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All the United States Michigan Detroit Giant Boxing Arm of Joe Louis

Giant Boxing Arm of Joe Louis

Controversial tribute to the heavyweight champion boxer who grew up in Detroit.

Detroit, Michigan

Added By
Nick Jackson
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  agilitynut.com
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  robert 7a27de3f / Atlas Obscura User
April 2022   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
Monument to Joe Louis “The Fist”, Detroit, Michigan, 7/15/2021   Keri Kilgo / Atlas Obscura User
Joe Louis fist bump   Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
Punching Detroit   Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
Biggest fist in Detroit  
The Monument to Joe Louis, commonly referred to as “The Fist”.   Michael Barera / Atlas Obscura User
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About

As a tribute to Detroit-native heavyweight champion Joe Louis (AKA The Brown Bomber), a giant fist monument was installed there in 1987. Designed by sculptor Robert Graham, the 24-foot arm-and-fist is suspended 24 feet above the ground inside of a bronze pyramid.

The sculpture was a gift to the city of Detroit from Sports Illustrated, which paid $350,000 for its design and construction. It was placed at the intersection of Jefferson and Woodward so that people would drive and walk around it, right in the center of the city.

The arm-and-fist, which weighs about 8,000 pounds, has been the subject of much controversy in the area since it was installed decades ago. Some locals immediately interpreted the sculpture as a symbol of black power and wanted to know why the fist was without a boxing glove. Others were concerned that the fist didn't represent how important Joe Louis was to the city of Detroit.

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Monuments

Community Contributors

Added By

nbj914

Edited By

Keri Kilgo, ccesare, Michael Barera, robert 7a27de3f...

  • Keri Kilgo
  • ccesare
  • Michael Barera
  • robert 7a27de3f
  • Jason Michael Walker
  • ljobwalker

Published

September 8, 2010

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Sources
  • Roadside America: Giant Boxing Arm of Joe Louis: http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/8576
  • Michigan in Pictures: Fist of a Champion: http://michpics.wordpress.com/2007/11/26/fist-of-a-champion-detroits-monument-to-joe-louis/
  • Big Stuff: Body Parts: http://www.agilitynut.com/mim/body.html
  • How Stuff Works: Joe Louis Sculpture: Detroit, Michigan: http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/roadside-statues9.htm
Giant Boxing Arm of Joe Louis
Jefferson and Woodward
Detroit, Michigan, 48226
United States
42.328744, -83.044548
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