Joe Louis vs modern giants: settling tbe debate.

Maskeav ranked #1? On what planet? The highest I ever saw Ruiz ranked by Ring magazine was 5th in an annual sense. Peter was #1.

In Louis time 220 was a very large heavyweight. Louis was best from 197-205. I'm pretty sure Povetkin would have made #1 in Louis day, and beat the other champions of the 1930's aside from Louis. I would say Wilder can quality as a moderately skilled super heavyweight. His height and reach are exceptional. And his power is excellent.

 

If there were a modern heavyweight division he would, but there isn’t. There is, instead, a superheavyweight division. Louis would not do well against today’s highly skilled, well-trained behomoths.

 

Oh you're relying on just the Year end rankings are you, that explains it then. Read the monthly issues that came out after the biggest wins by those two.

Why is Wilder a SHW, his weight has been below 220 in his last two fights.

The point is clear, you don't have to be a SHW to have success today.

 

There is no SHW division.

 

This is true...

Byrd, at one point, was ranked above everyone in the division (after Vitali retired). Ruiz was in and out of the top-5 for three or four years. Maskaev was first in line to Wladimir, at one point.

Povetkin was no giant and had even looked beatable against smaller guys.

Eddie Chambers, too, was a small heavyweight, who broke top-5. Then there's the Cruisers going up, such as Haye and Adamek.

 

Povetkin would almost certainly have been the standout contender in Louis's era, as indeed he was in his own.

All that would have got him is a one way ticket to the bum of the month club.

Now as for the champions of the 30s, I suspect that Povetkin would have won some, and lost some.

 

He was a young weakling who wasn't fully mature, should I continue?

 

He was fast before he put on too much muscle.

I wonder if he might have been better as a more slimline fighter.

 

Well he did get dropped heavily by Cooper, are you suggesting Banks hit harder than Liston.......

 

Look guys, this is the heavyweight division.

If you get hit by any sort of world class heavyweight, or light heavyweight, and don't see it coming, it is going to sting a bit!

You don't conclude that a fighter had chin issues because fighter A staggered him, or dumped him on the seat of his pants.

You conclude that a fighter had chin issues, if somebody was actually able to turn their lack of durability into a victory!