What happened to Joe Louis?
Joe Louis Death He struggled with cocaine addiction and in 1970, was committed to psychiatric care. A 1977 heart surgery left him in a wheelchair. Joe Louis died on April 12, 1981, from cardiac arrest. He was 66 years old.
Did Joe Louis have a speech impediment?
Louis suffered from a speech impediment and spoke very little until about the age of six. Munroe Barrow was committed to a mental institution in 1916 and, as a result, Joe knew very little of his biological father.
What made Joe Louis famous?
Joe Louis was an American boxer who was world heavyweight champion from 1937 until 1949, the longest reign in the history of any weight division. Louis successfully defended his title 25 times, more than any other champion in any division, scoring 21 knockouts.
What is a fun fact about Joe Louis?
Joe Louis became boxing’s heavyweight champion with his defeat of James J. Braddock in 1937. Nicknamed the “Brown Bomber,” his knockout of Germany’s Max Schmeling in 1938 made him a national hero, and he established a record by retaining the championship for nearly 12 years.
Did Joe Louis do drugs?
His personal problems mounted. Wives left him. In one disastrous fling, a paramour got him started on drugs and made pornographic movies while he dozed in “funny land.” Another lover led him toward cocaine addiction.
Joe Louis died on April 12, 1981, from cardiac arrest. He was 66 years old. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors thanks to an exception granted by President Ronald Reagan.
Why was Joe Louis so popular?
This time Louis annihilated his German opponent with a first-round knockout, making him a hero to both Black and white Americans. One of the world’s best-known athletes, Louis’ enduring popularity was partly due to his sheer dominance: Of his 25 successful title defenses, nearly all came by knockout.
Why did Smokin’ Joe end up broke?
Smokin’ Joe ended up broke for the same reason former heavyweight champions Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield ended up scraping the barrel of bankruptcy: money simply came too easily to them. And they had no idea how to manage it.
What did Joe Louis do in WW2?
During the Civil War As World War II raged on, Joe Louis donated almost $100,000 worth of his earnings to Army and Navy relief societies. In 1942, he joined the Army. During his service he was part of over 96 boxing exhibitions and performed for over two million members of the military.