White_Savage
Mentor
Normally I don't go into conspiracy theories in sports, but here, I must say, some things really are suspicious.
Why did a man who couldn't beat Max the first time they fought not only KO him but break his jaw AND his ribs in the first round? How many other fighter's ribs and jaws did Louis break? Did Max just have especially weak bones (Ha!)? Was there such a difference between Marciano's iron skeleton and Schmeling's bones that the former could take Joe's Sunday punch while the latter was easily shattered by it? Why was Max's manager not allowed to assist him?
Most importantly, wasn't there EVERY reason for the American establishment politicos at the highest levels to want Louis to win, for propaganda reasons? Stuff far worse than fixing a fight has been covertly done by the government so many times that examples would easily fill volumes. FDR personnally met with Joe Louis, told him how important it was for him to win this fight...one wonders what real limits, if any exist for the power of a beloved war-time President. Surely a few boxing officials might be convinced to not inspect a pair of gloves too closely too closely, especially if they really believe they're serving the greater good of their country.
Of course, I can't prove anything, nothing can be proven at this stage of the game. But the sharp differences between two fights by the same two opponents, the legal mumbo-jumbo to keep Schmeling's manager (Jewish btw, Max defied Hitler in this regard), and the tremendous desire for Joe Louis to win at the highest levels of government IMO make anything possible.
Why did a man who couldn't beat Max the first time they fought not only KO him but break his jaw AND his ribs in the first round? How many other fighter's ribs and jaws did Louis break? Did Max just have especially weak bones (Ha!)? Was there such a difference between Marciano's iron skeleton and Schmeling's bones that the former could take Joe's Sunday punch while the latter was easily shattered by it? Why was Max's manager not allowed to assist him?
Most importantly, wasn't there EVERY reason for the American establishment politicos at the highest levels to want Louis to win, for propaganda reasons? Stuff far worse than fixing a fight has been covertly done by the government so many times that examples would easily fill volumes. FDR personnally met with Joe Louis, told him how important it was for him to win this fight...one wonders what real limits, if any exist for the power of a beloved war-time President. Surely a few boxing officials might be convinced to not inspect a pair of gloves too closely too closely, especially if they really believe they're serving the greater good of their country.
Of course, I can't prove anything, nothing can be proven at this stage of the game. But the sharp differences between two fights by the same two opponents, the legal mumbo-jumbo to keep Schmeling's manager (Jewish btw, Max defied Hitler in this regard), and the tremendous desire for Joe Louis to win at the highest levels of government IMO make anything possible.