The song named after Italian boxer Primo Carnera, whose nickname was Ambling Alp; ‘Alp’ because he was born in a municipality in northeastern Italy – so in the actual alps – and because of his height (1.97m – 6 ft 6 in).

Nevertheless, he song is written from the perspective of Joe Louis' father, giving his son ‘fictional advice’, as lyricist Chris Keating called it.

Joe Louis fought Ambling Alp on June 25, 1935, at the Yankee Stadium and knocked him out in six rounds.