Great find. I did respect Louis until now. What a fraud. Its like not wanna fight the best because of race. Louis is a big disgrace to boxing.
Talk about selective argumentation. How many Louis fights did you actually watch? 5 minute knockout reels don't count.
Usyk is definitely a problem for Louis, he might even beat him, though being installed as the favourite is pushing it. Elusive as the Ukrainian is, he won't be as hard to find as a Billy Conn. He'd be a good-sized one in Louis' day. A moving target, yes, but a big one. Further, if Louis finds himself in trouble, he's not going to be pawing with indecision like Joshua. He's won't reconcile himself to lasting the distance. He will be preparing counters and looking to do damage. Up close he would be able to get inside Usyk who will never face anybody as clinical at the mid-range. Louis could look a little sleepy. A bit open. But he wanted you to engage. Soon as Usyk puts them together they will be coming back, quicker and more powerful. It's anything but easy, for both men.
I can see what you`re saying, but Louis`s ability to finish someone was not overated, his combo punching was lethal.
I pick Usyk because he is more skilled, but it would be a hell of chess match and Louis was a very good finisher.
Unfair to compare with such a huge gap in time. Usyk has all of the advantages that come with fighting 80 years later, and wins without trouble. Training, nutrition, medicine, lifestyle , gloves, the ring, heck even rules have changed since Louis's time. In Louis's time people who used footwork to run rings around their opponents(Ali style), where DQ's for un-combat like posture( of the top of my head, not sure the exact name of the rule). Many boxers neglected defensive footwork as it could DQ them and they wouldnt even get a paycheck. The gloves where totally different. Pads hadn't even been invented. Smoking cigs was considered good for you. Technology , to watch and study film. I could go on and on but you get the point.
Interesting. I had never heard that before. That is a good contribution to the conversation. The only time I have heard something like that mentioned is in discussions of the Jack Johnson-Marvin Hart bout in which the ref warned Johnson of fighting overly defensive, and awarded Hart the bout based on being the aggressor, even though Johnson clearly was the better man by any modern standards. Good stuff.
He won't be as stupid as Conn either and hits much harder and would use his size. Billy Conn was under 170 pounds.
nonesense and Conn had the speed of a super-middle, Louis`s handspeed and reflexes were as quick Usyk`s are.