By Ted Sares Back in the day, Joe Louis was everyone’s hero. When he lost to Rocky Marciano, many wept, for Joe had transcended the sport and was viewed as America’s fighter. Fact is, Joe Louis was neither brown nor white; he simply was the most beloved champion in boxing history. Old school Boxing, thanks to television, was big in the ‘50s. Names like Stillman’s Gym. … [Read more...]
Historical Fight Night: Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Louis
by Fox Doucette Once upon a midnight dreary (and holy hell, was I ever weak and weary as I wrote those forgotten pieces of heavyweight boxing lore), this site played host to a ginormous World Cup-style heavyweight tournament that culminated in Joe Louis defeating Ezzard Charles for the distinction of the greatest of all time, in a fight that, truth be told, your intrepid … [Read more...]
What If’s Excellent Heavyweight Adventure Part 18: Fight to the Last
Welcome back to What If's Excellent Heavyweight Adventure, where four months of action has finally brought us to the ultimate showdown: Previously, on What If: Two men took very different paths to get to where we are now. For Joe Louis, the path has been one of the legendary feared steamroller, as he tore through the group stages with two wins over Max Baer and Primo Carnera … [Read more...]
What If’s Excellent Heavyweight Adventure Part 17: Echoes And Lessons
Welcome to another episode of What If's Excellent Heavyweight Adventure, where only two shall remain. We're almost to the finish line: Previously, on What If: Three of our four combatants are, in the grand scheme of things, not terribly surprising entrants in the semifinals. Joe Louis and Muhammad Ali were pre-tournament favorites. Ezzard Charles, once he figured out that he … [Read more...]
What If’s Excellent Heavyweight Adventure Part 16: Vuja De
Welcome to another episode of What If's Excellent Heavyweight Adventure, where eight men enter...and four men leave. From here out, I'm assuming you're familiar with the series; if not, punch “What If” into the Tribune's search function---the archive's all there. Previously, on What If: There are two rematches on tap in this week's edition. In the very first fight of the … [Read more...]