Joe Louis vs Max Schmeling
Which boxer? Pick one and see how the world splits.
- Joe Louis United States · 1914–1981 70% · #3 in the world
- Max Schmeling Germany · 1905–2005 30% · #67 in the world
What the votes say
A clear win: the world picks Joe Louis over Max Schmeling, 70% to 30%. Joe Louis is #3 of the 110 boxers in the world ranking, and #2 of the 59 from the United States. Max Schmeling is #67.
The case for each
Joe Louis: The 'Brown Bomber', heavyweight champion from 1937 to 1949 with 25 title defenses; Schmeling knocked him out in 1936, and Louis knocked Schmeling out in the first round at Yankee Stadium in 1938.
Max Schmeling: The German former heavyweight champion who handed the young Louis his first defeat; their 1938 rematch was seen as a fight between the US and Nazi Germany, a role Schmeling himself rejected.
Side by side
| Joe Louis | Max Schmeling | |
|---|---|---|
| World rank | #3 | #67 |
| Country | United States | Germany |
| Born | 1914 | 1905 |