WHO didn't Joe Louis fight, that he might have?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by thistle1, Jul 13, 2012.


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  1. thistle1

    thistle1 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I don't mean that he ducked them or was steered away from said fighters. But which Top 10 guys could he have fought circumstances allowing for it? :bbb
     
    thistle1, Jul 13, 2012
    thistle1, Jul 13, 2012
    #1
  2. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    Gunnar Barlund
    Lem Franklin
    Gus Lesnevich
    Melio Bettina
    Bruce Woodcock
    Turkey Tomphson
    Elmer Ray
    Joe Baksi

    Those are probably the most notable omissions.
     
    janitor, Jul 13, 2012
    janitor, Jul 13, 2012
    #2
  3. choklab

    choklab cocoon of horror Full Member

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    Joe baksi
     
    choklab, Jul 13, 2012
    choklab, Jul 13, 2012
    #3
  4. thistle1

    thistle1 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    good strong list of candidates, however I would remove Bettina & Lesnevich as they were L-HWs. I've always been curious about Lem Franklin and Fred Lenhart too.

    Big Baksi I understood extended his time in the UK too include a holiday back to Poland, and _ucked up his chances at Louis. Man if thats true at a time when some right proper fighters never got their chances, that surely is the perfect Pollack Joke!

    how' do think they would have done?
     
    thistle1, Jul 13, 2012
    thistle1, Jul 13, 2012
    #4
  5. LittleRed

    LittleRed Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Maxie Rosenbloom.
     
    LittleRed, Jul 13, 2012
    LittleRed, Jul 13, 2012
    #5
  6. choklab

    choklab cocoon of horror Full Member

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    It was not poland, it was prague in the czech republic. Baksi visited his grandparents with promoter Jack solomons. Baksi was from a czechslovakian family not polish.
     
    choklab, Jul 13, 2012
    choklab, Jul 13, 2012
    #6
  7. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    I think that all the guys on my list, fall verry much into the same category as the the guys that Louis was fighting and beating handily.

    I don't see any of them being the stylistic foil necesary to pull the upset.

    I will defend my inclusion of Bettina and Lesnevich, because they were both quite highly ranked as heavyweight contenders.

    I think these guys lost out more because the cards didn't fall their way, than due to Louis's team being terified of them.
     
    janitor, Jul 13, 2012
    janitor, Jul 13, 2012
    #7
  8. thistle1

    thistle1 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    thanks choklab, still a pretty foolish move.

    you have just opened up a can of worms here too, do you think that snake Solomons was just continuing his preservation of Mills & Woodcock, in this case namely Woodcock, with Baksi "out" and some manipulation Mills & Woodcock in?

    I never knew that, but it surprises me not - they stop at nothing some of these Promoters and Managers!
     
    thistle1, Jul 13, 2012
    thistle1, Jul 13, 2012
    #8
  9. thistle1

    thistle1 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    the OPENING statement of the thread makes it clear there is no mention, speculation or believe of ducking...

    just simply a further inclusion of other top contenders that Louis might have fought!
     
    thistle1, Jul 13, 2012
    thistle1, Jul 13, 2012
    #9
  10. choklab

    choklab cocoon of horror Full Member

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    Never thought of that! Solomons was a snake but I think he had options on Baksi against Louis anyway - he paid him fortunes in England already. Baksi took world championship sized purses from Solomons in huge outdoor shows, Baksi did not need Joe Louis he was already set for life. Solomons thought baksi was mad for not taking Louis but maybe Baksi had already reached his financial ambitions?
     
    choklab, Jul 13, 2012
    choklab, Jul 13, 2012
    #10
  11. thistle1

    thistle1 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    just reviewing Baksi & Woodcocks records,

    Baksi was 2 years away from the States, and in the meanwhile Woodcock is fighting Oma & Savold and of course Mills is disposing of European illigitimate contenders and secures his return with Lesnevich.

    Jack Solomons knew fine well what he was doing, the whole mix of them, such a racket, the history of boxing could well be rewritten!
     
    thistle1, Jul 13, 2012
    thistle1, Jul 13, 2012
    #11
  12. choklab

    choklab cocoon of horror Full Member

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    cash is king in pro boxing.
     
    choklab, Jul 13, 2012
    choklab, Jul 13, 2012
    #12
  13. SuzieQ49

    SuzieQ49 The Manager Full Member

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    Lesnevich, Woodcock, Baksi over Lee Q Murray? Murray would have destroyed those gooftroopers
     
    SuzieQ49, Jul 13, 2012
    SuzieQ49, Jul 13, 2012
    #13
  14. choklab

    choklab cocoon of horror Full Member

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    here we go with the gooftroopers again...
     
    choklab, Jul 13, 2012
    choklab, Jul 13, 2012
    #14
  15. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    I omited Murray, because his prime run took place while Louis was in the army.

    My list focuses on fighters who were important while Louis was active.
     
    janitor, Jul 14, 2012
    janitor, Jul 14, 2012
    #15
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