A LOOK back AT EVENTS THAT HAPPENED ON this date
Joe Louis wins warm-up for showdown with Max Schmeling
Joe Louis’ title defense on this date in 1938 was a warm-up for arguably the most-important fight in boxing history. The “Brown Bomber” was set to face Max Schmeling in a rematch of their 1936 meeting, in which the German stopped a young Louis in a significant upset. The rematch was scheduled for June 22, 1938 at Yankee Stadium, during the rise of the Nazis in Germany. Louis became a symbol of good, Schmeling of evil. However, before that fight could take place, Louis had to defeat solid, but limited Harry Thomas two-plus months earlier in Chicago. The result was predictable. Thomas, a veteran from Minnesota, fought bravely but didn’t have the tools to cope with Louis’ all-around game. The champion put the challenger down multiple times (five, according to UPI) before finishing the job at 2:50 of Round 5. Now it was on to Schmeling, who Louis felt he had to defeat to be the genuine heavyweight champion. “Now I know I can beat that Schmelin’,” Louis said after stopping Thomas. “I always did think I could beat him, but he just happened to beat me that time. I know how to do it, too. I’ll step out and set the pace.” Schmeling lasted 124 seconds.
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