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Joe Louis vs George Foreman: Do you agree with this prediction

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by InMemoryofJakeLamotta, Dec 17, 2023.

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HomicideHank I believe in the transmigration of souls Full Member

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The Cryptkeeper said: ↑

To be fair George was that self-deprecating that he always, and I mean always gave other fighters the nod over himself. Like when he said he was scared of Norton and did not want that fight. He didn't want to fight Frazier, nor Tyson (states this after he retired but wanted that fight 100% when he was in his comeback), said that he was worried that Gerry Cooney could get him out of there and so on. I would never take George's word for any of it and I think we can pretty much say that he was scared of nobody. He's just incredibly humble.

That said, and I say this as someone who holds George Foreman as my favourite fighter of all time and by some margin, I do not like his chances against Joe Louis. George always has a knockout chance given his other-worldly power and insane strength but I do think that Joe is able to outbox and outmaneuver George to the point where the big man gets frustrated and leaves himself open to too much punishment.

If Louis gets through 5 rounds then he can outbox George to a decision and that is what I think happens 7 out of 10 times in this cracking match up of legends.
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He said Joe Louis was the greatest fighter that ever lived. That's not a flippant, self-deprecating statement.
If Foreman got outwitted by Ali and Young, he's certainly getting outwitted by Louis.
Foreman doesn't see the final bell. He would be lucky to see the halfway mark. Louis in his prime wasn't the decision type.

HomicideHank, Dec 17, 2023

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lepinthehood When I'm drinking you leave me well alone banned Full Member

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HomicideHank said: ↑

Look it up. He said something along the lines of :'Joe Louis was a real puncher, he would have given me a shellacking'.
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That means alot....

lepinthehood, Dec 17, 2023

#17

Marvelous_Iron Active Member Full Member

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I agree, with it going deeper than 5, 10-15 with Louis having the clear stamina advantage, Foreman's chin and ability to hurt Louis when he does land will keep him in it

Marvelous_Iron, Dec 17, 2023

#18
Vic The Gambler Active Member Full Member

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I’d bet my new house that this fight doesn’t go the distance.

I’d bet the bathroom, dining room and kitchen on Foreman KOing Louis by Round 6.

I’d bet the bedrooms, living room and gym (yes, I have one) on Louis stopping George between 7 and 12/15.

But God help me if it goes the distance…I’d end up sleeping in the car!!

Vic The Gambler, Dec 17, 2023

#19

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RockyJim Boxing Addict Full Member

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Who are you people?.... Prime Joe Louis...vs the guy who beat a shopworn Joe Frazier?....Joe"King" Roman..."Chinny" Ken Norton?...and lost to a past his prime Ali? The guy who was "befuddled"...(it's a word...look it up)...and knocked to the canvas by Jimmy Young?...against Joe Louis?...Really?....."HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" I thought this was the "General" Forum...

RockyJim, Dec 18, 2023

#20

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Reinhardt Boxing Junkie Full Member

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Styles make fights, Joe Louis comes forward and doesn't move from side to side so he'll be standing right in front of George Foreman and as Larry Merchant once said no man who comes to George Foreman will survive though I think Sonny Liston would , plus Louis was generally a slow starter. Louis is a truly great fighter with much better overall skills but Foreman has the ingredients to nullify all that. A great jab, strength and power . Foreman stops Joe in about 3 or 4 rounds

Reinhardt, Dec 18, 2023

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lone star Active Member Full Member

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PRW94 said: ↑

You act like Louis was some kind of midget. You are aware that Foreman’s reach advantage over Louis was a humongous 3 inches LOL.
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Aside from the reach George had would really be too big for Joe. Joe was a good sized heavyweight for his time but would be more cruiserweight by George’s era.

lone star, Dec 18, 2023

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lone star Active Member Full Member

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HomicideHank said: ↑

Look it up. He said something along the lines of :'Joe Louis was a real puncher, he would have given me a shellacking'.
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George being modest?

lone star, Dec 18, 2023

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PRW94 Well-Known Member Full Member

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lone star said: ↑

Aside from the reach George had would really be too big for Joe. Joe was a good sized heavyweight for his time but would be more cruiserweight by George’s era.
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We can agree to disagree. Again I think the only heavyweight born of a woman, in any era, that I would put above Joe Louis, and I don't care if the opponent is Goliath of Gath, is Ali. (I put Foreman sixth BTW so I have the utmost respect for George.) I'm not one of these who thinks the modern pituitary cases have rendered everything that ever happened in heavyweight boxing prior to the last couple or three decades or so irrelevant. For example, I think Joe Louis would beat the ever loving merde out of Tyson Fury, I don't care how big he is. If Joe Louis and George Foreman fought 100 times, do I think George wouldn't win some? Not saying that at all. I just don't agree that it would be the slaughter you envision and that Joe would have the better batting average.

PRW94, Dec 18, 2023

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Marvelous_Iron Active Member Full Member

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Carnera had a good 2 inches and 40lbs on prime Foreman, and 85 reach vs Foreman's 79

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Last edited: Dec 18, 2023

Marvelous_Iron, Dec 18, 2023

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HomicideHank I believe in the transmigration of souls Full Member

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lone star said: ↑

Aside from the reach George had would really be too big for Joe. Joe was a good sized heavyweight for his time but would be more cruiserweight by George’s era.
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Louis liked 'em big. Stationary target = target practice.
Look at his fights with Carnera and the Baers, you'll get the idea.

HomicideHank, Dec 18, 2023

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White Bomber Boxing Addict Full Member

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InMemoryofJakeLamotta said: ↑

Foreman like Liston was a great puncher in the early going, even more so than Sonny. Foreman in his prime had the highest knockout percentage of all heavyweight champions and is grossly under-estimated by many boxing historians. Foreman's most glaring weakness was he tired badly after 5 rounds in his first career. A smart boxer who could avoid his savage blows like Gregario Peralta, Ali, and Jimmy Young could survive and have a chance to outbox him. Louis was a smart, patient fighter, but not as elusive as the above boxers. George, however, did throw wide looping punches, while Louis threw dynamite shots that often travelled only a few inches, but were fast and powerful. Louis would make George pay for his mistakes. Both men would land with serious body punches. Louis would duck, slip, block, and parry many of George's wild shots and counter with crushing blows of his own. If Ron Lyle could knock down George twice then Joe Louis could keep him down. The fight would be tense and see both men rocked by hard punches. Louis would explode with a destructive straight right with speed (that Ali proved George could be nailed with), a flurry of devasting punches would deposit a stunned Foreman on the canvas for keeps in the 5th.

https://www.oocities.org/colosseum/mound/4866/versusFrame1Source1.htm
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Foreman obliterates him in 1 round.

White Bomber, Dec 18, 2023

#27

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White Bomber Boxing Addict Full Member

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Kid Bacon said: ↑

Gotta agree.
70s Foreman was a punching machine, but Louis had the right combination of toughness, defensive skills and counterpunching power to keep George honest.
Once we are pass the 6th round George is in unknown territory and Louis has the advantage.
Louis by late stoppage or a wide decision.
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Get real. Foreman takes Louis out with the first big punch he lands. Louis had a weak chin.

White Bomber, Dec 18, 2023

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Marvelous_Iron said: ↑

Carnera had a good 2 inches and 40lbs on prime Foreman, and 85 reach vs Foreman's 79

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Carnera was a flat footed bum

White Bomber, Dec 18, 2023

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Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

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It's probably the most dangerous fight for both men.
There's a chance that Louis gets hurt early, Braddock and Galento dropped him, so George definitely could.
But George is gonna be taking wild swings at Louis, and all Joe needs is a target and boom!

Fergy, Dec 18, 2023

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