List Joe Louis's 10 best wins, in order

Depends a bit on criteria but I'd say:

1. Max Schmeling 2
2. Billy Conn
3. John Henry Lewis
4. James Braddock
5. Jack Sharkey
6. Arturo Godoy 2
7. Joe Walcott 2
8. Tommy Farr
9. Buddy Baer 2
10. Billy Conn 2

First half of the list was easier than second half. Tried to balance quality of opposition and dominance of performance. Looking through the list of opponents, what's clear with Louis is that your best chance of beating him was the first time. In rematches, he was pretty untouchable.

 

Based on quality of opposition

1. Jersey Joe Walcott I
2. Jersey Joe Walcott II
3. Max Schmeling II
4. Billy Conn I
5. Max Baer
6. James J Braddock
7. Bob Pastor II
8. Lou Nova
9. Buddy Baer II
10. Primo Carnera

HM Tommy Farr

 

Taking into account what was standing in front of Louis, what stage of his career he was at, and how he performed:

1. Joe Walcott 2
2. Max Schmeling 2
3. Max Baer
4. Primo Carnera
5. Billy Conn 1
6. James Braddock
7. Lou Nova
8. Tami Mauriello
9. Buddy Baer 2
10. Bob Pastor 2

 

Not a great list when you think of it, that's why i can't rank him above Ali.

 

You are correct.

 

My ten based on stature of opponent and quality of performance

1-----Max Schmeling (2)
2-----Jersey Joe Walcott (2)
3-----Billy Conn (1)
4-----Max Baer
5-----Primo Carnera
6-----Lou Nova
7-----Bob Pastor (2)
8-----Jimmy Braddock
9-----Buddy Baer (2)
10----Lee Savold

 

Schmeling 2
Conn 1
Walcott 2
Baer
Pastor 2
Tommy Farr
Tami Mauriello
Primo Carnera
John Henry Lewis
Walcott 1

Hm: Buddy Baer 1, Charlie Retzlaff

 

Normally agree with everything you say Jel but John Henry Lewis was half blind so i wouldn't have him anywhere near the 10 mate. They were good mates and Joe gave him the shot so he could earn good coin before his eyesight forced him out of the game. He was also a light heavy tho an amazing one. I do realize he had good results prior.

 

No worries - happy to be corrected on this. Was probably swayed by his record as a light-heavy and that Louis KO'ed him in one round.

To be honest, I wasn't that confident in the order I put some of these. Louis has a couple of stand out wins that will go down in boxing history - the Schmeling first round KO and the come-from-behind win against Conn. If we're talking about historical significance, those are the two that stand out.

The quality of opposition and the generally dominant nature of his wins means that there are not as many obvious standouts as someone like Ali, for whom it's easy to reel off his biggest and best wins because they immediately stand out.

 

Agree with all this mate. Ali's wins stand out like dogs gonads.

 

1. Schmeling II
2. Walcott II
3. Conn I
4. Max Baer
5. Braddock
6. Farr
7. Lewis
8. Pastor II
9. Carnera
10. Savold

I think in common with everyone else the bottom half was difficult to rank. I've tried to take account of the general quality of the opponent, alongside the point they were in their career, rather than where Louis looked most impressive. On a different day I'd mix 6-10 up or even throw in some different names like Nova, Buddy Baer or Mauriello.

Lewis is difficult to rank. On paper it is a quality win and his recent form was still impressive, but Lewis' circumstances at the time are well documented. Savold was recognised by the British Boxing Board of Control as world champion prior to Louis beating him, so it can be compared to an alphabet title in current money.

While it is easy to take the view that the quality of Louis' opposition was not overwhelming, it should be acknowledged that it was very difficult for other fighters to demonstrate greatness when Louis was so dominant. Those who showed good form tended to get a title shot, and invariably when they did they would be on the wrong end of a bad beating (first or second time round). It would then be very difficult for them to rebuild, both physically and mentally.

 

1-Primo Carnera
2-Primo Carnera
3-Primo Carnera
4-Primo Carnera
5-Primo Carnera
6-Primo Carnera
7-Primo Carnera
8-Primo Carnera
9-Primo Carnera
10-Max Schmeling

 

This one would be close to what I would pick. Schemling 2 and Max Bear were his best filmed performances. Schemling a bit past it.

The one pick I would disagree with is Carnera at #5, ( top 9 or 10 okay ) who was past it by then.

If you look at Louis best wins, he really struggled in some of them. Sometimes I wonder if people don't see it, or just don't want to talk about it but..

Conn was ahead, and would have beaten Louis in a modern 12 round fight.

Walcott 2. Walcott way ahead on the cards, then he show boated and got caught.

Braddock, out of the ring for two years, yet he floors Louis, and wins another round on my card before gassing.

Buddy Bear, he floored Louis too.