Joe Louis vs Larry Holmes 15 Rounds

Larry wins a close decision

 

Holmes vs louis prime for prime, I'm going with Holmes

Holmes, relying on superior foot speed, out maneuvers Joe, allowing him to set up his famous right hand, known for destroying opponents

at some point, Larry measures Joe for the right cross, and times him perfectly

Howard cosell yells "Down goes Joe!! Down goes Joe!!"

Joe rises on shaky legs, his body not properly responding to mental commands, a result of sudden physical trauma.

Joe retreats to the ropes for support with Larry belting him repeatedly with the right hand, in the manner of former victims Marvis Frazier, & Leon Spinks

The ref is taking a close look, seeing that Joe is scarcely able to defend himself.

after taking a few right hands too many, the ref finally steps in and halts the carnage

 

Not sure how you figure that out!

 

Yes, I was pretty mystified by that idea as well.

 

He gets beat by many of the other champs of the past and present. At least the first fight. Louis is slow of foot with a meh chin. He gets sparked by fast heavy hitters.

I would take Dempsey, Marciano, Tunney, Liston, Patterson, Tyson, Frazier, Ali, Fury , Both K Bros and several contenders over Louis H2H. I would take a peak Schmeling, Walcott, EZ Charles as well. ( at least 50/50)

 

Well I would not go that far but you should read my analysis on the five best fighter’s he fought. Louis lost four of them and would have lost to all five if the Conn fight was 12 rounds.

The scoring was questionable in other fights ( Godoy 1 ) and he was down too many times vs others. But he viewed as # 1,2, or 3 today by most.

 

I am with you on this. Joe was a great fighter, but I think some of the old timers overrate him a bit.

 

Regarding Charles, Walcott and Conn being the best boxers Louis face that probably true (with a shout out to Tommy Farr.) At the same time The Brown Bomber wasn't anywhere close to his prime in 4 out of those 5 fights. He did go 4-1 none the less.

 

The great trainer Charlie Goldman made an observation about what facing Louis was like. He said that a fighter might try a certain move, or tactic early in a fight. It would often fool Joe. He would get hit. In the 2nd round for example.

Then that fighter would go back to that move in the 7th round. In the blink of an eye the fight is over. Louis is putting on his robe.

Joe be knowing shi!, but he stays quiet.

 

This thread brings back memories i remember i hadn't been on this site long, and i remember this was my first time debating with @JohnThomas1. I knew John was an OG member looking at when he joined and how many posts he had, and i'm not gonna lie i quite relished my first interaction with him. So i could share some thoughts and learn a bit more about the sport i love. There is a few OG members on here that i do like debating with, and sometimes i do enjoy being put in my place a bit so i can learn.

And as for this mythical match up, i still stand by what i said i think Holmes's jab, movement, skills, reach, recuperative powers, would be able to get it done against Louis.

 

You are talking about your predictions in fantasy fights here, as if they are fights that have actually happened.

We all have our predictions, but it is supposition at the end of the day.

Yet neither his chin nor his foot speed ever lost him a fight.

I would say that is very flattering to them, given what he beat, and what they beat.

Most of these picks I cannot disprove for reasons of timeline, but making Walcott 50/50 against him is unpardonable, when a washed up Louis beat a prime Walcott twice.

It would then seem somewhat bizarre to make Charles, who went 2-2 against Walcott, even money against a prime version of Louis.

You can argue it either way up to a point, with most of the men that he didn't share a timeline with, but I would bet my house on him beating Paterson.

 

Patterson stumped me as well. One of the oddest picks I've ever seen.

 

I agree, and I would go even further than you have. I would include Sonny Liston in that house bet.

I am not normally a betting person, but I would bet (not necessarily my house) on Joe Louis against anybody. He was human, and he had flaws, but I claim he was the best ever.

 

Holmes by KO

 

I'm leaning largely toward Holmes here. He's got the stylistic components which bothered Louis plus significant athletic advantages over the opponents which bothered Louis the most; I see him winning a UD or even stopping Joe late.