Vintage boxing artwork
THE RING ALMANAC
THE RING ALMANAC
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Heavyweight · Golden Age (1920–1959)

Joe Louis

"The Brown Bomber"

Top 100 · #5 · 74.7 points
66
Wins
3
Losses
0
Draws
52
KOs
79%
KO %
Born
1914
Died
1981
Nationality
USA
Career
1934–1951

Champion for nearly 12 years, the longest heavyweight reign ever, and a national hero after his rematch destruction of Schmeling.

Titles & Honours

Career Timeline

1934–1951
  1. Milestone

    First recorded professional bout

    vs Jack Kracken · W KO

    View fight record
  2. Milestone

    25th recorded win

    vs Jack Sharkey · KO. Newspaper decisions excluded.

    View fight record
  3. Title history

    Title reign begins

    World Heavyweight Champion (1937–1949). Year from profile title history; exact title-winning bout not identified.

    View title / honour details
  4. Signature fight

    vs James J. Braddock

    W KO8 James J. Braddock (1937) · Comiskey Park, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

    View fight record
  5. Signature fight

    vs Max Schmeling

    W KO1 Max Schmeling (1938) · Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York, U.S.

    View fight record
  6. Milestone

    50th recorded win

    vs Billy Conn · KO. Newspaper decisions excluded.

    View fight record
  7. Milestone

    Latest recorded bout

    vs Rocky Marciano · L TKO. Not necessarily the retirement date.

    View fight record
  8. Signature fight

    vs Rocky Marciano

    L TKO8 Rocky Marciano (1951) · Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.

    View fight record

Derived from the current archive and profile honours. Title-reign years are not exact bout dates; title claims are not independently verified. Signature fights use existing profile selections, or clearly labelled wins over other archived fighters when no selections exist. Year-only dates retain their original precision.

Photo Archive

Surrounded by recruits, Marva Louis, wife of champion Joe (Louis), takes time out from a tour of nightclubs... - NARA - 535855
Surrounded by recruits, Marva Louis, wife of champion Joe (Louis), takes time out from a tour of nightclubs... - NARA - 535855
Scope and content: Sergeant Joe Louis - with biographical paragraphs.
Scope and content: Sergeant Joe Louis - with biographical paragraphs.
Monument to Joe Louis
Monument to Joe Louis
Joe Louis' headstone in Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia.
Joe Louis' headstone in Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia.
"World Heavyweight champ Joseph Louis Barrow (aka Joe Louis) sews on the stripes of a technical sergeant--to which he has been promoted..." April 10, 1945
"World Heavyweight champ Joseph Louis Barrow (aka Joe Louis) sews on the stripes of a technical sergeant--to which he has been promoted..." April 10, 1945
American boxer Joe Louis golfing in 1945
American boxer Joe Louis golfing in 1945
Joe Louis, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing left
Joe Louis, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing left
Portrait of boxer Joe Louis
Portrait of boxer Joe Louis
LAS VEGAS, Nev. May 12--THAT'S THE ONE--Joe is, left, grabs the right fist of Max/Schmeling after the two former heavywieght boxing champions met Tuesday night in Las Vegas. It was Scheeling's right h
LAS VEGAS, Nev. May 12--THAT'S THE ONE--Joe is, left, grabs the right fist of Max/Schmeling after the two former heavywieght boxing champions met Tuesday night in Las Vegas. It was Scheeling's right h
With That Right, Ike. Springfield, Ill.: Joe Louis former heavyweight champion of the world is giving Governor Adlai Stevenson some pointers in the art of throwing a right during his fall on the Democ
With That Right, Ike. Springfield, Ill.: Joe Louis former heavyweight champion of the world is giving Governor Adlai Stevenson some pointers in the art of throwing a right during his fall on the Democ
American professional boxer Joe Louis
American professional boxer Joe Louis
Joe Louis looks for an opening during boxing match with Max Schmeling
Joe Louis looks for an opening during boxing match with Max Schmeling

12 archival photographs under their original licences.

Fight-by-Fight Record

DateResultOpponentMethodRoundVenue
1934-07-04WJack KrackenKO1Bacon's Arena, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
1934-07-12WWillie DaviesTKO3Bacon's Arena, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
1934-07-30WLarry UdellTKO2Marigold Gardens Outdoor Arena, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
1934-08-13WJack KranzUD8Marigold Gardens Outdoor Arena, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
1934-08-27WBuck EverettKO2Marigold Gardens Outdoor Arena, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
1934-09-11WAl DelaneyTKO4Naval Armory, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
1934-09-26WAdolph WiaterPTS10Arcadia Gardens, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
1934-10-24WArt SykesKO8Arcadia Gardens, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
1934-10-31WJack O'DowdKO2Arcadia Gardens, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
1934-11-14WStanley PoredaKO1Arcadia Gardens, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
1934-11-30WCharley MasseraKO3Coliseum, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
1934-12-14WLee RamageTKO8Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
1935-01-04WPatsy PerroniPTS10Olympia, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
1935-01-11WHans BirkieTKO10Duquesne Garden, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1935-02-21WLee RamageTKO2Wrigley Field, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
1935-03-08WDon "Red" BarryTKO3New Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S.
1935-03-29WNatie BrownUD10Olympia, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
1935-04-12WRoy LazerKO3Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
1935-04-22WBiff BennettKO1Memorial Hall, Dayton, Ohio, U.S.
1935-06-25WPrimo CarneraTKO6Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York, U.S.
1935-08-07WKing LevinskyTKO1Comiskey Park, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
1935-09-24WMax BaerKO4Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York, U.S.
1935-12-13WPaulino UzcudunTKO4Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
1936-01-17WCharley RetzlaffKO1Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
1936-06-19LMax SchmelingKO12Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York, U.S.
1936-08-18WJack SharkeyKO3Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York, U.S.
1936-09-22WAl EttoreKO5Municipal Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1936-10-09WJorge BresciaKO3Hippodrome Theatre, New York City, New York, U.S.
1936-12-14WEddie SimmsTKO1Public Auditorium, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
1937-01-11WSteve KetchelKO2Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, U.S.
1937-01-29WBob PastorUD10Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
1937-02-17WNatie BrownKO4Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
1937-06-22WJames J. BraddockKO8Comiskey Park, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
1937-08-30WTommy FarrUD15Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York, U.S.
1938-02-23WNathan MannKO3Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
1938-04-04WHarry ThomasKO5Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
1938-06-22WMax SchmelingTKO1Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York, U.S.
1939-01-25WJohn Henry LewisKO1Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
1939-04-17WJack RoperKO1Wrigley Field, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
1939-06-28WTony GalentoTKO4Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York, U.S.
1939-09-20WBob PastorKO11Briggs Stadium, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
1940-02-09WArturo GodoySD15Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
1940-03-29WJohnny PaychekTKO2Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
1940-06-20WArturo GodoyTKO8Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York, U.S.
1940-12-16WAl McCoyRTD5Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
1941-01-31WRed BurmanKO5Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
1941-02-17WGus DorazioKO2Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1941-03-21WAbe SimonTKO13Olympia, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
1941-04-08WTony MustoTKO9St. Louis Arena, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
1941-05-23WBuddy BaerDQ7Griffith Stadium, Washington, D.C., U.S.
1941-06-18WBilly ConnKO13Polo Grounds, New York City, New York, U.S.
1941-09-29WLou NovaTKO6Polo Grounds, New York City, New York, U.S.
1942-01-09WBuddy BaerKO1Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
1942-03-27WAbe SimonTKO6Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
1944-11-14WJohnny DavisTKO1Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, U.S.
1946-06-19WBilly ConnKO8Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York, U.S.
1946-09-18WTami MaurielloKO1Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York, U.S.
1947-12-05WJersey Joe WalcottSD15Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
1948-06-25WJersey Joe WalcottKO11Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York, U.S.
1950-09-27LEzzard CharlesUD15Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York, U.S.
1950-11-29WCesar BrionUD10Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
1951-01-03WFreddie BeshoreTKO4Olympia, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
1951-02-07WOmelio AgramonteUD10Miami Stadium, Miami, Florida, U.S.
1951-02-23WAndy WalkerTKO10Cow Palace, Daly City, California, U.S.
1951-05-02WOmelio AgramonteUD10Olympia, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
1951-06-15WLee SavoldKO6Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
1951-08-01WCesar BrionUD10Cow Palace, Daly City, California, U.S.
1951-08-15WJimmy BivinsUD10Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
1951-10-26LRocky MarcianoTKO8Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.

Showing 69 of 69 recorded fights · last updated 2026-10-11. Imported record tables are not independently verified and may be incomplete. Early-era logs include newspaper decisions (NWS), which are not counted in the official totals above.

Record notes

Fight record last retrieved: 2026-10-11. Title histories remain subject to archival review.

Historical-era totals differ between record-keeping conventions (newspaper decisions, exhibitions).

Compare with another fighter