I am going to leave that for the reader to decide, all I am going to do is put a few rather overlooked facts to the fore in an attempt to stir up any doubts as to whether we may be victims of a brain- washed society, who so often follow sheep fashion along with the present day trends of events and agree to agree because cinema and overzealous fanatics have us believe exactly what is put right there in front of us.

Whatever the conclusion try to forget about 'When We Were Kings' and Will Smith and The sportsman of the Millennium thing ... Just give my evidence a sporting chance and at least give the gentleman in question some true acknowledgement for some of his lifetime achievements, and even if I cannot sway your opinions, I hope I can at least alert you to what an overlooked and under exposed pioneer of the word Champion this Celebrated Athlete really was.

I describe to you a scenario, the Usually bustling streets of 1940's Harlem are almost deserted; No full house at The Cotton Club on this night, no fleeting hustlers, not even the mouth-watering thought of an evening session with a host of bebop's finest competing to cast jazzy spells over the usually awe struck die hards, nothing.. could disturb any self respecting Afro-American in this part of town , oh no, not tonight... why ..? Because probably the most influential figure to the Black people of this era was being broadcast to the homes of every single family live.. and not just on the wireless in Harlem, but the ghettos of Detroit and Alabama were tuned in too. Men, women and children huddled round a tiny radio with bated breath letting their wild imaginations run to places where society of that time would otherwise deny them access.. This Figure was not one of political influence but more an ambassador of Spirit and Freedom. This man was to become a silent mouthpiece for the seen and not heard, and to boot he was the Heavyweight champion of the world making yet another defense of his cherished crown.

The man of whom I speak was born on May 13th in Lafayette, Alabama, but would soon seek his boxing future by relocating to Detroit where he would spar with another past boxing great Eddie Futch. A born puncher, he amassed a huge string of stoppage wins as an amateur before turning pro under the watchful eye of Jack Blackburn, a disciplinarian trainer who refined his pupil's style and enabled him to put every pound of his 200 lbs. frame into every crushing shot he threw.

James Braddock once described this man's punch as feeling like someone hit you with a crowbar, and his battering ram Jab could hold equal power to most heavyweights best Right cross. The punches in this fellow's arsenal were deadly, as best displayed when he threw probably the hardest punch of his life in 1935, on the night he destroyed the previously indestructible Paolino Uzcudun.

If these raw statistics alone haven't got you thinking, here are some more. He turned professional aged 20 on Independence Day of 1934 with a win over one Jack Kracken. Twenty-five fights and fourteen months later he would score a 4th round KO over former heavyweight champion Max Baer. On the 22nd day of June 1937 he would become the Heavyweight champion of the world with a win over James J. Braddock and remain champion for thirteen years until he was beaten on Unanimous decision by Ezzard Charles on the 27th day of September 1950.

He managed to take the time to serve his country in the war years through 1942 and 1946 and was an impeccable ambassador to his country and race; boxing exhibitions world-wide, enhancing moral and spirit within his forces and still returned with the same devastating ambition as he did on the day he was enlisted; a consummate pro who never weighed more than 218 pounds for a single contest, he boxed 192 championship rounds and lost only one championship battle. In fact, he only lost 3 professional fights in his life; one to former champion Max Schmeling when he was an up and coming Contender, (which he later reversed as champ with a 1st round KO), and following his Championship loss he faced Future Heavyweight great Rocky Marciano when he was 8 fights past his championship days losing bravely via 8th round stoppage in New York City as an aging war-horse.

This boxer's record was to read 68 wins, 3 losses, numerous exhibition wins off the record during the war years and a staggering 54 of his 68 wins were by Knockout .. That's an 80 % Knockout ratio.

His manager, Marshall Miles, would describe him as the most charming gentleman one human being could ever possibly dream of meeting. The champion ..legend... ambassador...institution....whatever you wish to call him, passed away on the 12th day of April 1981 at the age of 66, and on the 13th of May this year would have turned 88 years young.. and is currently laying at rest in the Arlington National Cemetery.

The Former Heavyweight Champion that I have been speaking of is no other than Joseph Louis Barrow.. The GREAT Joe Louis, and I think he is due some very special thought on his forthcoming Birthday... If you do -or do not- think he was the Greatest heavyweight of all time just consider him somewhere at least in the mix and hope this article can open some eyes to how overlooked a champion he really is...

Happy Birthday J. L. Barrow... God Bless

Editor's Note: British author Stephen Jones is an avid fan and boxing expert. The Corner thanks him for his contribution to this special Directory.