BoxRec

Does anyone here know if the first Joe Louis vrs Abe Simon fight that was held March.21.1941 in Detroit Michigan.
K.O 13.
If that fight as filmed and if not,then why wasnt it?

that fight was scheduled as a twenty-rounder.
BTW was this fight on the radio?

I know it was filmed but I've been unable to locate a copy . . .but it definitely exists.

dempseyfire wrote:I know it was filmed but I've been unable to locate a copy . . .but it definitely exists.

Would you know the primary source that confirms it was filmed
I know about 10 years ago someone here had said one of the Louis/Simon bouts had been recently found,but i think they were referring to the second fight in 1942.Which was not only broadcast over the radio but also on short wave to the troops overseas.

I was wondering if it was filmed and became"lost'.
Due to the fact that they were still using nitrate stock in 1941,which becomes combustible over time.
Also from what I understand when the fight film ban was lifted in 1940(transportation between states anyway).
RKO studios became involved in the filming and production of Joe Louis's fights.
Maybe the negative and prints were accidently destroyed.
Like the vault fire in the MGM film vault in 1965 that destroyed the only known print of Lon Chaney Sr's silent film,
LONDON AFTER MIDNIGHT.

i have been wondering this myself as i have the 2nd fight, i hope its not been lost

Do any posters or handbills that were issued to the movie houses of that fight exisit?
back in those days that had a quick turnaround,the negative was quickly developed and the fights were usually shown at the movie house
by the next weekend as a featurette before the main movie.

Reportly,for the first fight, Abe Simon's trainer brought in Jack Johnson to Stillman's gym to show him a thing or two to try and defeat Louis.