Biography:Considered to be one of the greatest heavyweights of all time. He was victorious in 25 title defenses, a record for the heavyweight division. Widely regarded as the first African American to achieve the status of a nationwide hero within the United States.
Born:May 13, 1914 Birthplace:Lafayette, Alabama, USA
1935-06-25 Future world heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis moves to 20-0 with 6th round KO of former champion Primo Carnera of Italy at Yankee Stadium, NYC
1936-06-19 German boxer Max Schmeling KOs up-and-coming American heavyweight Joe Louis in 12 rounds at Yankee Stadium, New York
1937-06-22 Challenger Joe Louis KOs James J. Braddock in the 8th round at Chicago's Comiskey Park for the world heavyweight boxing title
1937-08-30 Joe Louis beats Tommy Farr in 15 for heavyweight boxing title
1938-02-23 Joe Louis retains his world heavyweight boxing title by knocking out Nathan Mann in round 3 at Madison Square Garden, New York; second defense by Louis
1938-04-01 World heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis KOs Harry Thomas in 5th round of their title bout in Chicago; 3rd defense by Louis
1938-06-22 Joe Louis scores a stunning 1st round KO of German Max Schmeling at Yankee Stadium, NYC to retain his world heavyweight boxing title
1939-01-25 In only the second World Heavyweight C'ship fight between two black boxers, Joe Louis KOs John Henry Lewis in 1 at Madison Square Garden, NYC
1939-04-17 In his 6th title defense, world heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis KOs Jack Roper in 1 at Wrigley Field, Los Angeles, California
1939-06-28 Joe Louis beats Tony Galento by TKO at 2:29 in round 4 at Yankee Stadium, NYC in his 7th heavyweight boxing title defense
1939-09-20 Joe Louis puts Bob Pastor down 5 times before an 11th round KO at Briggs Stadium, Detroit in his 8th heavyweight boxing title defense
1940-02-09 Joe Louis beats Arturo Godoy in 15 for heavyweight boxing title
1940-03-29 American boxer Joe Louis KOs Johnny Paycheck in 2 rounds to retain heavyweight boxing title
1940-06-20 Joe Louis TKOs Arturo Godoy in 8 for heavyweight boxing title
1940-12-16 Joe Louis KOs Al McCoy in 6 for heavyweight boxing title in Chicago
1941-01-31 In his 13th title defense Joe Louis KOs Red Burman in the 5th round at Madison Square Garden, New York to retain NYSAC heavyweight boxing crown
1941-02-17 In his 14th title defense Joe Louis KOs Gus Dorazio in the 2nd round at the Convention Center, Philadelphia to retain NYSAC heavyweight boxing crown
1941-03-21 In a hard fought 15th title defense Joe Louis KOs Abe Simon in the 13th round at Olympia Stadium, Detroit to retain NYSAC heavyweight boxing crown
1941-04-08 In his 4th title defense in 9 weeks Joe Louis beats Tony Musto by TKO in the 9th round at the Arena, Saint Louis, Missouri to retain NYSAC heavyweight boxing crown
1941-05-23 In his 20th World Heavyweight Boxing title defense Joe Louis knocks out Buddy Baer in round 1 at New York's Madison Square Garden
1941-06-18 In his 18th world heavyweight title defence Joe Louis KOs Billy Conn in 13th round in front of a crowd of 54,487 at the Polo Grounds, NYC
1941-09-29 Joe Louis TKOs Lou Nova in 6 for heavyweight boxing title
1942-01-09 In his 20th title defense, Joe Louis KOs Buddy Baer in the 1st round of their rematch to retain his world heavyweight boxing title at New York’s Madison Square Garden
1942-03-27 Joe Louis KOs Abe Simon in 6 to retain heavyweight boxing title (NYC)
1945-10-01 World heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis is discharged from US army after being awarded the Legion of Merit
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