where would joe louis figure in todays heavyweight division ?

Joe louis would be the smallest fighter in the division you can't exspand his size and make him a bigger fighter.

I have seen a lot of his fights and it does not look like that highlight video either it is very well done. Its because the editor slowed down and sped up the punches to make them look like they acclelerated more then they really did.

 

Well said, I totally agree. Klitschkos dominated the heavyweight division becouse they're better fighters than their opponents, not for their size.

 

By the same argument Louis could be playing football or basketball or have a quiet corporate job today. He was what he was and that's why it is impossible to compare eras.

It is easy to look impressive against smaller opponents or large one-dimensional fighters but beating skilled guys of the same or greater size is a different matter. Louis would have serious problems with guys like Ibragimov, Povetkin, Chagaev, Solis, Haye not to mention Klitschko brothers.

Ibragimov had the same size/reach as Louis and somewhat similar style. He destroyed 6'8" Whittaker and got shutout against Wlad.

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... but Ibragimov had also much less talent and far less power than Luis

 

I agree with most of what you said. Ibragimov, Adamek, Jirov (Mesi) are Louis's size, Sultan and Tomasz 5 lbs heavier. Povetkin, Boytsov, Chagaev the same height but 15-20 lbs heavier. You can compete in this era with his size.

One thing when comparing though is that Louis and Dempsey fought with 4 or 5 oz gloves. Today it's 10 oz. Ibragimov had very respectable power and the gloves have twice as much padding. Figuring Louis punching power when comparing fighters from a later era is tricky. MMA fighters wear 4 oz gloves. Imagine Klychko, Lewis, Tyson, Shavers, Tua with gloves that small...

 

A video highlight reel of his knockouts hardly gives an accurate representation of his boxing ability and his style.


Here is a video of a joe louis against one of his best opponents
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lihT_ewxVko[/ame]




and a video of two similarly sized modern boxers,
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7jB1sAON68&feature=related[/ame]


I think it is clear that the adamek cunningham fight displays two much more skillful, quicker and fitter fighters.

The majority of louis' opponents were very poor, watching his fights you see no defence at all, there is no head movement blocking or adequate footwork from all but a few. His power is also grossly overrated due to the size of the gloves used.

 

Great point! It is a myth that past fighters were at some higher level than fighters today, as can be seen by watching the two videos you posted. Thanks!:good

 

Brilliant analysis. Quit your day job, you should be paid for this.

:think

 

Tony Galento would be a top 10 contender in any era as well, the man could take tremendous punishment, had a murderous left hook and knew how to get fighters to lean in so he could land it. Always room for a contender like that. Sure, he was limited, overweight, balding, and often didn't take his career seriously but.....

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If you do what a lot of these old nostalgic boxing fans say and watch the old time fighters you can see they are inferior. I think Louis would have his hands full with boxers his size ilike Roy Jones and Hopkins let alone the Klitschko's. Imagine how fast Jones hands would be with lighter gloves lol.

 

Joe Louis beat some big guys like Primo Canara so what? Here is Max Baer Poleaxing the overrated bum all over the ring before Louis even got to him.

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-6'2 1/2" 81" wingspan and 200-210 around prime. He was not Klitschko big, but in the range of Foreman and Liston.

-That is a shallow strawman criticism often unfairly applied to the Klitschko brothers. Primo had very good big man skills. Pawing but effective jab, could get around the ring, and a great uppercut (Sharkey KO) BTW 30s was actually a big era comparable to the 70s and 80s if you do the hard math. Slightly lighter overall, but height and reach not a big difference.