Joe Louis Record Reign Begins Against James J. Braddock on June 22, 1937

On June 22, 1937, Joe Louis (66-3, 52 KOs) defeated James J. Braddock at Comiskey Park, Chicago, Illinois by eighth round KO. The victory ensured Louis won the NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring heavyweight titles. Following this victory Louis embarked on a record reign as heavyweight champion, which involved some memorable bouts up until he announced his retirement on March 1, 1949. Big Fight Weekend are looking back at his fight against Braddock and that historic reign as champion.

Joe Louis Defeats Braddock by Knockout and Begins Record Reign

Joe Louis vs. James J. Braddock Recap

The opening round saw both fighters exchange punches in close range and Braddock shocked Louis with a right uppercut, knocking him down. he recovered well and did the cleaner work, but the knockdown ensured Braddock took the opener. The next few rounds, saw Louis dominate with impressive one-two combinations, which seemed to deflate Braddock, who seemed to be tiring.

Read More: Joe Louis Got His Rematch Revenge Over Max Schmeling

The eighth round was the end for “Cinderella Man,” with the “The Brown Bomber” landing a big left-right combination, with the right hand doing the job, landing with plenty of power and spite, which crowed Louis the new world heavyweight champion – and this was just the beginning.

Record Reign

Following his impressive KO against Braddock, “The Brown Bomber” recorded impressive victories, including his rematch revenge over Max Schmeling, a first-round win over John Henry Lewis and a victory over Billy Conn.

Read More: 10 Most Memorable Punches in Boxing History

The legacy of Louis continues to shine to this day and he is regarded by many as one of the greatest boxers of all time. He carried unbelievable power throughout his career, as proven by his 52 KOs. He was excellent at setting his opponents up for a power punch. His one-two combination punching made him a fearsome fighter.