Breaking down Joe Louis: Part 6 - Putting It All Together

This is something I'm looking to do in six parts to get to the bottom of the guy from a technical perspective. I'm about half way done, so I'm not entirely sure where it's going to lead, but here's part one:

Part I: The Foundation of Skill:
http://www.boxing.com/how_to_box_by_joe_louis_part_1the_foundation_of_skill.html


Part II: The Hook and the Jab:
http://www.boxing.com/how_to_box_by_joe_louis_part_2the_jab_left_hook.html


Part III: The Right Hand
http://www.boxing.com/how_to_box_by_joe_louis_part_3the_right_hand.html


Part IV: The Uppercut; Boddywork
http://www.boxing.com/how_to_box_by_joe_louis_part_fourthe_uppercut_bodywork.html

Part V: On Defence & The Shadow Of Jersey Joe Walcott
http://www.boxing.com/how_to_box_by..._defense_the_shadow_of_jersey_joe_walcot.html






Part VI: Putting It All Together
http://www.boxing.com/how_to_box_by_joe_louis_part_sixputting_it_all_together.html

Baer came out aggressively and Louis was momentarily crowded out of the fight, driven and harried back to his own corner first by Baer’s length, then his size. Buddy’s physical advantages overcame Joe’s technical superiority, for just a moment. They circle, and Louis takes a short step back, employing the draw, before throwing a nothing left hook. Louis notices that the challenger’s tactic upon being jabbed are to dip, then make a grab and try to tie the champion up on the inside, allowing him to use his size and weight to bare down on him. A fine plan for a big man, but in fact the fight is now lost.

A few seconds later Louis is shuffling back and away from Baer once more and as Baer moves forwards Louis throws another jab. Again Baer dips and tries to crowd but Louis has no intention of landing the jab. Instead, he holsters his left, takes a step to the outside with his left foot and even as Baer draws himself into his shell and prepares his grab, Louis uncorks his right uppercut, slipping his weight across his body as a part of the natural movement of the punch, the absolute perfection of this skill. The punch is not a finisher, but note Baer’s reaction when Louis jabs at him once more, moments later. Instead of trying to menace the champion with his size or a counter-blow, he backs up directly; shy of the uppercut that the jab disguised last time around. This is the ultimate realisation of the feint—to imbue in the jab, a hammer blow at the best of times the virtual attributes of the uppercut. Baer has now to abandon his pre-fight plan for Joe’s most important punch, that jab.

Skill has determined that his superior size is now worthless.

 

That's quite the compliment. Thank you.

 

With the right fighter, I feel pretty confident these days, though a close look always means learning for me.

 

We're enemies now, Shake.