"Save us, Joe Louis!"
Book Review of "Joe Louis: Hard Times"

Joe Louis: Hard Times.
By Randy Roberts.
308 pages. $27.50 ($16.24 on Amazon).
Yale University Press.
Release date October 26, 2010.
Link

Book review by Chris Cozzone

“Save me, Joe Louis! Save me, Joe Louis!”

As urban legend has it, those were the last words of a black death row prisoner, back in the ‘30s, as he breathed in fatal fumes in the gas chamber.

Not to make light of a dying man’s words (they weren’t true, anyway), the quote came to mind when I saw there was yet another book on the market on the long-running heavyweight champion.

“Save yourself, Joe Louis! Save yourself!”

C’mon already, I thought. What more could be written that hasn’t already be published? What else is there to say about the Louis legend?

It was with that attitude that I opened up Randy Roberts’ “Joe Louis” Hard Times Man,” already scheming to pen a vicious review.

Then I started reading.

Having already consumed most of the Louis books out there, over the years, I might not have learned a whole lot about the man many consider the greatest boxer of all time, but what I did get was a fresh perspective and a gutsy read.

Against the odds and sheer volume of the material printed before him, Roberts picks his spots and hammers home a Louis-like kayo in nearly every chapter.

More than half a century after his reign, the story of Joe Louis, as told by Roberts, reminds us just how far the sport of boxing has fallen; how big the iconic champion was, back in the day; and how he “transformed black into red, white, and blue.”

Louis was a giant in the days when the sweet science still remained part of the American culture. Breaking through the color barriers cemented in place after Jack Johnson ruled the ring, Louis broke through to become both white and black America’s icon from the Depression well after World War II.

Defending the title (the title, not a title) 25 times and reigning more than 11 years as champ, Louis and his story, as told by Roberts, may have less to do with the sport than it does about race, culture and politics. The ringside accounts are well provided for, as well.

Louis’ rise up the ranks, his wins over former champs Primo Carnera and Max Baer made him the likely successor to the crown – until German Max Schmeling scored one of the biggest upsets in history. Louis bounced back from his 1936 loss to earn a shot at champion James Braddock, whom he defeated in 1937. One year later – with almost 100 million people tuned in their radios – the “Brown Bomber” destroyed Schmeling in one round to become the most popular man in America.

“We’re going to do our part … and we’ll win because we’re on God’s side,” came from the champ when he enlisted in the army during World War II. Returning to civilian life when the war was over, Louis fought his remaining years in debt to the IRS, his decline in ring skills forcing a retirement in 1948 – and a sad comeback in 1950, suffering defeat to a young and powerful Rocky Marciano.

It’s not likely we’ll ever see a fighter rise to such iconic heights as Louis – though Manny Pacquiao seems to have captured the spot in the Philippines – but it sure would be nice to see a fighter with even half the skill and punch return to give the sport a much-needed shot in the arm.

“Save us, Joe Louis! Save us, Joe Louis!”