Is Perception Reality: The punching power of Joe Louis

The thing is, I haven't seen many reasonable boxing fans using Wilder's destruction of Stiverne as compelling proof of his power or ability, whereas on the other hand some folks around here seem to act as if Buddy Baer and Abe Simon can stand in for any non-Klitschko-Lewis-Bowe modern big men.

 

Well, anyone with two eyes who understands some of the basic principles of boxing technique and strategy.

 

I don't know who you could mean here!

Wilder's destruction of Stiverne is proof of his power.

His power is not in question.

Of course I am not arguing that Baer and Simon, were as good as Lewis or Klitschko.

What I am arguing, is that they were good enough to prove, that Louis matched up well against big fighters stylistically.

If the big heavyweight was Louis's kryptonite, then these guys should have done at least as well as the smaller heavyweights that he faced.

 

But who thinks that "the big heavyweight" is anybody's "kryptonite"? Big heavyweights aren't interchangeable. Some are more skilled and talented than others, some are better able to use their size and strength advantages, etc.

 

Wilder has serious one punch power. But his combinations and finishing is nowhere near Louis's. There are oceans in between. Wilder is seen, to just technique, one of the very worst finisher I've seen on a world class level. Perhaps the worst. It's absolutely atrocious. It's a joke. That he gets as many KO's against even his average level of opposition with his lack of finishing is a testament to his explosiveness and power.

It seems too many on this forum boil down the ability to get a KO to simply power. Speed, timing and technique are also very, very important. Otherwise fighters like Ali, Holmes and Holy would have nowhere near the KO record they have.

 

Everyone looks good winning. Everyone can hit an open target.

But if everyone the guy is winning against isn’t much good it dosnt say much.

Charles Martin, Stiverne, Manuel Carr.. these guys have been world champions. They would not be sparring partners in most eras.

 

That's "they wouldn't have been sparring partners in the good old days" cliche is ridiculous. They certainly would have been credible pro heavyweights in Louis' era.

PS - They were beltholders but calling them champions is misleading when comparing them to eras with far fewer belts.

 

Which version of Baer? The one in that clip? In his final fight? I would imagine the same level of effective resistance.

Wilder would stop that Baer as soon as he decided to unload.

 

Just imagine if someone found clips of Buddy Baer maneuvering like this in the ring. We'd get a breathless post demanding a complete reappraisal of his skills and abilities, and condemning contemporary writers for unduly disparaging him.

https://streamable.com/qif9e

https://streamable.com/thja9

 

But then people will complain you used 5 second clips. That doesn't really show how these guys fight most of the time.

 

Any time you want to make a prediction like that, about a fight that is actually going to happen, just let me know!

 

What great ability and skill does the Baer in that clip display that leads you to believe he could last with Wilder?

He practically sets his chin on a golf tee.

 

In the clip Baer gets hurt quite early. Like all blow out wins buddy never gets going and the fight ends up being a showcase for the effectiveness of joe Louis once he has opened up an opponent. So looking for what Buddy had going for him in this fight is pointless because it is a blow out.

It’s like looking for what Stiverne had going for him if he were in shape, if he was active, if he had not been dug up from the wilderness to make Wilder look good.

It’s not what Buddy shows in the clip it’s what his record shows and what he showed against the same Joe Louis in their first fight which was a whole lot more recent.

Buddy Baer was ranked as the 69th greatest puncher of all-time by The Ring Yearbook in 2003. Max Baer was ranked 22nd.