The inspiration behind the Burn Rubber x New Balance 577 comes from Michigan’s rich boxing heritage. Burn Rubber has decided to tell the story of the beginning of Detroit’s most prolific boxer. Through visiting an eastside gymnasium, Detroit’s own Joe Louis traded in his violin for boxing gloves. For .50 cents a lesson, his mother sacrificed the little she had for her son to pursue becoming a violinist. When a close friend introduced the legend to the world of boxing, legend has it that he would hide his boxing gloves in his violin case as not to upset his mother who he knew would not approve. This decision proved to be life-changing not only for the boxer and his family but for the city of Detroit as well.