Joe Louis record-breaking career has only a few blemishes on it, with the last being against a legend who didn’t pick up the gloves until he was 23.
Joe Louis boasted a record-breaking title reign of 25 defenses over 11 years, and is widely regarded as one of the best heavyweights to have ever lived.
Though Louis did avoid opposition such as Kid Violent, his career is still a marvel to behold, and with a record of 66-3, there are only three men to have best the legend.
Louis’ first loss came to Max Schmeling, though he avenged this defeat with a third-round knockout years later. His second loss was handed to him by Ezzard Charles.
His third was to the great Rocky Marciano.
Rocky Marciano didn’t start boxing until he was 23 years old
Marciano stopped Louis in the eighth round in 1951 in what was Louis’ final fight of his career.
Marciano retired undefeated, with a record of 49-0, holding wins over Ezzard Charles, Archie Moore, Jersey Joe Walcott, and Joe Louis, who was dropped by Tony Galento, the man who fought an octopus.
But boxing was not something that came naturally to him, and he never picked up the gloves until he was 23 years old.
Marciano initially hoped to be a baseball player, but was too slow to compete with the rest, so focused on boxing, where his sheer determination and resilience took him further than talent ever could.
Fans react to Rocky Marciano’s fantastic career
On social media, the question was posed: “Right or Wrong: Rocky Marciano is the greatest heavyweight of all time.”
The responses ranged all the way from:
“He was one of them. Good motor and punched hard and fast round to round. Could take a punch well too. Countered okay. Moved just enough to punch guys hard. Good body puncher. Hardworker.”
All the way to:
“For me personally it will always be Muhammad Ali. He not only was the greatest boxer, but he was a civil rights leader, and stood up for what he believed in and got prosecuted because of his righteous stand on the Vietnam war.”
Others say Marciano was too small a heavyweight to be the best, and whilst some say he’s in their top five, others don’t even put him their top ten.