JO Sports, Inc.
HISTORY: On June 19, 1936 Joe Louis fought former World Heavyweight Champion Max Schmeling at Yankee Stadium in New York. Louis was undefeated in 23 fights coming into this fight. Schmeling had won three straight. Both men were trying to get a shot at the World Heavyweight Title. In this fight it was all Schmeling. Max used an effective right hand and stopped Louis in the 12th round. Louis was 24-0 with 20 knockouts. The previous year, he easily knocked out two former World Heavyweight Champions, Primo Carnera and Max Baer. Schmeling, a former World Heavyweight Champion, was 48-7-4 with 34 knockouts. The fight was promoted by Mike Jacobs. The bout was delayed a day because of rain. The odds were 10-to-1 that Louis would win, 4-to-1 that Louis would score a kayo, and 2-to-1 that Schmeling wouldn't make it to the seventh round. There was an estimated crowd of 60,000. Paid attendance was only 39,875. The discrepancy in the figures was caused by the fact that thousands were admitted at the last minute—merely by planking down two or three dollars at the gate and seeking the best seats they could find. The gross gate was $547,531, and the net was $464,945. Louis's share of the gate was $139,483.50, and Schmeling was guaranteed $150,000, tax-free. Veteran manager and promoterTom O'Rourke died of a heart attack in Schmeling's dressing room shortly before the start of the bout. Louis was knocked down in rounds four and twelve. Presented here is an exceptionally rare, original, on site poster for this event.
FULL DESCRIPTION: This original, cardboard, on site poster pictures both fighters. Mounted on poster board. Bold color and print. Has a center crease. Edge and corner wear. Some foxing from aging. Produced by Empire Job Print of Long Island City, NY. 22 1/4" x 28 1/2. This is the only known example of this rare and historic fight poster.
