Open Boxing

Joe Louis

Joe Louis held the NYSAC, WBA and The Ring heavyweight world titles between 1937 and 1949. Louis was the undisputed heavyweight world champion from 1937 to 1949. Louis's reign as NYSAC, WBA and The Ring heavyweight world champion, from 1937 to 1949, was the longest of any world champion at heavyweight.

World title bouts
28
Record in world title bouts (won–lost)
27–1
World titles held
3
Longest world title reign (The Ring heavyweight, 1937–1949)
11 years, 8 months

World title reigns and bouts

Jan 1937 – Jan 1951

HeavyweightNYSAC
WBA
The Ring
1937age 221938age 231939age 241940age 251941age 261942age 271943age 281944age 291945age 301946age 311947age 321948age 331949age 341950age 351951age 36
194019451950

WonLostDrawn or no contest

Timeline of world title events

  1. 1951

  2. The Ring magazine rates Joe Louis No. 6 at heavyweight in its annual ratings

  3. 1950

  4. The Ring magazine rates Joe Louis No. 1 at heavyweight in its annual ratings

  5. Ezzard Charles beats Joe Louis via unanimous decision 15/15

    Heavyweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring

  6. 1949

  7. Joe Louis’s reign as The Ring heavyweight world champion ends

    Heavyweight · The Ring

    Joe Louis’s reign as the WBA heavyweight world champion ends

    Heavyweight · WBA

  8. Joe Louis’s reign as the NYSAC heavyweight world champion ends

    Heavyweight · NYSAC

  9. 1948

  10. The Ring magazine rates Joe Louis the heavyweight champion in its annual ratings

  11. Joe Louis beats Jersey Joe Walcott via knockout 11/15

    Heavyweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring

  12. 1947

  13. The Ring magazine rates Joe Louis the heavyweight champion in its annual ratings

  14. Joe Louis beats Jersey Joe Walcott via split decision 15/15

    Heavyweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring

  15. 1946

  16. The Ring magazine rates Joe Louis the heavyweight champion in its annual ratings

  17. Joe Louis beats Tami Mauriello via knockout 1/15

    Heavyweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring

  18. Joe Louis beats Billy Conn via knockout 8/15

    Heavyweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring

  19. 1945

  20. The Ring magazine rates Joe Louis the heavyweight champion in its annual ratings

  21. 1944

  22. The Ring magazine rates Joe Louis the heavyweight champion in its annual ratings

  23. Joe Louis beats Johnny Davis via knockout 1/4

    Heavyweight · NYSAC and The Ring

  24. 1943

  25. The Ring magazine rates Joe Louis the heavyweight champion in its annual ratings

  26. 1942

  27. The Ring magazine rates Joe Louis the heavyweight champion in its annual ratings

  28. Joe Louis beats Abe Simon via knockout 6/15

    Heavyweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring

  29. Joe Louis beats Buddy Baer via knockout 1/15

    Heavyweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring

  30. 1941

  31. The Ring magazine rates Joe Louis the heavyweight champion in its annual ratings

  32. Joe Louis beats Lou Nova via knockout 6/15

    Heavyweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring

  33. Joe Louis beats Billy Conn via knockout 13/15

    Heavyweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring

  34. Joe Louis beats Buddy Baer via disqualification 7/15

    Heavyweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring

  35. Joe Louis beats Tony Musto via knockout 9/15

    Heavyweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring

  36. Joe Louis beats Abe Simon via knockout 13/20

    Heavyweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring

  37. Joe Louis beats Gus Dorazio via knockout 2/15

    Heavyweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring

  38. Joe Louis beats Red Burman via knockout 5/15

    Heavyweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring

  39. 1940

  40. The Ring magazine rates Joe Louis the heavyweight champion in its annual ratings

  41. Joe Louis beats Al McCoy via corner retirement 5/15

    Heavyweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring

  42. Joe Louis beats Arturo Godoy via knockout 8/15

    Heavyweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring

  43. Joe Louis beats Johnny Paychek via knockout 2/15

    Heavyweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring

  44. Joe Louis beats Arturo Godoy via split decision 15/15

    Heavyweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring

  45. 1939

  46. The Ring magazine rates Joe Louis the heavyweight champion in its annual ratings

  47. Joe Louis beats Bob Pastor via knockout 11/20

    Heavyweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring

  48. Joe Louis beats Tony Galento via knockout 4/15

    Heavyweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring

  49. Joe Louis beats Jack Roper via knockout 1/10

    Heavyweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring

  50. Joe Louis beats John Henry Lewis via knockout 1/15

    Heavyweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring

  51. 1938

  52. The Ring magazine rates Joe Louis the heavyweight champion in its annual ratings

  53. Joe Louis beats Max Schmeling via knockout 1/15

    Heavyweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring

  54. Joe Louis beats Harry Thomas via knockout 5/15

    Heavyweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring

  55. Joe Louis beats Nathan Mann via knockout 3/15

    Heavyweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring

  56. 1937

  57. The Ring magazine rates Joe Louis the heavyweight champion in its annual ratings

  58. Joe Louis beats Tommy Farr via unanimous decision 15/15

    Heavyweight · NYSAC and The Ring

  59. Joe Louis beats Jim Braddock via knockout 8/15

    Heavyweight · NYSAC, WBA and The Ring

  60. 1936

  61. The Ring magazine rates Joe Louis No. 2 at heavyweight in its annual ratings

  62. 1935

  63. The Ring magazine rates Joe Louis No. 1 at heavyweight in its annual ratings

  64. 1934

  65. The Ring magazine rates Joe Louis No. 9 at heavyweight in its annual ratings