Anyone Think Leroy Haynes Should Have Fought Louis For Title?

No, Leroy Haynes, who had knocked out Carnera twice (after Baer and Louis had, of course) lost to Al Ettore a couple of days after Joe Louis lost to Schmeling in JUNE 1936.

Louis came back with a win over Sharkey in August and then fought Ettore in September.

Haynes never really re-established himself.
In fact, Louis kept beating men who were beating Haynes.

Louis was facing higher-ranked opponents all along.

 

No chance he was even on Louis's radar.

 

He was much better than a few guys Louis defended his title against

 

The match was mooted, before Louis held the title.

https://news.google.com/newspapers?...AIBAJ&sjid=6SkMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1797,6744507&hl=en

I think that Haynes's problem might have been one of bad management, more than anything else.

 

No not even close

 

Let me re-post what I said, since you did not. Searching for the older post...

 

Louis lost to Schmeling.
Haynes lost to Ettore, (and then kept losing more than winning).

 

^^^ No where did I say Haynes deserves a title shot beyond doubt. I said Louis Essentially Louis cleaned out the white heavies of his time, and did not fight most of the best black talent in title fights. Then I listed some names. No Elmer Ray, no Larry Gaines, no Leroy Haynes, No Tiger Fox, no Lem Franklin. No Sheppard, etc...

That McVey is true.

It is also true that Joe Louis fought lesser talented white fighters. I asked you who deserved a title shot more in the Fox thread and listed three names. You duck the question like the plague. Rather telling.:deal

If your going to debate, quote me in context.

As noted the John Henry Lewis fight was a favor to a man who was bad vision and blind in one eye! John Henry retired at age 25 after Joe Louis beat him. Hardly a title defense.

Fox would have been a better pick here as well.

 

Problem is whether those black fighters deserved a title shot. Fox and Gains and Haines did not.

 

Perry,

Over some of the white opponents Louis selected, they certainly did.

This is using the color line. Louis only fought two black men in his 26 title defenses. John Henry Louis ( who was black ) was a gift offer from Joe Louis. The man was going blind and retired after his shot at age 25. The only black man Louis fought in good working order was Walcott, who many felt won the first fight, and was clearly beating him in the second fight until he fought foolishly late.

Is anyone here suggesting the other 23 title fights had to be vs. white guys, all of whom were better than Fox, Sheppard, Ray, et al? Speak up if you believe this.

I do think Fox was in line for a title shot for reasons stated in that thread and because Louis was so active, its clear lesser men behind him in ability and accomplishments got a shot.

 

The division was dominated at that time by white fighters. Fox was a lt heavyweight contender not a hwt contender. Tell me in modern times when does a lt heavyweight contender get a title shot without first beating a ranked hwt contender? Fox was not campaigning as a hwt. Gains and Haines had decreped records so again not on the radar. You do a great disservice to boxing history on these boards by jumping to the conclusion any fighter ducked anyone unless there is solid proof. You do not know all the details of what was going on at that time to make such a claim. Not fighting enough black fighters is not evidence he ducked anyone. He certainly did not avoid Fox. Gains or Haines for very obvious reasons. What you are doing is the biggest flaw in the revisionist mindset. There are perhaps dozens of reasons why any one particular fighter does or does not get a title shot. Looking back 75 years into the past you do not have enough information to allow you to make such a claim.

 

I think that the only time when fights with Gaines or Haynes were likely, was before Louis held the title, and Gains would have brought nothing but his name to the fight.

Even then there were much better matches that could be made.

No case to answer.

 

We are not talking about modern times. Back then light heavies or fought heavies. The Cruiser weight division did not exist, and the heavyweight champion often weighted under 200 pounds.

Where did I say ducked? I said he avoided the best black fighters as a group, many of whom were better than the white challengers Louis selected.