Joe Louis was the 10-to-1 favorite over the German boxer Max Schmeling before their first bout on June 19, 1936. Each man was fighting for a shot at the world heavyweight boxing championship.

Joe Louis and Max Schmeling were respected athletes in their own nations and celebrities around the world. And they shared a few famous acquaintances. Take a look at Louis and Schmeling's ...

Joe Louis, in the far right corner, floored Max Schmeling three times and won their much-publicized June 22, 1938 rematch at Yankee Stadium in a first-round knockout. In a time when his people ...