Should Louis have fought more than two black men in his 26 title defenses?

How about the fact that Franklin broke his hand against Simon .Like it or not Franklin had a small time scale in which he could credibly challenge Louis.You keep harping about common sense but I don't_____ never mind.

 

How does a manager benefit from having the number one challenger beaten? Explain to me how that is good business financially?:huh

 

Jacobs was not Louis's manager. Jacobs did not want Louis to fight Lewis but he did. I sense you beginning to get ratty here so I'm going to leave you alone for a while.Before the insults begin.

 

Did breaking his hand stop Jacobs from suggesting that he fight Bob Pastor just four months after beating Simon? Did it stop him from taking on two journeyman ( and beating them ) just three months after beating simon, both of whom he KO'd BTW? Simon had five months to prepare for Louis after getting KTFO by Franklin.... Franklin had just 3 months to prepare for his very next fight... " common sense" tells me that five months to prepare for a high paying fight seems more preferable than THREE months for low paying one..

 

Yes you'll notice that I've already ignored a few of your sneers.

 

:hi:

 

I guess that settles the issue then... I've been schooled.

 

For the very same reason that Simon got the shot and Franklin didn't.. Simon had a name that could sell tickets to raise money for the cause that Louis was supporting... Selecting challengers was often about politics and not always about fighting the best.. You know this and I know this.. Arguing for pages and pages was hardly necessary..

 

Yup, getting ratty.

I'd fight Lem Franklin with the greatest of pleasure. Roxy and Chappie don't think much of him, but I know he's improved. I keep track of all them fellas. I'm going to see Franklin fight Bob Pastor in Febuary. I've seen him two or three times. I saw him lose a six round decision to Freddie Fiducia in the Garden. He hasn't hit Freddie yet but that was four years ago and Freddie knew to much for him. He's a right-hand puncher who depends on punching and has a brittle right hand. I hope that right hand stays in good repair and he keeps them fellas out until September. I'll be looking for an appointment around that time."
Joe Louis.

http://archives.chicagotribune.com/...le/savold-pauses-in-a-tribute-to-lem-franklin


https://news.google.com/newspapers?...AIBAJ&pg=1196,896908&dq=pastor+franklin&hl=en

https://news.google.com/newspapers?...AIBAJ&pg=3902,825911&dq=pastor+franklin&hl=en

https://news.google.com/newspapers?...IBAJ&pg=4578,4762659&dq=pastor+franklin&hl=en

 

That was a short break but glad you're back.. I was getting nervous...

Anyway, nothing in the above quote explains why Franklin needed to fight Pastor and Simon didn't... Had I been the one calling the shots I'd make the LOSER prove himself by redeeming himself against a quality opponent before giving him a second shot at the title.. And in the interim, take on the guy who beat him... That's what the business of the best fighting the best is all about, and its the one thing that old school fans complain most about modern boxing lacking.. Only thing is, things weren't as different in the old days as some like to believe ..

Cheers :cheers

 

Okay,

but you're obsessing on Simon fighting in a charity event in which Louis fought for nothing.

As I posted earlier, I don't think the second Simon fight (or the second Buddy Baer fight) are relevant at all in evaluating Louis' title reign. They were part of the war effort.

As for Franklin being matched with Pastor, why not?

Louis didn't fight a lot of guys on the way up?

Liston didn't get matched with Machen in 1960? Hadn't Liston already proven he was a worthy contender. The same with Marciano when he fought Matthews in 1952.

If you are a top contender you win these sort of fights. Franklin flopped.

 

No.. I accepted this as a valid explanation and have said so several times. My only issue is the claim that Simon was the more deserving choice.. Not something I expected to argue through several pages of text over as I figured it would be clear as day.

I agree that they don't define his entire legacy.

Because he was already ranked #2. The only man ahead of him was Conn who Louis had already defeated once and wouldn't fight again for about 5 years. Charity events and political affairs aside, was there really anyone else who made sense?

Being ranked #2 in the world with an 18 fight winning streak and wins over several named men isn't exactly what I'd call as still being " on the way up." had Franklin been a prospect that would have been a different story.

Liston was flat out ducked by a lot of the upper echelon of the division. So yes. Can't speak for Marciano.

Seems unfair to me that some contenders were forced through the meat grinder to get their title shots while others got not one but two cracks at it for being little more than a political favorite... But I guess that's just the way the cookie crumbles sometimes.

 

Asking Franklin to fight Pastor, looks like a bit of a blocking move at first glance, but Pastor's best work was definitely behind him by then.

In addition to his second loss to Louis, he had also lost to Billy Conn, and would be retired a few months later.

Perhaps this was a reasonable test for somebody wanting a shot at the champion.

 

In principle it wasn't unreasonable. But when contrasted to Simon getting a second crack at the crown just five months after Franklin beat him, it does seem somewhat unfair.