Heavyweight Champs in the 1930s

The heavyweight champion in boxing has traditionally held an elevated position in the world of sports. From Joe Louis to Rocky Marciano to Muhammad Ali, heavyweight boxers have shaped cultural, societal and even political views in the United States and the rest of the world. In the 1930s, some of the most famous heavyweight champions included Max Schmeling, Primo Carnera, Max Baer and Joe Louis.

  1. Max Schmeling

    • German-born heavyweight boxer Max Schmeling won his first championship in June 12, 1930, over Jack Sharkey. He successfully defended his title with a technical knockout of Young Stribling on July 3, 1931, but lost the title on June 21, 1932, to Jack Sharkey in a hotly-contested 15-round fight. Schmeling never regained the heavyweight title, but he split two memorable fights with Joe Louis, one in 1936 -- which he won -- and the other in 1938 (a title fight). Schmeling, a national hero, refused Adolf Hitler's entreaties to become a member of the Nazi party, and was later drafted into the German army as a paratrooper. After the end of World War II, Schmeling became a successful businessman and philanthropist, remaining friends with many of his boxing foes, including Joe Louis. Schmeling died on February 2, 2005, at the age of 99.

    Primo Carnera

    • Fair or not, Primo Carnera is known today as a heavyweight boxer who worked for organized crime bosses in New York. In a 1933 fight to determine the number one contender for the heavyweight crown, Carnera fought Ernie Schaaf, and the film of the fight demonstrated that Schaaf was hesitant to engage with Carnera, leading many to believe the fight had been fixed. Carnera won the heavyweight title from Jack Sharkey on June 29, 1933, and promptly lost the belt to Max Baer on June 14, 1934. Though Carnera never regained the title, he fought Joe Louis in 1935, and lost badly, and later transitioned to a pro wrestling career. He died of alcohol-related cirrhosis of the liver on June 29, 1967.

    Max Baer

    • Max Baer was known as the clown prince of 1930s heavyweights, a handsome, stylish man who showed up to sign contracts in a limousine and dressed in hunting tweeds. During fights, Baer would blow kisses to women in the audience and taunt opponents by pretending he was fainting or thrust out his jaw for them to hit. Tragedy struck in an August 25, 1930 bout, when Baer defeated Frankie Campbell who died 12 hours later of head injuries. Though Baer continued his career, he became a less aggressive fighter. He cemented his contender's status on June 8, 1933, when he floored Max Schmeling in the 10th round, then won the heavyweight championship on June 6, 1934, by an 11th-round technical knockout of Primo Carnera. Baer could only hold the title for 12 months, and he was defeated via decision on June 12, 1935, by James J. Braddock. He died on November 18, 1959 of heart failure.

    Joe Louis

    • Joe Louis, "The Brown Bomber," was ranked fourth in ESPN's 2009 listings of the 50 greatest boxers of all time. Louis combined devastating power with speed and precision and won the title for the first time on June 6, 1937, by knocking out James J. Braddock. For the next 11 years and through 25 title defenses -- both records yet to be broken in the heavyweight ranks -- Louis dominated the division. He retired in 1949, but returned to fight new champion Ezzard Charles, who defeated him in a unanimous decision on September 27, 1950. Louis was then knocked out by up-and-coming fighter Rocky Marciano in October 1951 and never fought again. After battling several illnesses, Louis died on April 21, 1981, of a heart attack. He was among the original class of boxers inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990.