Tommy Farr and the "Brown Bomber" Joe LouisNow we look back to that epic battle between Tommy Farr and the "Brown Bomber" Joe Louis. Joe Louis making his first defense of the World Heavyweight title, which he had taken from James J. Braddock. the Brown Bomber was expected to deal with Tommy Farr more than comfortably. Joe Louis himself saw the fight as nothing more than a warm up for stronger opponents who would undoubtedly challenge him. No one outside of Wales gave Tommy the slightest chance of winning. America was looking forward to a convincing and early finish to the fight. But Tommy Farr had not read the script ! Before a crowd of 32,000 in New York, Tommy Farr gave the Brown Bomber the fight and fright of his life. Meanwhile back in Wales it was said that almost every house in the land were listening to the fight on the radio that night. At the sound of the bell, the boxing commenced on the 31st of August 1937 with Tommy Farr surprisingly taking the fight to the champion. Joe Louis was strong, powerful and a fearsome puncher. Surely, these tactics were not right for Tommy to adopt? While respecting the champion Tommy moved forward continuously and for 15 rounds a war was waged between two great men of boxing. The fight was close with Louis cutting up Tommy badly in an enthralling battle. England's Champion Proved a Full Evening's JobAt the end Joe Louis was declared the winner and still Heavyweight Champion of the World. Tommy Farr had lost but had won the respect of the world and earned a place in boxing history. Farr was still only 23 years old but had been involved in more than 200 fights, including boxing booth bouts, when he faced Louis. I Thought I had him, but he would not be finished. Here is Joe Louis' Own Story of the fight with Tommy Farr: "Tommy Farr fooled me. he's one game, tough fellow at fighting. Yes England's champion proved a full evening's job, and my crown is doffed to him. I am glad that he gave me a tough scrap, but I am perfectly satisfied with my showing. Unfortunately I hurt my right hand in the third round, otherwise I feel I might have knocked Tommy out inside five rounds. After jabbing Farr into position in the third, I cut loose with my first cannon shot of the fight, and it landed high, catching his head. Then I decided to use my left and rest the right. I feel that I won the fight and retained my title by beating Farr with jabs. My hardest punch of the 15 rounds was a left hook which I landed in the fifth. It drove home with everything behind it. I knew Tommy was hurt, and I drove three more left hooks, one sinking into his body. Farr Was Rushing Joe Louis Into The Ropes It was then that I could have used my right hand if it had been sound. Farr has a heart of flint. He is fearless and tough, yet I feel that I didn't get a good shot at him. I never hit him as hard at any time as I hit Max Baer. Tommy is a good puncher, better than I figured. He didn't hurt me badly at any time, but he caught me with some corkers. His hardest punch was a left hook in the sixth round, but it didn't stun me. My right hand was bruised when we collided head on in the eighth round, but that did not bother me enough to count. They tell me that Tommy Farr also bruised his right. He certainly waded in and threw it enough. Twice in the fifteenth round he caught me with overhand rights, although I was going away at the time, and didn't take the full force. In the twelfth I jabbed Farr's head and felt my left was hurt. Then I tried to dress him up with the right, and felt that. Still I caught him good near the end of the thirteenth. at that time Farr was rushing me into the ropes. I drove with left and right uppercuts, and the right went home; but the round was too nearly over.I knew at the time it was my last chance to score a knockout, so I spent the last two sessions boxing him to protect my lead. Joe Louis Said of Tommy Farr; "He Is Puzzling And His Punches Are Annoying. England can be proud of Tommy Farr. I hope we meet again some time, but right now I feel like taking a long rest to let my hand heal. Farr's Puzzling Style Farr has a most peculiar style. He doesn't look effective, yet he is puzzling and his punches are annoying. In the first two rounds I let him lead and sized him up, concentrating on jabs. Then in the third I decided to cut loose, and cut his face with I took some neat jabs in the fourth. Tommy surprised me by rushing out at the gong, but I worked the left jab enough to hold him at bay. The fifth is when I thought I was going to town. Tommy missed a right hand lead, and I drove my best punch of the fight, a left hook to the jaw. He grabbed for my arms and I knew the man was hurt, so I threw another right, but there was nothing in that weapon. Another hook to the body doubled him up. I tried desperately to finish the fight, but the man in front of me simply would not be finished. He was as game as any man I ever fought. He gritted his teeth and fought back. |
Joe Louis: My "Bomb" Would Not Explode.Farr beat me in the sixth by taking the play away from me. He rushed from the gong, and kept coming into me like a stubborn bull. Tommy kept flipping his left jab into my lips, and as the seventh started again, I put everything into a series of left hooks. I believe Tommy was hurt as this round closed, but this man Farr never knows when he's beaten. He came flying back in the eighth, and annoyed me no end. Once in this round, I remember, he charged and scored with left and right swings. Tommy side-wheeled with his left shoulder high, and was hard to reach. My Bomb Would Not Explode. I caught him with a good hook again in the tenth, and followed with a long right; but again this blow which should do the bombing failed to explode. | |
