And like Ali, Joe lost a good amount of his prime years due to the war WWII in Louis’ case, Vietnam in Ali’s. 25 heavyweight title defenses, an incredibly long reign as world champion, 12 years, in fact, this record never likely to be broken – not ever. Louis was, of course, a truly special fighter, as were his numbers. When you really break it down, the only other serious rival as far as this debate goes is Muhammad Ali.īottom line: if Louis isn’t the greatest, Ali is. Fight fans the world over know Louis as Joe Louis – and as “The Brown Bomber.” If you listen to the old-timers, Louis was the greatest heavyweight champion of them all – and IS the greatest heavyweight champion of them all. Today in 1914, in LaFayette, Alabama, Joseph Louis Barrow was born.