3. Joe Louis Vs. Max Schmelling II: Yankee Stadium, New York, June 22 1938
This was the second meeting between the heavyweights. Schmelling had become a national icon in Germany with his victory over Louis in June 1936. However, the second meeting between the pair was marred by the rise of Hitler and his Nazi regime. Adolf Hitler sent messages to Schmelling telling him a black man couldn't win while Louis had visited the White House, summoned by Franklin D. Roosevelt weeks before the contest. Louis stopped the German in 124 seconds and dedicated his victory to the USA by saying: "The whole damn country was depending on me."
