...Joe asked Truman Gibson to manage his ring affairs. When Gibson declined, he turned to his old friend Marshall Miles who agreed to do it more as personal favor than a business enterprise. To this day, Miles contends that he never made a dime from the arrangement. To the contrary, he just joined the lengthening list of creditors. "Only thing I ever did was give him money..." he said (1)

...Louis' spending habits didn't improve...Marshall Miles asked for the $100,000 that Jacobs had put aside after the Maureillo fight. Jacobs had suffered a stroke, and Sol Strauss was in charge of the 20th Century Sporting Club while the old promoter was convalescing. Strauss showed Miles a litter of cancelled checks and money orders made out to Louis. In three months Louis had spent all but $500 of the money.

It took Miles three days to find Louis, who had disappeared on one of his sprees. When Miles finally found the champion, he asked what happened to the money. Louis explained he had invested another $40,000 in the Chicago Rhumboogie Cafe, which was suffering from a general decline in the entertainment industry and eventually folded. Louis could not account for the rest of the money. He had spent it on friends, women and good times. Miles asked Louis why he hadn't withdrawn the last $500. Louis laughed.

Louis went back to exhibiton tours to earn more money. In the fall of 1946 he traveled to Honolulu and Mexacali, Mexico. In early 1947 he toured Central and South America. Louis was a special hero to oppressed peoples the world over...(2)

Vintage Original Joe Louis Exhibition Tour Promotional Envelope

Circa 1947

Size: 4 1/4 X 9 1/2 inches

Conditiion: Excellent

Price: $65.00

3000-0768

Shipping and Handling $10.00 in the United States. $15.00 to foreign destinations.

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(1) Joe Louis, The Great Black Hope by Richard Bak pp. 232

(2) Champion Joe Louis Black Hero In White America by Chris Mead pp. 247