Editing Joe Louis (section)

====Initial title defenses====
Despite his championship, Louis was haunted by the earlier defeat to Schmeling. Shortly after winning the title, he was quoted as saying, "I don't want to be called champ until I whip Max Schmeling".<ref name=hbo/> Louis's manager Mike Jacobs attempted to arrange a rematch in 1937, but negotiations broke down when Schmeling demanded 30% of the gate.<ref>[[#Myler|Myler]], p. 113.</ref> When Schmeling instead attempted to arrange for a fight against British Empire champion [[Tommy Farr]], known as the "Tonypandy Terror"—ostensibly for a world championship to rival the claims of American boxing authorities—Jacobs outmaneuvered him, offering Farr a guaranteed $60,000 to fight Louis instead. The offer was too lucrative for Farr to turn down.<ref>[[#Myler|Myler]], pp. 113–114.</ref>

On August 30, 1937, after a postponement of four days due to rain, Louis and Farr finally touched gloves at New York's [[Yankee Stadium (1923)|Yankee Stadium]] before a crowd of approximately 32,000.<ref>[[#Myler|Myler]], p. 115.</ref> Louis fought one of the hardest battles of his life. The bout was closely contested and went the entire 15 rounds, with Louis being unable to knock Farr down. Referee Arthur Donovan was even seen shaking Farr's hand after the bout, in apparent congratulation.<ref name="Mylerp116">[[#Myler|Myler]], p. 116.</ref> Nevertheless, after the score was announced, Louis had won a controversial unanimous decision.<ref name=Mylerp116/><ref>{{Cite news |last=Bennison |first=Bill |date=August 31, 1937 |title=Joe Louis vs Tommy Farr |work=Evening Standard (N.Y.) |url=http://www.boxinggyms.com/news/louis_farr1937/standard_louis1937rounds.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130118183350/http://www.boxinggyms.com/news/louis_farr1937/standard_louis1937rounds.htm |archive-date=January 18, 2013}}</ref> ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' described the scene thus: "After collecting the judges' votes, referee Arthur Donovan announced that Louis had won the fight on points. The crowd of 50,000 ... amazed that Farr had not been knocked out or even knocked down, booed the decision".

It seems the crowd believed that referee Arthur Donovan Sr. had raised Farr's glove in victory. Seven years later, in his published account of the fight, Donovan spoke of the "mistake" that may have led to this confusion. He wrote:

<blockquote>As Tommy walked back to his corner after shaking Louis' hand, I followed him and seized his glove. "Tommy, a wonderful perform—" I began ... Then I dropped his hand like a red-hot coal! He had started to raise his arm. He thought I had given him the fight and the world championship! I literally ran away, shaking my head and shouting. "No! No! No!" realising how I had raised his hopes for a few seconds only to dash them to the ground ... That's the last time my emotions will get the better of me in a prize fight! There was much booing at the announced result, but, as I say it, it was all emotional. I gave Tommy two rounds and one even—and both his winning rounds were close.<ref name="donovan">[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article55865524 Donovan's Worst Mistake As a Referee] ''The Mail'', Adelaide, at Trove digitised newspapers, National Library of Australia.</ref></blockquote>

Speaking over the radio after the fight, Louis admitted that he had been hurt twice.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=July 6, 1937 |title=Louis v. Farr |magazine=Time |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,758172,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125032433/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,758172,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 25, 2012}}{{Registration required}}</ref>

In preparation for the inevitable rematch with Schmeling, Louis tuned up with bouts against Nathan Mann and [[Henry Thomas (boxer)|Harry Thomas]].