Defining moment

First fight with fascism Before he faced Schmeling for the first time in 1936, Louis went head-to-head with the Italian Primo Carnera. The American press once again gave the fight a political dimension, as Benito Mussolini had threatened to invade Ethiopia that summer. However, the battle — which Louis won — also had David versus Goliath overtones as Carnera, a former world heavyweight champion, was over two metres tall! 25 June 1935