They were billed as swastika versus Stars and Stripes. Aryan master-race versus freed slave.

But, contrary to popular opinion, the two fights between Max Schmeling and Joe Louis were not about pitting the Nazis against the free world.

At least, not as far as the boxers were concerned.

United behind a black man for almost the first time, the American public, meanwhile, called for a rematch and revenge.

Both arrived on a summer night in 1938.

Louis was champion by now, having seen off James J Braddock in eight rounds the year before, but he refused to acknowledge the title until he had avenged his only professional defeat.

"I don't want to be called champ until I lick Max Schmeling," he would say.

In Yankee stadium, Louis earned this recognition at last.

More determined than ever, he prevailed in 124 brutal seconds, showering Schmeling with punches and landing one that fractured two vertebrae in the challenger's back.

German radio listeners did not hear the end.

When it became apparent that Schmeling was doomed to defeat, the Third Reich broadcast went mysteriously dead.

Afterwards, while their countries got on with the business of war, the two boxers - who were to become good friends - went in their different directions.

Schmeling, whose boxing career was winding down, made a fortune distributing Coca-Cola in Germany.

'Bum of the month'

Louis, the increasingly-feared "Brown Bomber", fought his way past a succession of "bums of the month" en route to becoming one of the most celebrated champions ever.

In 12 years, he made 25 successful defences, more than anyone else in the history of the division, before retiring in 1949.

Two of these defences came against Irishman Billy Conn in the 1940s, in another epic duel for the ages.

Although Louis was the master of men in the ring, he was far less assured at money management.

For a few fights, he even joined Muhammad Ali's entourage and was paid perhaps the biggest compliment a boxer can receive.

In a show of uncharacteristic modesty, Ali said: "When Joe's in the room, I'm not 'The Greatest'."

High praise indeed.