Louis vs Charles (prime for prime)
 

We all know has this played out in real life, but could Charles have beaten a prime Louis?

Re: Louis vs Charles (prime for prime)
 

Potentialy yes.

Charles would simply be a nightmare for anybody on his best night. If Louis didnt take him seriously he could be in trouble.

Re: Louis vs Charles (prime for prime)
 

Joe said in his autobiography that there were so many openings available when he fought Charles, but he simply wasn't fast enough to catch him.

Prime versus prime, I'd give it to Louis.

Re: Louis vs Charles (prime for prime)
 

No way ... even though he lost a fairly lopsided decision to Charles Louis fought very competitive in many of the rounds ... take a look at Charles face after the fight ... a prime Louis would have stopped Charles in the middle rounds ...

Re: Louis vs Charles (prime for prime)
 

That's oversimplefying it a bit I think. Conn, Farr and Pastor did better than that, and they were all inferior to Charles.

Re: Louis vs Charles (prime for prime)
 

Charles would have given Louis a match but you must remember that Charles had a tendency to brawl especialy when in trouble. Getting into a punchout with a prime Louis would be a big mistake. Louis late KO.

Re: Louis vs Charles (prime for prime)
 

Prime Charles was a lot smaller but more effective especially because this would be Charles before the Baroudi tragedy. He could cause Louis problems style wise and with his speed and boxing ability but I feel Joe would stop him eventually in a great fight.

Re: Louis vs Charles (prime for prime)
 

Prime vs Prime you have two all time p4p greats. I would have two give it to Charles even though he was the smaller man. Remember he is the only fighter to last 15 rounds with Rocky.

Re: Louis vs Charles (prime for prime)
 

I give Charles a slight edge.

Re: Louis vs Charles (prime for prime)
 

Hed cause Louis some problems but Id take Joe when its all said and done

Re: Louis vs Charles (prime for prime)
 

Louis would stop Charles late

Re: Louis vs Charles (prime for prime)
 

That fight would prove that Charles was underated but Louis would prevail by a Stoppage...Still Charles had the slickness and tools and he would not coast like he did vs the old Joe it would be more heated battle with a lot of exchanges...but Joe was master at combination power punching and Charles would get caught in an exchange in a competitive bout Louis TKO 12

Re: Louis vs Charles (prime for prime)
 

Louis by late stoppage. Though Charles was slick and would give Louis some trouble early, Joe would find the openings and capatilize with his skilled combinations and stop him late.

Re: Louis vs Charles (prime for prime)
 

In the real match, a prime Charles busted up an old Joe Louis. However Louis in his prime has a lot of zip on his punches. In a prime vs prime match, I think Louis would land one of his Sunday's best and end it.

I agree with you. Charles was a stand and trade type of fighter who used hand speed and countering ability to win. I respect Charles. He was a pound for pound tough son of gun. Charles fought the same stand and trade style vs Marciano.

Re: Louis vs Charles (prime for prime)
 

Would Charles necisarily stand and trade with a prime Louis?

He knew he could get away with it against the older version but against a prime version he might think better of it.

Another interesting "what if" is a scenario where Louis takes Charles on imidiately after the Walcott fight. Could he have had enough left at this point to slip past Charles and then string his title reign out further by defending against guys like Savold.