Joe Louis vs. Nathan Mann

Challenger rankings

Org.	Pos.	As of	Published
1+ Mth. Old
NBA	7	14.09.1937	14.09.1937
Ring	N/A	N/A	N/A
2+ Mth. Old
NBA	7	14.09.1937	14.09.1937
Ring	N/A	N/A	N/A
3+ Mth. Old
NBA	7	14.09.1937	14.09.1937
Ring	N/A	N/A	N/A

Joe Louis 200 lbs beat Nathan Mann 194 lbs by KO at 1:56 in round 3 of 15

• Date: 1938-02-23
• Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, USA
• Referee: Arthur Donovan
• Judge: Marty Monroe
• Judge: George LeCron

• World Heavyweight Championship (2nd defense by Louis)

Notes

Joe Louis (left) vs. Nathan Mann

Timeline

• On November 25, promoter Mike Jacobs announced that Mann would face Tommy Farr on January 21 at Madison Square Garden.[1] Two days later, Louis' manager John Roxborough told The Courier that the winner was lined up to face Louis on February in Pittsburgh.[2] However, after Mann's performance against Bob Pastor, which Jacobs considered unimpressive, the fight was scrapped and Farr was matched with Jim Braddock.[3]
• When the reporteres were asking Louis about his next opponent during an interview on December 12, Louis responded: "Max Baer? Sure. And Buddy Baer too, and Nathan Mann, or whoever Uncle Mike wants me to fight... What difference does it make - they all look alike to me".[4][5][6]
• On December 15, International News Service wrote that Mann was considered by Louis as the next opponent alongside Jimmy Adamick and the winner of Buddy Baer-Eddie Hogan.[7]
• On December 17, Jimmy Adamick's manager Jack Kearns told reporters his intentions to match Mann against his client, "but there's a chance that Mike Jacobs will have to save Mann for one of Louis' warmup fights".[8]
• On December 20, following multiple rounds of negotiations, Mann refused to sign the contract, with his last objection being a rematch clause which guaranteed Louis the fight within 60 days.[9][10]
• On December 25, 1937, Associated Press reported that arrangements for the fight were completed that day after Mann relented and accepted the 60-day rematch clause; International News Service confirmed that Mann had signed the deal.[11][12]

Ranking Movements

• Mann ranked 7th in the National Boxing Association (NBA) Q3 rankings released September 14.
• On November 26, Mann defeated Bob Pastor, ranked third by the NBA.
• In the Q4 rankings released on December 19, Mann was promoted by the NBA to fourth.

The Fight

• Attendance was 19,490.
• The gate was $111,698.49.
• Mann was floored four times.
• The United Press reported: "Louis could not have been any more effective if he had carried an axe in one hand and a black-jack in the other."

Preceded by: Braddock vs. Louis	NBA Heavyweight Title Fight # 15	Succeeded by: Louis vs. Thomas
Preceded by: Louis vs. Farr	NYSAC Heavyweight Title Fight # 15	Succeeded by: Louis vs. Schmeling II