Who would win if it went the distance? Could Louis stop Ali could Ali stop Louis? Which is more likely? How do you see the epic boxing match going down?
Joe Louis would win, with his superior skills and his superior punching power. He's almost as fast as Ali and his combinations have a much bigger effect. And, yes, Bummy, Louis was better than Frazier by a clear margin.
Calm down. Louis would have hell catching up to Ali. He'd need a knockout to win, I think. Louis is puncher supreme, but even he'd need quite a bit of luck on his side if he wanted to stop peak Ali. In fact, I think a stoppage the other way is more likely.
You are forgetting one thing, Joe Louis was the greatest power/counter/combination puncher of all time...he had 2 very powerful offensive weapons that could articulate in many fashions...I am thinking he starts out with his jab and the hook (which Joe had many varieties) would be a key weapon with much to follow....Louis was a finisher so if Joe has Ali hurt like Frazier did in the 11th or the 15th...he finishes him
Except Ali wasn't a heavybag, he'd be moving with speed Louis had never encountered, getting a very unorthodox, very accurate and very fast jab repeatedly shoved in his face. Ali also had the fastest reflexes of any Heavy ever he could be standing in front of Louis and making him miss. Ali after tagging with the jab would throw a very fast combo and move. George Chuvalo said it best "Louis had trouble with stick and move guys and who is a better stick and move guy than Ali?". On the flipside Louis didn't have either the best chin or the best defense, he had no clue what to do with the movement and jab of Walcott or the speed of Conn. Ali is both of these things, squared, and much much more. I honestly think Ali would take out Louis before the 10th, probably closer to the 5th tbh. Ali wasn't ANYTHING like the giants Louis slayed he was no Baer, Simon or Carnera.