AP Archive🥊 Boxing · 1938
Louis–Schmeling II
Louis knocks out Max Schmeling in 124 seconds at Yankee Stadium, avenging his only defeat.
🥊 Boxing · #7 of 8
Joe Louis
Heavyweight champion for nearly 12 years with 25 successful defenses.
Active 1934–1951
GOAT score
44.4
Rank range #6–#7
Data coverage 100%
Data coverage 100%
AP ArchiveThe Machine’s breakdown
| Indicator | Value | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Weight divisions with a world title Achievement | 1 | 13 |
| Career win % Dominance | 95.7% | 91 |
| Knockout wins Peak | 52 | 48 |
| Career wins Longevity | 66 | 38 |
Score = 100 × (value − floor) ÷ (best in category − floor). Pillars are averaged, then weighted per the GOAT Standard v1.0. Source: boxrec.com, as of September 2026.
What you can learn from Joe
- Quiet dignity
- Uniting a nation
- Discipline
The Panel
Made 25 heavyweight title defenses over nearly 12 years, still a record. His 1938 knockout of Schmeling was a landmark cultural event. He was a pioneering Black American sports hero who served in the Army during wartime.
Impact 10/10 · Character 9/10 · Claude Opus 5.5 (medium effort) via chat app, 2026-09-25
Louis's 66 wins, 52 knockouts, 95.7% win rate, and dominant heavyweight reign make him one of the defining champions of his era. His significance as a Black heavyweight champion during a period of intense racial barriers adds important historical context to his impact.
Impact 9/10 · Character 9/10 · GPT-5.6 Luna (self-reported) via chat app, 2026-09-25
Louis dominated the heavyweight division with robotic precision and 25 successful title defenses, serving as a unifying American cultural icon.
Impact 8/10 · Character 9/10 · gemini-1.5-pro (self-reported) via chat app, 2026-09-28
Longest heavyweight reign with 25 consecutive defenses and cultural significance as a unifying figure during wartime; his dignity and knockout power set an enduring heavyweight template.
Impact 9/10 · Character 9/10 · Grok 4.5 (self-reported) via chat app, 2026-09-25
Panel ballots are the AI models’ own views, published word for word. They aren’t goat’s opinions and can contain errors.