Joe Louis makes the second defence of his World Heavyweight title against young heavy hitter, Nathan Mann. Louis was 24 years old and Mann just 22, making them two of the youngest fighters to ever compete in a World Heavyweight title fight at that time. More info below...


Nathan Mann's real name was Natalino Menchetti, born and raised in Connecticut, USA. At the age of 15 he was spotted practising on a punching bag in his parents garage by former professional boxer turned part time trainer, Bill Reynolds (2-3), who could see a power puncher with a world of protentional. Mann turned pro in 1934 and quickly established himself as the power puncher that Reynolds had observed just a few years prior. Against lesser opposition Mann had no worries knocking people out or forcing stoppages but as he moved up the food chain he struggled to stop the more experienced fighters but regardless he did pick up decision wins against fringe contenders, Don "Red" Barry, Jack Roper, Steve Dudas, Gunnar Barlund, Eddie Blunt and Abe Feldman. Mann biggest wins however came against Arturo Godoy and Bob Pastor, beating both by decision in 1937. In his most recent fight Mann stopped Tiger Roy Williams by 3rd Rd KO. Although Mann didn't have a spotless record, having lost 4 fights and drawn a couple, he had yet to be knocked out and hadn't lost in his last 14 fights. He held a very respectable 39-4-3 record and had slightly more in ring experience than the Brown Bomber.

Joe Louis needs no introduction really. One of the best Heavyweight Champions of all time he holds the record for the most consecutive World Heavyweight title defences with 25. He had turned pro in 1934 and was quickly facing some very experienced competition, beating them all, including former World Heavyweight Champions Primo Carnera, Max Baer and Jack Sharkey. In 1937 Louis would win the World Heavyweight title from James J. Braddock, having to rise from the canvas in the first round to do so mind you! In his first defence of the title Louis would beat Commonwealth and BBBoC Heavyweight Champion, Tommy Farr, by decision over 15 rounds to take his record to 33-1. Louis was a clear favourite and Mann was seen as more of a tune up fight for a return with Max Schmeling.


Mann started the fight aggressively against Louis, swinging haymakers and possibly hoping to catch him off guard as it had proven a couple of times Louis could be knocked down if you landed a decent punch. Even though Louis would say Mann surprised him with his aggressiveness in the first, it was nothing he couldn't handle, and once Louis got a read on Mann's style and tactics it was all downhill for poor Nathan Mann... The United Press recorded: "Louis could not have been any more effective if he had carried an axe in one hand and a black-jack in the other", with Louis scoring 4 knockdowns and winning via KO in Rd 3.

Mann continued boxing for another 10 years and remained a in the heavyweight spotlight for at least another 2 years following the loss to Louis. He would go on to beat men such as Steve Carr, Art Lasky, Buddy Knox, Al McCoy and Gunnar Barland but bad losses to Tony Galento, Buddy Baer and Gus Lesnevich prevented him from getting another World title shot. In 1940 Mann would win the New England State Heavyweight title, which he would successfully defend 3 times being stripped of the title but winning back in 1942 and holding onto it for the next 6 years. In 1948 Mann would drop the New England title to Bernie Reynolds who was 9 years his junior, after being stopped in Rd 4. Mann retired from the sport following the loss with a 73-12-4 record.