POLL: Which fighters would you favor over Joe Louis?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by mrkoolkevin, Apr 28, 2019.



Who would you favor against Joe Louis?

  1. Jack Dempsey

  2. Rocky Marciano

  3. Muhammad Ali

  4. George Foreman

  5. Larry Holmes

  6. Mike Tyson

  7. Lennox Lewis

  8. Wlad Klitschko

  9. Vitali Klitschko

  10. NONE OF THE ABOVE

Multiple votes are allowed.
Results are only viewable after voting.
  1. RightLeftCombo

    RightLeftCombo Active Member Full Member

    591
    577
    Feb 21, 2019
    I picked Ali, Tyson and Foreman.
    Ali can beat him on points. I think good boxers who can punch a bit have more tools than punchers who can box a bit and Ali had a good chin. Joe was primarily a puncher. In a three fight series, I'd favor Ali 2-1.

    Mike and George might KO him. Joe still has a good chance in those matches though.

    Holmes, Lewis and Wlad have a good to even chance, 50-50. Larry's a good boxer, LL and Wlad are big tall boxer-punchers.

    I'd favour Joe over Jack, Rocky and Vitali.
     
  2. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    26,182
    9,751
    Jan 4, 2008
    I never heard ot this before. He was brain damaged already back then? Can you elaborate? (not that I'm doubting you, just interested as a part of Louis's and boxing's history)
     
  3. BitPlayerVesti

    BitPlayerVesti Boxing Drunkie Full Member

    8,585
    11,046
    Oct 28, 2017
    ecto55 and Bokaj like this.
  4. Flash24

    Flash24 Boxing Addict Full Member

    5,673
    7,673
    Oct 22, 2015
    Everyone except Dempsey, Marciano. Very few on that list have the offensive skill level Louis possed. Actually only prime Tyson to be honest .But Louis's chin is a big question mark against most of the fighters mentioned. I can't get past Louis being dropped by multiple fighters in his career, and rocked by light punching, and natural light heavy Conn . Louis's foot speed, and defense wasn't that exceptional either. Louis defeats all heavyweight champs from 1900's until the 1960's after say 1961 through the 2000's he'd have a extremely difficult time with almost every champ with the exception of the Spinks brothers, and some of the alphabet champs of the 80's . And Fighters like R.Jones, Ruiz, the type that shouldn't have been able to win a championship, but somehow they did.
     
    mrkoolkevin likes this.
  5. Ken Ashcroft

    Ken Ashcroft Boxing Addict Full Member

    4,638
    4,778
    Dec 23, 2008
    I don’t think Frazier made it on the list.
     
    George Crowcroft and Unforgiven like this.
  6. louis54

    louis54 Well-Known Member Full Member

    2,187
    1,295
    Mar 20, 2013
    The answer is..... in a three bout series....nobody except maybe dempsey
     
    Balder likes this.
  7. Unforgiven

    Unforgiven VIP Member banned Full Member

    58,763
    21,433
    Nov 24, 2005
    Good call.
     
  8. Unforgiven

    Unforgiven VIP Member banned Full Member

    58,763
    21,433
    Nov 24, 2005
    No, I think It's maybe close to 50-50, but I'd favour Louis.
     
  9. Unforgiven

    Unforgiven VIP Member banned Full Member

    58,763
    21,433
    Nov 24, 2005
    His defense was fine. He could do it all excellently : slip, block, parry, side step.
    He was a great all-round boxer and his chin was pretty good.

    It's remarkable how skewed the perceptions of Joe Louis have become.
     
  10. George Crowcroft

    George Crowcroft Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    26,101
    41,912
    Mar 3, 2019
    I'd take Foreman and Tyson to beat him up more than Dempsey
     
  11. young griffo

    young griffo Boxing Addict Full Member

    6,035
    5,955
    May 18, 2006
    I went with Ali. I reckon his movement is enough to give him an edge on points.

    I don't favour anyone else over him but think stylistically Lewis, Foreman and Tyson pose legitimate threats. In saying that Louis is still one of the best p4p punchers I've seen on film. His punch technique is the best I've seen at the weight. Compact, fast, accurate and devastating. Imagine how good he'd look filmed in HD colour, with close ups and multiple camera angles? Wow!
     
  12. Sting like a bean

    Sting like a bean Well-Known Member banned Full Member

    2,047
    1,581
    Apr 9, 2017
    Ali is the only one I'd favor somewhat confidently, and Tyson maybe 50-50. That said, I think everyone on this list has a realistic outside chance.
     
    young griffo likes this.
  13. Balder

    Balder Well-Known Member banned Full Member

    2,881
    1,865
    Nov 10, 2012
    Marciano destroyed him in their actual fight.

    People are really reaching for Louis on this thread.
     
  14. The Senator

    The Senator Active Member Full Member

    565
    832
    Dec 10, 2017
    Context is king, Louis was not remotely close to his prime at that point, was seventeen years into his career. To count that fight as an indication of what a prime healthy, undamaged Louis would do against Marciano is absurdity.
     
    George Crowcroft likes this.
  15. KuRuPT

    KuRuPT Boxing Junkie Full Member

    8,462
    2,770
    Aug 26, 2011
    How so though, and this is what I'm really trying to get at. Louis' movement wasn't good or even fine (as you referenced his defense, which I would label as adequate but not good). So how do you envision Louis moving around the ring against a prime Ali who's on his toes? That vision doesn't seem to play out well in my mind for Louis. Louis isn't KOing Ali, and I just dont' see him landing more than Ali to take a decision. What does your picture look like?
     
    Balder likes this.