Joe Louis fought Max Schmeling twice.
In their first encounter in 1936, before Louis became heavyweight champion, the German boxer emerged the winner.
In 1938, now the world champion, Louis beat Schmeling in a one-round knockout that struck a symbolic blow to Nazi Germany’s claims of national and racial superiority.
Louis’s initial loss to Schmeling was one of only three defeats (as against 69 victories) in his career; the other two took place during a brief comeback attempt in 1950 and 1951.