Google the question & the 1st result was from this forum, which I read a while back. I can find no fault with this thorough, excellent analysis in favor of Ali. [url]http://www.eastsideboxing.com/weblog/news.php?p=5901&more=1[/url]
Pretty much spot on for me and i find this part interesting :- '' Louis scored 4 KO's in rounds 11-15 while Ali scored 8. The differences in the two fighter's KO histories are now clear. Joe's chances of a KO victory drops off dramatically the longer the fight lasts, steadily decreasing from 17 KO's (Rounds 1-5) to 8 KO's (Rounds 6-10) to 4 KO's (Rounds 11-15). Ali on the other hand gets slightly stronger and more effective as the fight goes into the later rounds steadily increasing from 6 KO's (Rounds 1-5) to 7 KO's (Rounds 6-10) to 8 KO's (Rounds 11-15). Ali holds the distinction as being the only heavyweight champion to score 2 KO's in the 15th round. ''
I am not sure about your logic here. It might simply be that Louis had less late KOs because not many people made it 11 rounds with him.
Louis could be outboxed. And I think Ali would do so. Ali on points. And regarding Lennox Lewis: I think George Chuvalo would´ve broken him in two. Frazier would´ve koéd him in 2 and Ali would´ve danced all night making him look clumsy and out-of balence while punching holes in the air.
You put the best Joe Louis vs the best Ali ali wins everytime. Joe Louis came 2 rounds within losing to a 5'10 165 pound guy called billy conn who spent 13 rounds dancing him, louis won by knockout in the 13th but does it make any sense that Louis could beat Ali when he could barely beat the poor man's version of him? Ali always done well against the big bangers. The only pre-Ali boxers who could give him trouble are jack johnson, jack dempsey and sam langford. Basically swarmers and possibly a superior mover. You also have to consider that Ali had an uncanny ability to cut opponents around the eye and to blind them by swelling their eyes shut aka thrilla in manilla, jerry quarry, etc. I couldn't see the Ali of 1967 losing to anyone, the man throws punches so fast that they land before even taller opponents can get off their jab, he throws punches so fast that alot of the time the audience didn't see it, I'm not sure how Louis would hold up against being hit by punches he can't see. Ali knocked out every championship opponent before being stripped of the title except george chuvalo (who NO ONE KNOCKED OUT NOT EVEN FOREMAN IN HIS PRIME) AND Ernie terrel who he could have finished ny time but chose to punish.
A lot of compelling arguments for Ali, I think my initial opinion has been swayed in favor of Ali. For the time being at least, I flip back and forth on questions like these quite often.
South: I know exactly what you mean! I watch Ali-Foreman and picture Ali's right bouncing of Joe's jaw and favour Ali. Another night I watch Louis's power against the Baer's and wonder if even Ali could withstand it for 15 rounds! Probably my all time fantasy fight.
Joe Louis at his best knocks out any heavyweight that tries to bang with him. Ali is smart enough NOT to that, and will cleverly outbox him with his faster footwork...so I say Ali by UD
Conn didn't "dance" Louis, though. He troubled Louis with clusters of hooks. Louis was supposedly told to weigh under 200lbs for the fight and it weakened him, so there are mitigating factors. I agree that Ali had the speed and delivery to give Louis big trouble, though.
Ali has the speed & movement to make trouble for Joe but Louis had a the best power combo punching ability bar none, combine this with one of the best variations of the left hook I have seen and that was a serious problem for Ali, this would be Frazier X3 so I think Joe would be the first one to stop Ali. Louis was not a slow combo puncher like Liston or a wide punching slugger like Foreman, this would be an advanced combo puncher and left hook specialist that had a wonderful right hand as well. I also think Joe was the better man in rematches so he would be hard to beat in a repeat....1st fight would be the toughest but once Joe hurt Ali he would keep on keeping on