By John F. McKenna (McJack): Dempsey’s popularity ushered in the modern era of boxing. His fights were the first fights broadcast on the new medium of radio and he achieved the first million dollar gate when his fight with Frances popular war hero Georges Carpentier drew in 1.7 million dollars on July 2, 1921. It was said of Dempsey that he put the roar in the roaring 20’s.

Jack was the most popular sports figure in the golden era of sports and his popularity eclipsed even that of his close friend, baseball icon Babe Ruth.

In the mid 1930’s a young kid from Detroit named Joe Louis helped those in the black community to forget about there plight in a country that was still racist and still very much in a depression. Eventually he crossed the color barrier with his two fights with Max Schmeling. When Louis was still on his way up at the age of 22 he was KO by Schmeling in twelve rounds. The loss to Schmeling however was the impetus that drove “Bomber Joe” to become perhaps the greatest of all heavyweight champions. When Nazi Germany was preparing to make its run to take over Europe in 1938 it coincided with a rematch between Joe Louis and Max Schmeling. Hitler and his Nazi regime were using Scemeling’s KO over Louis in 1936 as proof of the supremacy of the Aryan race.

Louis rededicated himself to boxing after losing to “Herr” Max in the first fight, most notably giving up golf. Even though Louis lost to Schemeling he wound up getting the title shot against champion Jimmy Braddock. Promoters were afraid that if Max won the championship Hitler would be able to use it as a political football and safely tuck the title away in Germany. As it turned out Louis knocked out Braddock in the 8th round to begin a title reign that would last nearly 12 years, during which time he defended his title 25 times. Both the length of Louis’s reign and his 25 title defenses are records not only for the heavyweights, but for any division in the history of boxing and are records which may never be eclipsed.

When Louis and Scmeling fought for the 2nd time on June 22, 1938 at Yankee Stadium the fight had deep political implications. President Roosevelt summoned Louis to the White House prior to the fight and wished him well. Adolph Hitter placed a call to Schmeling while he was in his dressing room just before he entered the ring. 70,000 fans were present to watch Louis demolish Schmeling in 2:04 of the first round. Louis became an instant international celebrity. In America Louis was a hero, not only in the black community, but in the white community as well.

Louis transcended boxing in that as heavyweight champion he went into the army in 1942 and raised millions of dollars at events that were designed to sell US war bonds. In one of the fund raisers Louis made his unforgettable impromptu quote: “We just can’t lose because God’s on our side.” At another public event when chided by reporters about why he was so gung ho about America, which was still a racist country, Louis made another of his simplistic but very powerful comments: “A lot of things wrong with America. Hitler ain’t gonna fix none of them.”

Louis also held two title defenses prior to entering the army, donating the proceeds to the Army Relief Society and the Navy Relief Society. While Louis was in the Army he entertained the troops by fighting in 100 exhibitions in various theaters of the war, while helping break down the walls of racism which forbid African American soldiers from watching his fights. After Louis retired he became the first African American to play in a PGA Golf tournament in 1951.