Joe Louis.
May 13, 1914 – April 12, 1981. Was an American professional boxer who competed from 1934 to 1951. Nicknamed, The Brown Bomber, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest & most influential boxers of all time. He reigned as the world heavyweight champion from 1937 until his temporary retirement in 1949. He was victorious in 25 consecutive title defenses, a record for all weight classes. He had the longest single reign as champion of any boxer in history. His cultural impact was felt well outside the ring.
Joe Louis is widely regarded as the first African American to achieve the status of a nationwide hero within the United States, & was also a focal point of Anti Nazi sentiment leading up to & during World War II because of his historic rematch with German boxer Max Schmeling in 1938. He was instrumental in integrating the game of golf, helping break the sport’s color barrier in America by appearing under a sponsor’s exemption in a PGA event in 1952. Joe Louis had only three losses in his 69 professional fights. He tallied 52 knockouts. After returning from retirement, Louis failed to regain the championship in 1950, & his career ended after he was knocked out by Rocky Marciano in 1951. Joe Louis died of cardiac arrest in Desert Springs Hospital near Las Vegas on April 12, 1981, just hours after his last public appearance viewing the Larry Holmes, Trevor Berbick Heavyweight Championship Fight.
