1938 Joe Louis Type 1 Original News Service Photo Acme Newspictures – COA PSA/DNA

Noted author and member of the Harlem Renaissance Langston Hughes described Joe Louis’s effect on the sport of boxing in America in these terms:

“Each time Joe Louis won a fight in those depression years, even before he became champion, thousands of black Americans on relief or W.P.A., and poor, would throng out into the streets all across the land to march and cheer and yell and cry because of Joe’s one-man triumphs. No one else in the United States has ever had such an effect on — emotions—or on mine. I marched and cheered and yelled and cried, too.”

Presented is an original photo from 1938 featuring Joe Louis. It is a black and white close-up of Louis in his sparring practice headgear. The 5.5″ x 7″ photo has captioning on the back showcasing that this shot is from his preparation against Max Schmeling in defense of his Heavyweight title in New York on June 22, 1938. It also has N.E.A. stamping from Acme Newspapers. PSA/DNA encapsulated and authenticated it as a Type 1 News Service Photo.

Subsequently (post photo): On the night of June 22, 1938, Louis and Schmeling met for the second time in the boxing ring. The fight was held in Yankee Stadium before a crowd of 70,043. It was broadcast by radio to millions of listeners throughout the world (including 58% of radio-equipped U.S. households), with radio announcers reporting on the fight in English, German, Spanish, and Portuguese. Before the bout, Schmeling weighed in at 193 pounds; Louis weighed in at 198¾ pounds.

The fight lasted two minutes and four seconds. Louis battered Schmeling with a series of swift attacks, forcing him against the ropes and giving him a paralyzing body blow (Schmeling afterward claimed it was an illegal kidney punch). Schmeling was knocked down three times and only managed to throw two punches in the entire bout. On the third knockdown, Schmeling’s trainer threw in the towel and referee Arthur Donovan stopped the fight.

Authentication: PSA/DNA Slab

1938 Joe Louis Type 1 Original News Service Photo Acme Newspictures