Embarrassed Joe Louis fights for redemption against Jersey Joe Walcott

Heavyweight champion Joe Louis felt ashamed.

On December 5, 1947, Louis had defended his title for the 24th time, winning a debatable decision over Jersey Joe Walcott.

The massive crowd booed loudly. Louis understood. His performance had embarrassed him so much that he tried to leave the ring.

Louis told his opponent, Jersey Joe Walcott, he was sorry after their bout was over.

Walcott understood that to mean that Louis felt bad about the decision, that he was acknowledging he had lost their fight.

Not so, said Louis years later. “I tell everybody that.”

He added, “I know I boxed a bad fight, but I also know Walcott did a lot of running too.”

Walcott said simply, “I thought I won.”

Most ringside scribes agreed with Walcott.

Born Arnold Cream, Walcott had lost 13 times in 55 fights.

Before the Louis fight, he was rolling on a modest three-fight winning streak, including two decisions over future light heavyweight champion Joey Maxim. He was confident, perhaps because he had his way with Louis years before in sparring. Or had he? There are two sides to the story.

Perhaps the truth is somewhere in the middle.

The fact was that Walcott was hitting his prime at 33, while Louis, the same age, was declining – so timing was a factor.

The oddsmakers didn’t care. Louis entered a 10-1 favorite. His record was a sparkling 56-1. That loss was to Max Schmeling in 1936 – the same year Walcott had joined the Louis camp.

Louis wasn’t close to the destructive force that had destroyed Schmeling 10 years before and 23 other opponents. He had given up some of his prime years to enlist in the Army in December 1941, feeling it was his duty. Louis received an honorable discharge four years later.

The time away from the ring (not counting exhibition flights) had taken its toll on his skills. Louis fought Billy Conn in a rematch that everyone wanted, but ended up being a flop. His one-round KO over Tami Mauriello was memorable only because the former Jersey bartender staggered him with a cracking right hand.

Walcott had a sneaky right hand. It packed some pop. On fight night, he found openings with the right, knocking down Louis in rounds one and four. He was sharper by far. His counter-punching was on point. Walcott’s unique walk-away style – a shuffle, shifting his feet, and pivoting made timing him difficult to hit. Louis was frustrated. The challenger’s corner told him he was way ahead, so he boxed carefully late.

The champion won the last three rounds of the 15-round fight on all the judges’ cards to win the decision.

Had Walcott blown the fight by coasting late?

Or had the judges screwed up?

Louis had options. Retirement was one. He contemplated retirement, but his pride felt wounded.

The press was hounding him to fight Walcott again. Louis agreed..

The rematch took place on June 25, 1948, at Yankee Stadium in New York. Louis looked more focused, but the elusive Walcott was still beating him to the punch.

Walcott floored Louis in round three with what else, a lead right hand. He tried to finish the champion, but Louis, looking fine, fought back.

Louis kept stalking but couldn’t rock. Walcott’s feints and cleverness caused him to hesitate.

After 10 rounds, Walcott was ahead on two of the three judges’ scorecards. The next heat was intense. Louis upped the ante, but Walcott fought back. Near the end of the round, Walcott made a mistake. He did his shifty shuffle with his arms down, but this time Louis was ready. He clocked Walcott with a vicious right on the side of the challenger’s head. The punch hurt Walcott, who backed into the ropes. Louis, perhaps the greatest finisher in boxing history, unleashed a barrage of blows. Two more right hands dropped Walcott onto his back. He shook his head, trying to clear it, but couldn’t beat the count.

Louis walked calmly to his corner.

Redemption was his.