Joe Louis Beats Tommy Farr This Day August 30, 1937

Joe Louis makes first defense of heavyweight crown

Joe Louis 197 lbs

Tommy Farr 204¼ lbs

UD in round 15 of 15

Location: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York, USA

Referee: Arthur Donovan 13-1

Judge: Charley Lynch 8-5

Judge: Billy ‘Kid’ McPartland 9-6

World Heavyweight Championship (1st defense by Louis)

Notes

Louis was a 5-1 betting favorite.

Total attendance was 36,903.

Gross receipts were $265,753.11, and the net was $222,463.80.

Movie and radio rights were $60,000.

Louis made $112,987.52, and Farr received $60,000.

There were no knockdowns in the fight.

The Associated Press reported: “On the official score cards, referee Donovan gave Louis a 13 to 2 margin in rounds won. Of the two judges, Kid McPartland gave Louis 10 and Farr 5, while Charley Lynch scored eight for Louis, four for Farr and three even.” The AP had Louis winning 8-5-2.