Prime Joe Louis v Walcott and Charles?

I still believe a prime Louis would have had big trouble with both these fighters especially Charles, he beat Walcott twice though one was controversial so I can only see a prime Louis getting him out of there quicker.

 

Yeah I agree. They both still give him trouble.
I'll give Louis the benefit of the doubt since he'd be younger, quicker, better reflexes and overall just have more vigour. But both Walcott and Charles had the kinds of styles to give Joe plenty to think about.

 

I think he wins these fights pretty decisively when prime. The later rendition of Louis who was inactive and coming off of layoffs against both men had lost a lot of speed and accuracy, yet he took both the distance and even stopped one of them. Ten years earlier and you would have seen a totally different man in there. Stylistically they'd still make a competitive evening of it, but in the end he wins clearly.

 

Let's be clear, the Louis who fought Walcott was a lot better than the Louis who fought Charles, both in handspeed reflexes and punching ability

Louis of 1947 was still knocking everyone out as evident of his brutal destructions of mauriello and conn 1 year prior

Louis aged a lot from 48-50

 

And I'm not disagreeing with any of that. But regardless of how he looked in the late 40's I don't see the same man who beat Schmeling in 1938. I think most would agree that this was the best rendition of Louis or certainly a lot closer to it than the guy who beat Conn in the rematch or fought Walcott or charles. I don't think there should be any question as to who takes those fights.

 

No there isn't. Louis is the greatest of all time


That said, Walcott and Charles had styles to always give Louis problems. In Walcotts book, Blackburn talked about how much trouble Walcott gave Louis in sparring in 1938, Louis always remembered how talented Walcott was. Walcott simply had the amazing footwork punching power angles defense jab tricky moves to always pose s threat to joe. I think what happened in 2nd Louis Walcott fight would have always happened, with Walcott out boxing joe, and joe catching Walcott late with a brutal combination

Charles had the handspeed and boxing skills to always outbox joe before joe catches up to him. Joe catches Charles sooner than he does Walcott

 

No shame in getting outboxed by Charles and Walcott, two of the best master boxers ever

 

Okay. You know more about Walcott than I do so I'll leave it at that.

 

Good bit of info. I believe the second Walcott fight was the first time he'd been stopped or dropped since his fight with abe Simpson. I'd go with Louis in the championship rounds

 

Always do your research before you pull things out of your ass kids. Dropped by Curtis Sheppard atsch

 

I pretty much think Walcott could always beat Joe no matter if it's prime Joe or not. As Q mentions, Blackburn specifically notes how much problems Walcott gave joe in sparring. This was the indestructible Joe we keep hearing about. No matter when they fought, JJW always had the stylistic advantage against Louis. There is simply no other way to see it. That said, Louis always had the game changer that Walcott doesn't have for this fight. JJW had excellent power, but a Prime Louis had incredible recouping abilities. So I just don't think Walcott could keep Joe down, however I believe Louis could keep Walcott down. IMO in a prime vs. prime series between the two I'll give Louis the benefit of the doubt and give him 2 out of 3 with one going either way but Louis getting the nod and the other Louis Koing him past 10 at some point. A prime Louis I think beats Charles 3 out of 3. To me Charles doesn't have the same stylistic advantages

 

Louis knocks Walcott out in a few rounds. 5 or 6 rounds.
I mean, he knocked him out in 1948, so I don't see how a prime Louis would fail to do so.

Charles would be KO'd too, but might last in to the later rounds.