This Month In Boxing History: Joe Louis vs. Tommy Farr

72 years ago this month, the world championship career of arguably the greatest heavyweight in history began.

The “Brown Bomber”, Joe Louis, aged 23, had just defeated James J Braddock and had become the first black man since Jack Johnson thirty years previously to win the richest prize in sport.

Joe’s first defence would come just two months after his title win when he would face a gritty British challenger in Tommy Farr.

Farr from Tonypandy, Wales, was one year younger than Louis and had been a pro since 1926. Initially a light heavyweight, Farr would go on and challenge for domestic honours in his native Wales, winning the Welsh Title in 1933. He would also repeat this feat in the heavyweight division, winning both the Welsh and British titles.

At the start of 1937, the World Heavyweight Champion was James J Braddock. As an underdog in 1935, “The Cinderella Man” had outsmarted the heavy betting favourite Max Baer over 15 rounds to become the surprise champion. That same Baer later in 1935 would also be dismantled in four rounds by an up and coming Joe Louis.

Baer in 1937 was still anxious to get another shot at the World title held by Braddock and in April that year, agreed to fight Farr. Baer, like he did against Braddock, took this chance lightly and slipped to a points defeat.

Louis in 1937 had suffered just the one defeat to German Max Schmeling and many thought Braddock would defend the title against Schmeling. However, in the tense political climate Braddock would sidestep Schmeling to a bigger money matchup against Louis.

Louis would be champion after eight rounds in June, 1937, surviving a first round knockdown en route to a KO win.

Big money was offered to Farr in August ,1937 to be Louis’s first defence. If truth be told, he was also considered an easy first defence for “The Brown Bomber”.

On August 30, 1937, Farr put up the fight of his life, boxing smartly and bravely and he became one of only three Louis challengers to last the distance. He certainly didnt run and at times troubled Louis.

Many thought Farr that night had done enough to defeat Louis, but he ended up losing a close points decision.

Farr’s profile in the States had risen due to the Baer win and the close loss to Louis. As a result of this, he was placed in big matchups first against former champion Braddock and then a rematch with Baer. Farr would be outpointed in both matches in 1938. A thrilling 15 round defeat would follow against Lou Nova to finish 1938.

Farr would retire in 1940, but due to money problems would be forced back into the ring in 1950. He finally retiring in 1953 after losing a British Heavyweight title eliminator to Don Cockell.

Farr would run a pub after his second retirement and died aged 72 in 1986.

For Louis, the Farr fight would begin a run of 25 successful World Title defences until his retirement in 1948. Like Farr, Louis was forced back into the ring due to money problems in 1950 before finally retiring in 1951, following a defeat to the rising Rocky Marciano.

Louis ended his days as a greeter in Las Vegas and died in 1981, aged 66.