Boxing in the Great Depression

By: Matt Lawhorn and Benzy Simons

Great Depression● The stock market crashed on October 29, 1929,

otherwise known as black tuesday, it would change not just America but the whole world forever

● Not only a time of great economic depression but a demoralizing psychological and emotional experience for all of America

● People were forced into rationing food and saving money

● The unemployment rate was up to 25% in 1933 from 3.2% in 1929

● The sport entertainment business was unfortunately one of the many organizations affected by the Great Depression

Boxing➢ Early forms of boxing started with the Greeks, through

the years it evolved into a functioning and popular sport➢ Boxing gained popularity in the late 19th century and

through to the beginning of the 20th century➢ Boxing was first presented in the St. Louis Olympics of

1904, which marked the beginning of from then on fighters from all over the world competed

➢ In 1927 the National Boxing Association (NBA) was created which no longer exists today

➢ Boxing was carried on the shoulders of famous boxers such as Gene Tunney, Barney Ross, Henry Armstrong and Joe Louis

Boxing in the Great Depression★ Boxers were offered less money due to the economy which resulted in less

passionate fights★ Despite this little recession, the popularity of boxing stayed strong throughout, in

fact people rallied behind it★ It connected the whole world as it was an easy and cheap sport in which all

countries could participate★ The fights gave people something to look forward to, much similar to a radio show★ Everybody tuned in and supported their favorite American boxer as he fought

internationally against some of the best fighters in the world★ Boys strived to be strong and tough as the boxers they listened to★ Women were fondly attracted to these men

Gambling➔ Great Depression led to legalization of gambling➔ Legalized gambling was a way to effectively

stimulate the economy➔ Many places allowed Bingo to be played in order to

help Churches and Charitable Organizations➔ Mobs controlled illegal gambling in some places

resulting in much organized crime➔ The people would play the numbers from the treasury

report hoping they would win➔ Gambling on sport events was extremely popular,

boxing was one of those sports

Interview with Joe Bombara★ The Great Depression was a time of little food and no

work★ My family lived in a cold water flat with no heat, The

only heat came from the black stove★ Welfare supplied milk and bread lines for the people★ For entertainment we listened to the radio, Things such as

Machine Gun Kelly and of course the fights between Joe Louis and his opponent

★ During the Great Depression in America Hitler was coming to power

★ “Hitler claimed he had the master race and no one could beat him”(Joe Bombara)

★ Louis was a clean cut fighter who was a gentleman and gave credit to the american race

Joe Louis● Louis was born May 13th, 1914 in Lafayette, Alabama● He dropped out of junior high school, so he never actually

went to high school● He stood as a shining symbol of mythical and real american

traits like racial unity, national strength, and unlimited opportunity

● In his boxing career he lost only 7 times out of 129 fights● He had Knocked out 85 of his opponents and was knocked

out only twice● “Louis was clean cut and a good example of a fighter who

was a gentleman”(Joe Bombara)● He represented the American Dream or the typical “rags to

riches” story

Joe Louis vs. Max Schmeling(Video)

❖ The Joe Louis and Max Schmeling fight is one of the most well known fights in boxing history❖ This was the second fight between the two of them, Schmeling came victorious as it was described by the

sportswriter Patrick Myer, “Schmeling was feted in Germany, especially by the Nazis. You know, they trumpeted him as the perfect specimen of the Arian superiority — beating the black American, of course — and he was the Nazi hero.”

❖ The fight evolved into a lot more than just boxing, as Hitler was on the rise and saw Schmeling as the poster child of his Arian race

❖ Joe Louis’ victory brought a sense of nationalism to America despite the color of his skin❖ Schmeling’s defeat disturbed Hitler because his master race was defeated❖ They were fighting for the World Heavy-Weight Championship, as Joe Louis Barrow, the son of Joe

Louis, said, "In those days, the most powerful individual in the world was the heavyweight boxing champion of the world.... When the heavyweight championship was fought, millions upon millions upon millions of people listened simultaneously by their radios all across the world."

❖ A lot was riding on this match with a total of 70 million people tuning in to listen

Joe Louis: Racial Aspects■ Because of his boxing skills and winning record he became one of the

most prominent Black athletes in America

■ Louis beat James “Cinderella Man” Braddock, the white, well-liked

phenom in 1937, promptly lifting the spirits of the Black masses

during the Great Depression

■ Only because of Louis’ humbleness after winning the Heavyweight

Championship in 1937 was he accepted by the white Americans

■ He was the first Black fighter in 22 years to hold the Heavyweight

title as he held it from 1937 - 1949

How did Joe Louis effect America during the Great Depression?

Pic Citationshttp://img0.etsystatic.com/010/0/6229747/il_fullxfull.452439490_5hea.jpg?ref=l2

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Sources"About the Great Depression." About the Great Depression. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2013.

"The History of Boxing." The History of Boxing. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2013.

“Joseph Louis Barrow." Notable Sports Figures. Ed. Dana R. Barnes. Detroit: Gale, 2004. Biography in Context. Web. 20 Nov. 2013.

"Joe Louis." Contemporary Black Biography. Vol. 5. Detroit: Gale, 1993. Biography in Context. Web. 20 Nov. 2013.

Henderson, Edwin Bancroft. The Black Athlete; Emergence and Arrival,. New York: Publishers, 1968. Print.

"Joe Louis." American Decades. Ed. Judith S. Baughman, et al. Detroit: Gale, 1998.Biography in Context. Web. 20 Nov. 2013.

"Great Depression." Gale Encyclopedia of U.S. Economic History. Ed. Thomas Carson and Mary Bonk. Detroit: Gale, 1999. Biography in Context. Web. 20 Nov. 2013.

Interview with “Joe Bambara”, 89 Years Old