85 years ago
Joe Louis vs Johnny Paychek
Date: 29th March 1940
Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York, USA
Title: World Heavyweight Title
Promoter: Mike Jacobs
Tv:
Joe Louis
(
41
-
1
-
0
)
Weight: 200½ lbs
Johnny Paychek
(
44
-
4
-
2
)
Weight: 187¾ lbs
On March 29, 1940, at Madison Square Garden in New York City, Joe Louis successfully defended his World Heavyweight Championship for the tenth time in a match against Johnny Paychek. The bout, officiated by referee Arthur Donovan, ended in a TKO victory for Louis just 41 seconds into the second round of the scheduled 15-round fight.
The fight drew a crowd of 11,620 spectators to witness the showdown. The gate receipts totalled $62,481.41, reflecting the interest in the championship bout.
From the opening bell, it was clear that Louis was in dominant form. Paychek, weighing in at 188 pounds, found himself overwhelmed by the power and precision of the reigning champion, who weighed in at 200 pounds. In the first round, Paychek hit the canvas three times, each time rising before the count of ten.
Despite his resilience, Paychek was unable to withstand the onslaught from Louis, who unleashed a devastating right hand in the second round that brought an end to the contest. With Paychek unable to continue, referee Arthur Donovan called a halt to the bout, awarding Louis the victory by TKO.
In the aftermath of the fight, Paychek, while disappointed with the outcome, expressed a desire for a rematch, confident that he could perform better in a future encounter with the champion. Though he fell short in his bid to dethrone Louis, Paychek's determination and sportsmanship earned him respect in the boxing world.
For Joe Louis, the victory served as another testament to his dominance in the heavyweight division, further solidifying his status as one of the greatest champions in boxing history.