Jacobs, Joe "Yussel the Muscle"

Jacobs was heavyweight champion Max Schmeling's (whose fights with Joe Louis are legendary) manager in the 1930s. He also managed featherweight champion Andre Routis, and light heavyweight champion Mike McTigue, and heavyweight contender "Two Ton" Tony Galento.

Birth and Death Dates:
b. May 7, 1896 - d. April 24, 1940

Career Highlights:
Although Jacobs managed many fighters, it was his relationship with German heavyweight Max Schmeling that has earned Jacobs lasting fame. He became Schmeling's manager in 1928 when Max began fighting in the U.S. The former German and European heavyweight champ (he was stripped of the titles in 1928) faced Jack Sharkey for the vacant heavyweight championship in 1930. In the fourth-round, Schmeling was knocked to the canvas, but Jacobs jumped into the ring and continued to scream 'foul' until the bewildered referee disqualified Sharkey. Later, it was realized that Jacobs had actually disqualified Schmeling by being in the ring. This led to a rule in New York that no title could change hands because of a foul.

After Schmeling defended the title in 1931 against Young Stribling, he granted Sharkey a rematch for the title. When Sharkey was given the victory in a 15-round decision, the match produced a 'Jacobism' when Jacobs told a national radio audience, "We wuz robbed." The relationship continued until Schmeling's retirement in 1939 and when Hitler wanted the German to fire his Jewish manager in the mid-1930s, Max refused.

Origin:
New York City

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