Tag: Ali vs Norton

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.

[lawrence-related id=19053]

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.

[lawrence-related id=19053]

A LOOK back AT EVENTS THAT HAPPENED ON this date

Ken Norton upsets Muhammad Ali in the first of their fights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbYtHaduVZ8

Muhammad Ali had few genuine rivals. The most obvious one was Joe Frazier, who lost two of three classic fights to “The Greatest” but took him to hell in the process. And there was Ken Norton. The strapping heavyweight also met Ali in a three-fight series, the first a non-title bout on this date in 1973 at the Sports Arena in Norton’s adopted hometown of San Diego. Ali proved his toughness by fighting 11-plus rounds with a broken jaw but the underdog, younger and fitter than his iconic opponent, outworked him to earn a 12-round split-decision victory that established him as a major player in the division and spoiled Ali’s immediate plans to challenge champion George Foreman. They fought again less than six months later, with a better-conditioned Ali emerging with a split-decision victory in the rematch. Still, it was Norton who would get first crack at Foreman. And things didn’t go well for him, as he failed to survive two full rounds. Seven months after that Ali would make boxing history but stopping Foreman in arguably the greatest victory of his magnificent career. Ali and Norton would meet for the final time in 1976, with Ali winning a unanimous decision in another close fight. Some believe Norton should’ve had his hand raised in the all three fights.

Also on this date: Larry Holmes stopped hulking Leroy Jones in eight rounds in defense of his heavyweight title in 1980. And Mike Weaver stunned undefeated John Tate by scoring a knockout in the 15^th and final round of a fight he was losing on the cards to win a heavyweight belt.

[lawrence-related id=19000]

A LOOK back AT EVENTS THAT HAPPENED ON this date

Ken Norton upsets Muhammad Ali in the first of their fights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbYtHaduVZ8

Muhammad Ali had few genuine rivals. The most obvious one was Joe Frazier, who lost two of three classic fights to “The Greatest” but took him to hell in the process. And there was Ken Norton. The strapping heavyweight also met Ali in a three-fight series, the first a non-title bout on this date in 1973 at the Sports Arena in Norton’s adopted hometown of San Diego. Ali proved his toughness by fighting 11-plus rounds with a broken jaw but the underdog, younger and fitter than his iconic opponent, outworked him to earn a 12-round split-decision victory that established him as a major player in the division and spoiled Ali’s immediate plans to challenge champion George Foreman. They fought again less than six months later, with a better-conditioned Ali emerging with a split-decision victory in the rematch. Still, it was Norton who would get first crack at Foreman. And things didn’t go well for him, as he failed to survive two full rounds. Seven months after that Ali would make boxing history but stopping Foreman in arguably the greatest victory of his magnificent career. Ali and Norton would meet for the final time in 1976, with Ali winning a unanimous decision in another close fight. Some believe Norton should’ve had his hand raised in the all three fights.

Also on this date: Larry Holmes stopped hulking Leroy Jones in eight rounds in defense of his heavyweight title in 1980. And Mike Weaver stunned undefeated John Tate by scoring a knockout in the 15^th and final round of a fight he was losing on the cards to win a heavyweight belt.

[lawrence-related id=19000]