The Greatest Fight of Our Generation: Louis vs. Schmeling

by Lewis A. Erenberg

Held on June 22, 1938, in Yankee Stadium, the second Louis-Schmeling fight sparked excitement around the globe. For all its length--the fight lasted but two minutes--it remains one of the most memorable events in boxing history and, indeed, one of the most significant sporting events ever.
In this superb account, Lewis A. Erenberg offers a vivid portrait of Joe Louis, Max Schmeling, their individual careers, and their two epic fights, shedding light on what these fighters represented to their nations, and why their second bout took on such international importance. Erenberg shows
how in the first fight Schmeling shocked everyone with a dramatic twelfth-round knockout of Louis, becoming a German national hero and a (unwilling) symbol of Aryan superiority. In fact, the second fight was seen around the world in symbolic terms--as a match between Nazism and American democracy.
Erenberg discusses how Louis' dramatic first-round victory was a devastating blow to Hitler, who turned on Schmeling and, during the war, had the boxer (then serving as a paratrooper) sent on a series of dangerous missions. Louis, meanwhile, went from being a hero of his race--"Our Joe"--to the
first black champion embraced by all Americans, black and white, an important step forward in United States race relations. Erenberg also describes how, after the war, the two boxers became symbols of German-American reconciliation. With Schmeling as a Coca Cola executive, and Louis down on his
luck, the former foes became friends, and when Louis died, Schmeling helped pay for his funeral.
Here then is a stirring and insightful account of one of the great moments in boxing history, a confrontation that provided global theater on an epic scale.

Genres: Sports, History

288 pages, Hardcover

First published September 13, 2005

Reviews

[Brad · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't know much about this story or either of the principals before reading this book, so in that sense I enjoyed and appreciated the book. However, something about the author's style just doesn't seem to match the drama in the story he relates. It's pretty repetitive, in that the author analyzes the larger political and cultural meanings of the two fights over and over again in similar language. In this sense this book almost reads like a scholarly paper or something. He does a good job describing the two fights and other bouts from both fellow's careers, but what the heck - the second fight, in 1938, didn't even last one round, so there was only so much he could do! The author does do a good job in relating the life stories of both men, don't get me wrong, but somehow I just feel that there's a better, more moving, version of this story in there somewhere.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

(no 43 of 2019)
(v academic; skimmed a lot of it)

[MP · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great example of how men were shaped by the politics of their time and how Schmeling and Louis set aside those differences to become friends later in their lives.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book on a couple of levels. If you're a fight fan, the information about the matches is great. The book also excelled in showcasing the difference in cultures during WWII. Sometimes gets bogged down in details and research (which lends to its authenticity), but overall a very enjoyable read.

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

I agree with other criticisms of this book. It was very well researched and had a compelling story. It was just about 150 pages too long. Way too much detail in some spots - felt like padding. Neat story, though, and a must for boxing fans.

[Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good well-researched book, albeit a little repetitive. Louis was easily the most culturally important boxer of all-time (yes even more so than Ali) and this tells his story very well. Especially good coverage of Louis' and Schmeling's later years and relationship.