The Taxman Destroyed Joe LouisJoe Louis defended his title twenty-five times in five years, knocking out twenty-three of his opponents. He entered the Army in 1942 and was used basically as a good-will ambassador, including an appearance in a movie, The Negro Soldier, an attempt to boost morale among black fighting men. Joe Louis while serving in Germany performed several paid exhibition matches, but he never accepted any money, The army got all of that money. The taxman came down on Joe Louis after he left the Army and tax him for the money the Army got from his exhibition matches that further ruined Joe Louis as regards to taxes owed. Money Joe never took because he was serving in the army for his country. It was a patriotic gesture of Joe Louis that caused him not to keep any monies from those exhibitions he performed from 1941 to 1942. Exhibition bouts that was staged around the world totalling $750,000 which Joe received for those exhibition matches. All of that money was handed over to the army service fund. After World War II ended, Joe Louis defended his championship title five more times, before he announced his retirement from the boxing in 1949. But Joe Louis owed more than $1,00000.00 million in back taxes and consequently, he resumed fighting in 1950, only to be outpointed by Ezzard Charles on 27th September in an attempt to reclaim his championship boxing title. In Joe Louis' last fight, he was knocked out by champion to be, Rocky Marciano in the 8th round on 26th October 1951. Joe Louis Was One of the Most Interesting Sports Figures In HistoryJoe Louis won 67 professional bouts, 53 of them by knockout, and lost 3. 2 of those loses were by knockout. He spent several months in a psychiatric hospital in 1970, later became the official greeter at a Las Vegas casino. Joe Louis only boxer to retire with his championship belt. Won National Light Heavy Weight Amateur Crown of the Golden Gloves at nineteen years old. Joe Louis ascended to the top of the boxing world faster than any other athlete in history. From his “Bum of the Month” campaign to a tragic death. Joe Louis was one of the most interesting sports figures in history. moniker the “Brown Bomber,” Joe Louis Barrow was born on 13th May 1914. Joe Louis Barrow was the son of an Alabama sharecropper, he was close to his large family. Joe Louis moved to Detroit in 1924, where he won the National Light Heavyweight Amateur Crown of the Golden Gloves at the early age of nineteen. In 1933, John Roxborough, his manager at the time, thought his name was too long, so it was shortened to simply Joe Louis. With his health failing, Joe Louis still went to major boxing events. On 12th April 1981, Joe Louis had ringside seats for the Larry Holms vs. Trevor Berbick heavyweight championship bout. Joe Louis Barrow was 66 when he died. Joe Louis made over $5,000,000.00 during his boxing career, but gave away most of that money. Statement By President Ronald Reagan on the Death of Former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Joe Louis Who Died 12th April 1981 I was privileged and will always be grateful to have had Joe Louis as my friend. The son of an Alabama sharecropper, Joe Louis fought his way to the top of professional boxing and into the hearts of millions of Americans. Out of the ring, he was a considerate and soft-spoken man; inside the ring, his courage, strength, and consummate skill wrote a unique and unforgettable chapter in sports history. But Joe Louis was more than a sports legend -- his career was an indictment of racial bigotry and a source of pride and inspiration to millions of white and black people around the world. All of America mourns his loss, and we convey our sympathy to his family and friends. But we also share their pride in his professional achievements, his service to his country, and his strength of heart and spirit. |
