I think it’s fair to say the great Joe Louis would struggle in todays heavyweight division due to the sheer size and weight of the modern fighters. However what if he went up against Usky? A man who was told he was to short and light for the heavyweight division but still managed to dominate it with his skills and ring IQ.
Lead right hand. That's usually the punch to dissuade a southpaw. Louis had the speed and the skill to implement this punch. Usyk is exceptionally skilled for the modern era. Or the last 20yrs. But he wouldn't cause prime Louis much of a issue. Once Louis adjusted to the southpaw stance, which I'm sure he would've prepared for month's in advance. He'd be able to lead off the right hand, if he's allowed to do that what made Louis truly deadly is what would come after. Louis's accuracy, speed, power, and technical ability Usyk have never seen. What Usyk was able to get away with against Joshua and other fighters of the modern era, like lack of combo punching, counter punching, etc, he wouldn't be able to get away with against Louis or any prime ATG heavyweight. Usyk could run, but he can't hide. Louis may get knocked down, but he would outclass Usyk over the entirety of a fight. Louis by Tko or ud after some rough early moments.
In an Alternative Universe maybe. Just not this one. Beating the current crop of cruisers who couldn't spell counter punch, or a reluctant afraid to commit quiter like Joshua doesn't mean you beat Joe Louis.... Or any ATG that fought on a regular basis as most fighters from the past did. Usyk averages 1 fight a year the last couple yrs. Theirs no way he would be able to compensate for rhe reaction time a fighter who fights 4-5 times a year would have over him. It's the main reason boxing in general today has turned into I punch you block, you punch I block. Joe Louis was a master of timing, and distance. Offensively he was probably the greatest heavyweight in history with the diversity of his attack Put a man like Usyk , who would only have a height advantage, not a hugh weight or size advantage like Fury . I love Louis chanced against. This isn't a rabid fan of Louis, but boxing is the ultimate sport of the more one does it, the better they become if they have attributes like fast twitch muscles, heart, and dedication. Fighters in their primes today simply wouldn't have the reaction speed, or instincts of fighters from years past. Their not in the ring enough, which usually mean their mot in the gym enough, meaning their not sparring enough to develop the instinctive reactions of fighters from years past. Boxing today is a much safer sport than in years past. It's the reason you see so many retired fighters the last 20yrs or so who are relatively speaking well without all the physical problems yesteryear fighters suffered from. But the downside of that is we don't see the sharpness or instinctive reactions of fighters from years past. The repetition just isn't their. That's the difference between Prime Louis, and a fighter like Usyk. Repetition..... I love Louis chances against a fighter that doesn't have near the experience he would have Prime vs prime.
Really? As great as Louis was, I think Usyk would be a very difficult opponet for him... maybe even TOO difficult!
Usyk is a difficult stylistic match-up for Louis. Fast handed, fleet-footed, backed up by high ring IQ and presence of mind. Louis expertly invited and exploited predictible leads (one of the major reasons why he could so easily deal with Primo whose game plan often relied on landing that stiff jab of his) but fighters who could maneuver and engage in nothing but short unpredictable skirmishes, preferably with some spoiling or slick disengage at the end, would be my pick against him. I'd actually go with Usyk, slightly, because I like his style here. In a rematch? Louis was just sooo good at rematches. Always did his homework.
That's what Emmmanuel Steward said when comparing Louis to Ali that if you asked a computer for a printout of a fighter who had the tools to beat Joe Louis it was Muhammad Ali.