Presented is a 1951 Joe Louis New York State Athletic Commission Boxing License. An African American, Louis was born "Joe Louis Barrow" in 1914 in Alabama. He became involved in boxing after his family was later living in Detroit. Joe's mother arranged for violin lessons for her son and opposed his interest in boxing, and it is rumored that when going to boxing practice, Louis hid his boxing gloves in his violin case. Louis held the World Heavyweight Championship from 1937 through his temporary retirement in 1949. He successfully defended his championship 25 times, more than any World Boxing Champion, in any weight class, in history. Louis lost to Germany's Max Schmeling in 1936. In the 1938 Louis-Schmeling rematch at Yankee Stadium in 1938, Louis trained harder than ever before. Because Schmeling was representing Nazi Germany, Louis became a favorite, with some Americans becoming fans of an African American athlete for the first time. Louis said of the rematch, "I had to get Schmeling good. I had my own personal reasons and the whole damn country was depending on me." Louis knocked down Schmeling three times in the first round before his corner threw in the towel, and Louis won the bout after only two minutes and four seconds. Louis wound up owing over $500,000 in back taxes to the IRS after his 1949 retirement, so he came out of retirement to fight again in 1950 in order to pay his taxes, but he could not regain his World Heavyweight Title, and he was defeated by Rocky Marciano in Louis's final official fight on Oct. 26, 1951. The offered New York State boxing license measures 2.5x4". The license is numbered 748. A 1x1.25" black & white photo of Louis is on the left. In part, the license reads, "Joe Louis Barrow (Joe Louis - ring name)/This License Expires Sept. 30, 1951." The back of the license does not have a Joe Louis signature, and spots for his thumbprint, height, weight, etc. are blank. The front of the license does exhibit the raised New York State seal. The boxing license originates from Christie's and comes in its original case. The license exhibits some slight darkening, but considering its age of almost 75 years, it is in overall excellent condition.