Oleksandr Usyk vs. Joe Louis

This. Usyk wins the fight very comfortably

 

Galento probably had 15-20lbs on Usyk, and Usyk has never scored a knockout after downing 50 hotdogs and some beers, there are levels

 

Usyk is very good on defence but he certainly isn’t unhittable - moving from that platform he has also displayed a very good chin.

But then Louis cracked some very solid chins, some that were never cracked before or since.

The Louis vs Conn fight “card” is almost always played reflexively and by default whether it fits the fantasy match in question or not.

For one thing, Joe certainly wasn’t at his best for the Conn fight and for another, Usyk presents as a considerably bigger target for Louis.

For all the weight some people put on Louis’ alleged deficiencies upheld in the Conn fight, the successes and longevity of Louis’ career otherwise doesn’t reconcile with that one fight analysis.

Also Louis obviously had a far better ring IQ than hard punching Joshua - the latter figuring out much too late that a successful body attack is certainly achievable and very effective against Oleksandr.

Louis knew how and when to go to both the head and the body - to devastating effect.

Sure, Usyk might give Joe just as much trouble as Usyk would likely give any other fighter on average but the Bomber was far from average - I’ll take Louis for the win here.

 

I was on the fence but I think you've swayed me towards Louis now.

 

What areas would you highlight that Crawford would have over a SRR Joey due to evolution? Bivol over Ezzard Charles? Haney over Duran?Moloney over Jofre?

 

Usyk would outbox Louis for a comfortable decision by the judges, his speed and Ring IQ would be too much for him even though Louis was ahead of his time, Usyk is simply too schooled and it would be too much of an obstacle for Louis to overcome.

 

Usyk is not a big puncher, I would not be overly worried. yeah if you want to count cruiser, but the guys he beat there were not exactly great, mostly little known Russian. I think Usyk has greats skills, yet his resume is not yet that great in my opinion. But it may still happen, he needs a few strong wins at heavy

 

I agree with you, which is why I give him a UD over Joe, not a ko. I'd like him to gain a couple more big wins at HW, but it looks as though Fury is literally running from him. He's already beaten AJ twice, who else out there is someone who would look great on his resume? Wilder, I guess, as a former champ. All the others...Hrgovic, Big Bang, Ruiz, etc...are non entities IMO. Like Crawford, there are no Haglers or Ali or Durans or Foremans out there that would make a historical matchup for him.

 

but even a couple wins against fomer champs like Ruiz and Wilder would still enhance is legacy IMO. as would the Fury fight, even if Usyk loses and looks great in defeat, it would add to his resume.

in any case, Usyk is one hell of a fighter who I would never count out even against a Joe Louis. But at this point I have to go with Louis based on his resume

 

In a 15 round fight with 8oz gloves I can't find a way on how Usyk would win. Joe Louis didn't have the best of chins but Usyk throws a lot of pawing and arm punches, don't see how that's gonna be effective against Louis in 15. If Louis also has the ability to look at 4k fight footage of Usyk and take modern nutrients/peds that's an even worse outcome for Usyk.

 

No doubt it changed some, albeit not mine.

I have always said that Usyk is as clever as any man his size that I have ever seen, so I guess that my own propaganda is catching up with me.

 

Easy win for Usyk would look pretty similar to the Gassiev fight. Joe just too slow and immobile to deal with someone like Usyk

 

This seems like a good point for a timely reminder.

Yes Usyk is rightly very highly regarded right now, but he is still a fighter, and all fighters have weaknesses.

After the Chisora fight, few people saw him as a serious threat to Joshua, and I was one of the few.

Yes his record at cruiserweight was incredible, but not every fight was a walkover for him.

If Usyk retires tomorrow, he is undoubtedly great, but he is no Joe Louis.

 

Louis - and he would make it look surprisingly easy.