Heavyweight Champion, Joe Louis, is featured in this WWII recruiting poster from 1942. This dynamic image of Louis charging with his bayonet is punctuated with a quote from Louis given during a Relief Fund Dinner on March 27, 1942. The quote was widely reported by the media and helped raise Louis's popularity outside his boxing career.
Prior to the war, Louis fought a widely publicized rematch with the German boxer Max Schmeling. The bout garnered the attention of President Roosevelt, who met with Louis and stressed the need for victory. Louis won the match in 2 min. 4 seconds.
Louis voluntarily enlisted and served from 1942 to 1945, rising to the rank of Technical Sargent. He never saw combat but traveled the world boxing as entertainment for the troops and as a major recruitment for African-Americans.
Joe Louis (1914-1981) was the world heavyweight champion from 1937 to 1949. Nicknamed the “Brown Bomber”, Louis was ranked as the #1 heavyweight of all-time by the International Boxing Research Organization in 2005. In the sport of Golf, Louis broke the color barrier in 1952 under a sponsor's exemption in a PGA event.
This is an Original Vintage Poster; it is not a reproduction. This poster is conservation mounted, linen backed, and in excellent condition.
We guarantee the authenticity of all of our posters.