Joe Louis vs. Abe Simon II

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1. Louis looked small compared to Simon. And Simon looked big, but not the way Buddy Baer or Carnera had. Baer was tall and rangy and Carnera was super thick like Simon, but he was well-proportioned. Simon was top-heavy. Having read the article on the first Louis-Simon fight (which I'm said isn't on film), Joe looked eager to finish this one. He wasn't as apathetic as usual. The 1st was very even until about 2: 48 of the video Joe landed a left hook and then a right hook, which backed Simon up. Louis quickly followed up with two more rights and a left and Simon was now for sure in trouble. Joe landed repeatedly with overhand rights, and got so uncharacteristically excited for Louis that he fell onto his gloves while throwing a right hand. After Louis got up, Simon charged in, and bulled Louis. It was the right idea, but Simon couldn't execute. Simon was able to make the next of the round and stay out of trouble, but the round was Joe's and handily. Louis.
2. Joe was no less eager to end the fight in the 2nd. He was throwing bombs as soon as he came out. Early on, Joe snuck in a hard overhand right followed by a left hook, the set up. Shortly after a hard right hand wobbled Simon. Simon was hurt a little bit later by a left hook, and he stumbled into the corner rather clumsily. Joe seemed to take his time ripping him up at that point, but hurt Simon again with the right hand at about 4: 41. Joe was patient though and didn't get too excited. He steadily peppered Simon, and hurt him again at 4: 51 with a good right hook that sent Simon lazily into the ropes. Another right hand at 5: 20 seriously hurt Simon. A left hook and three more right hands finally sent the giant to the canvas, on his knees. Saved by the bell. Louis.
3. A left-right shook up Simon early. The round went to Joe on the technicality of a low blow by Simon, but Joe took it anyway. What a guy, Louis. He didn't complain about the low blow and acted like nothing even happened. Louis.
4. This was Abe's best round. Joe allowed him to throw some jabs, meanwhile coasting. The two traded good left hooks at one point. Louis landed a right hand before the bell. Even.
5. A left-right injured Simon at 11: 10 and Simon turned groggy. He tried to hang on, but a grazing left hook sent him in a backwards direction. Joe continued punishing Simon with numerous hooks. A right hand hurt him AGAIN at 12: 00 of the video, and a second right hand wobbled him badly. Surprisingly, the two traded some hard jabs back and forth for a moment. There was a lull in the action afterwards, but it wasn't over. More punishment was to come. The left-right set Simon up again. Afterwards came a left hook and a right cross, and Simon stumbled into the ropes beside him. A torturous right hand put Simon down in his corner. Again, Simon was saved by the bell. He seems pretty good at that. Louis.
6. Joe barely had to throw much anymore. Simon was so softened up at this point a tennis ball probably would have KO'd him. Joe threw two light lefts, and a big right hand, which did do it for Simon. The two punches Joe through afterwards had little affect on Simon, who was already on his way down. Simon rolled over as the ref counted. He beat the count, but the ref was correct to end it. All the while Simon stands there, as if to say: "What the hell are you doing? Why are you stopping it? I was winning! I coulda been world champion." Sure you could.

Verdict: One of Louis' very best. One of most aggressive, least scientific performances. Just Joe Louis getting in there and being a real tiger, and beating a damn huge guy. Really, Louis, despite being a big guy himself, was a giant killer. Carnera, the Baer brothers, and now Simon. This is probably my fourth favorite Louis performance, next to Schmeling, Baer, and Conn.

 

I wish we had the first Louis-Simon fight!

 

Remind me to buy that off you sometime.

 

Yeah, if he had continued fighting, his prime probably would have come to an end about the time he started fighting again.

 

Who would he have had to fight during that time though?

 

Let's see here. I was looking at the rankings. Jimmy Bivins, Curtis Shepperd, Joey Maxim, Elmer Ray, and Jersey Joe Walcott were top contenders, and even Lee Q Murray, Melio Bettina, and Arturo Godoy were. I thought those were the most notable. I honestly can't foresee too many good matches coming out of there. Bivins-maybe, Shepperd-probably, Maxim-probably not, Ray-DEFINITELY, and Walcott-probably very two-sided and absolutely awesome. He would destroy Godoy again.