Could Joe Louis beat Mike Tyson?

The 80's is the era where big, tall heavyweights started showing up with skills not really seen on a grand scale before by big men. Guys showing up at 6'5" and 230 lbs. that weren't Carnera or Simon sized slow of foot "oafs". The 80's guys were mobile and stemmed from Ali's popularity.

 

If Douglas could beat him Louis who was ten times better could imo. Not necessarily would. Tyson isn’t the best matchup for Louis either. Would be a very interesting match. If Louis could survive the early rounds and dictate pace and distance he wins. That was the secret sauce to beating Mike. Dictate pace, control distance, survive early rounds. Easier said then done though

 

I don't think I agree, but it's fine!

 

How many 6'5 and 230 lbs fighters Tyson faced before Douglas fight? I can count two - Mitch Green and Tyrell Biggs. They were nothing special in historical perspective, just decent contenders. I guess you can count Smith who was 6'4, but Smith was worse than Carnera or Baer.

 

Louis was 10 times weaker, not better.
And Douglas was in the best shape of his life, while Tyson was in one of the worst.

 

Def not. If Louis trained half ass like Douglas he would have weighed just as much as he proved in his late career. I make no qualms about prime tyson beating Douglas. I think he does too. If we can’t get by stating Louis was a better fighter then Douglas then you and anyone else would be fooling themselves. The question posed is “could” Louis best Tyson. Of course he “could”. I might favor a prime Tyson though myself.

 

By that reasoning, anyone can beat anyone.
An average guy could beat an ATG. But is is likely that would happen ? Probably not.

 

Bonecrusher probably blasts out Carnera, to be honest. Tucker was 6'5" and about 221 when he fought Tyson. Ribalta was up there. Bruno was a big dude. Ruddock was 6'3". Truth Williams was 6'4". Thomas was 6'3". Tubbs was 6'3".

On average, Tyson fought far bigger guys than Louis and it's not even close. Let's be real.

 

None of them were 6'5 and 230 lbs.

 

Except Louis IS an ATG. Saying he could beat someone, even if less than 50% likely to do so, is a little more reasonable than some dude off the street.

 

Tyson did fight this one dude who was 6'5", 245 or so. I think the guy was British. Or Canadian? Something like that. Wasn't he into chess and reggae music as well?

How'd that fight go again?

 

And the Tyson haters are off!

 

Golota was 6'4" and 240. More of a 90's guy but want me to go on?

 

Still not 6'5 and 230lbs, he's also not from Tyson prime time.

 

Louis is an ATG based on what he did in his own era, he'd be an average bum in the 90s