This writer’s opinion of the two greatest heavyweight champions was Joe ’The Brown Bomber’ Louis and Muhammad ‘The Greatest’ Ali.
For all they contributed to boxing, each lost years of their boxing activity.
Starting with Louis, whose greatest achievement in boxing was a record twenty-five title defenses. His final record was 66-3 with 52 knockouts. Born in LaFayette, Alabama, as Joe Louis Barrow, he would later fight out of Detroit, Michigan.
Louis was 54-4 as an amateur as a light heavyweight, winning the Chicago Tournament of Champions and National AAU titles.
On July 4, 1934, Louis turned professional, winning his first 24 fights, 20 of which were by knockout. He would then be stopped by NBA World champion Max Schmeling, 48-7-4, from Germany.
On June 22, 1937, at Commiskey Park, Chicago, IL, Louis stopped world champion James ‘The Cinderella Man’ J. Braddock, 50-25-7, he had to come off the canvas in the first round to stop the champion in 8 rounds. He claimed he would never consider himself a champion until he beat Schmeling.
In Louis’ fourth defense, he knocked out Schmeling, 52-7-4, in Yankee Stadium, the Bronx, New York.
In June of 1941, Louis had to come from behind on two scorecards and even on the other to stop Light Heavyweight champion Billy ‘Pittsburgh Kid’ Conn, 58-9-1, in 13 rounds at the Polo Grounds, New York. He made three defenses, bringing the total to 21 before entering the Army.
On January 8th, 1942, Louis enlisted in the US Army. He would be inactive for almost 3 years. On June 19, 1946, he had his rematch with Conn, scoring a knockout in the 8th round at Yankee Stadium in New York.
Louis fought in 96 exhibitions for over two million troops and raised $100,000 for relief purposes. His tax debt was approaching $500,000. In 1950, the IRS 1950 started accumulating interest each year.
Louis had to come out of retirement to pay his tax debt. The IRS never considered al the exhibitions he fought.
Looking at Muhammad Ali’s punishment for not entering the US Army.
In March of 1969, the New York Boxing Commission revoked Ali’s license in September of 1970. This was due to being convicted of a crime, or due to a military offense, or due to refusing induction into the US Army.
This cost Ali years of inactivity until he fought Oscar Bonavena after being granted a license by the New York Commission in 1970.
Was Ali treated fairly?