- Champion in waiting -- The condemned man -- Victor and vanquished -- Climbing back -- A German ...

It was the fight of the (previous) century. And the great white hope was victorious which seemed odd since the winner was a man of color. Heavyweight champ Joe Louis, the Brown Bomber, avenged his ...

Worn in his first historic bout with German boxer Max Schmeling in 1936, Joe Louis’ boxing gloves represent a very special chapter in American sports and social history. While the 1936 match was a ...