Name a fighter that would have beaten Joe Louis the night he rematched Max Schmeling

One question we might legitimately ask is what Schmeling had left?

Louis destroyed him so quickly, that it is hard to judge either way.

I don’t think there is any very compelling evidence, that Schmeling declined dramatically between the two Louis fights. After he beat Louis, he essentially sat on his #1 ranking, by fighting fighters a bit bellow the top category such as Thomas, Forrd and Dudas. He disposed of them in the way that a world class fighter should, but they perhaps weren’t quite good enough to evaluate what he had left.

His only fight after his loss to Louis, before the war forced him out of the ring, was a rather impressive first round destruction of Adolph Heuser. Heuser was undoubtedly a world class light heavyweight, but he does not seem to have managed the transition to heavyweight well. Even so, it was the only time he was put down for the count, before the post war period.

 

Thats who Louis was. He crushed a lot of guys in brutal fashion like that.

 

There was basicaly no such thing as a good chin against Louis.

 

The absolute best Dempsey would whip his ass. And also Max Baer. That dude was scary when he was at his best. He was an all-time great.
Maybe even Holyfield.

 

No, you're right he didn't decline. But he just simply got caught early. it happens.

 

Yep.

I would not pick anyone over Louis on his best day except Clay on his best day. The Clay that beat the Liston I is the best version I have seen of Clay. He would have to be light as a feather and hope his chin holds up because he is going to get hit a lot. I am banking that Clay is tough enough to weather each storm and land his right hand enough to hurt Joe Louis and stop him.

I think Ali is that tough.

 

On that night, Louis seemed to absorb all the pressure and convert it into an eerie kind of focus.

My fantasy popcorn pick would be for that Louis to face the Toledo Dempsey who desperately wanted to fulfil Kearns' first round bet.

Kaboom.

 

That would a hard bout for Louis.

Dempsey, would be easily the toughest guy Louis ever faced. Demspey with his slipping and ducking style would make Louis look like he was standing still. He would be looking for opportunities to get inside and throw the shot inside. Dempsey was a unique fighter. You think he is a face-first brawler but no, he is a skilled cagey tiger.

The problem for Dempsey is, that Louis' hand speed and uncounterable timing. I do not see Dempsey having the same type of encouragement to keep coming on hard after feeling the unseeable blow of Louis.

Louis stops him late.

 

I'm inclined to favour Dempsey, just, but there's no grumbling from this corner if anyone goes with Louis. I certainly could see Dempsey lunging in and Louis meeting that bowed head with a chopping right.

For years this was considered the ultimate fantasy fight at heavyweight. Ring magazine relished talking about it.

 

Ali
Johnson
Dempsey

Lewis?
Holmes?