In so doing, Joe Louis called a halt to a heavyweight reign ... But, overly emboldened, he abandoned his boxer-puncher style and went for the knockout, playing into the hands of the bigger Louis.

Joe Louis was the 10-to-1 favorite over the German boxer Max Schmeling before their first bout on June 19, 1936. Each man was fighting for a shot at the world heavyweight boxing championship.

Joe Louis is inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, and acknowledged as one of the 20th century's great heavyweight champions. His career record in 71 bouts was 68 wins and 3 losses ...

"Even white folks on the job that would say nigger 50 times a day, that would say boy this and boy that, would light up when they talked about Joe," says civil rights activist Dick Gregory about ...

Joe Louis, in the far right corner ... the 6-foot-1½ fighter defeated all 25 of his challengers, another record. Louis also was a winner with women. Though married four times, including twice ...