Joe Louis
"The Brown Bomber"

Max Schmeling
"The Black Uhlan of the Rhine"

Schmeling and Brecht became friends in Berlin.

Capone once invited Schmeling to a party, but was arrested that day.

Dietrich socialized with Schmeling, and predicted his 1936 victory over Louis.

Schmeling met Fairbanks through German émigrés in Hollywood like director Ernst Lubitsch.

Henie had an affair with Louis in Hollywood.

Henie was in the same European circles as Schmeling.

Hitler had dinner with Schmeling a few times. Before the 1936 fight, Schmeling received a cable from Hitler: "To the coming World's Champion, Max Schmeling. Wishing you every success."

Hitler also sent a Japanese maple to the boxer as a wedding present.

Louis' wife, attorney Martha Jefferson, represented Hoffa in hearings before Congress.

King invited Louis to rallies in the civil rights era of the 1960s.

When Louis died in 1981, President Reagan stated, "I was privileged and will always be grateful to have had Joe Louis as my friend."

Robinson and Louis served in the Army together during World War II.

Rockefeller met Schmeling on a golf course, and gave the boxer encouragement for upcoming fights.

FDR wished Louis luck before the 1938 fight, saying, "these are the muscles we need to defeat the Germans."

FDR visited Schmeling's training camp and told the boxer, "Of course I'm an American, Max, but I still wish you good luck with the fight!" Schmeling replied, "And you, Your Honor, good luck with the election!"

Ruth met Louis when the boxer was training for the Tommy Farr fight in 1937.

Sinatra paid for Louis to have surgery later in life.