Joe Louis Top 5 Best Wins

If style points count as well as significance of fight...

Schmeling
Baer
Walcott II
Conn 1
Braddock

 

1. Schmeling
2. Conn-1
3. Walcott-1
4. Walcott-2
5. Braddock - Just because it was the title winner.

 

5. Max Baer
4. James Braddock
3. Billy Conn 1
2. Max Schmeling 2
1. Jersey Joe Walcott 2

My "criteria" is a vague mix of quality of opponent and historical context. My reasoning for having Walcott 2 over Schmeling 2 is this: 1948 Walcott impresses me more than 1938 Schmeling, Louis was past prime for the Walcott fight but prime for Schmeling, and the Walcott fight was the last fight of Louis' title run, setting the record that hasn't been broken yet.

 

Walcott II
Schmeling II
Conn 1
Max Baer
Bob Pastor

I go with Walcott because he was to go on to become champion. Schmeling had been champion years earlier.

I take Pastor in the #5 spot because I think he was better than Braddock.

 

The clear no. 1 for me is the Walcott rematch. Walcott was at his long-awaited & very formidable peak, while Louis was half the fighter he’d been ten years earlier. That’s big. The Schmeling rematch is him at his absolute best, but it’s kind of like comparing Ali’s wins vs Williams & Foreman. The better version of the fighter doesn’t necessarily make their win the most impressive.

After Walcott II, I would have one order or another of Schmeling, Pastor, Conn II & Baer.

 

He was past his best, being fair. However, it’s not as if he was a shot fighter, & given the fights magnitude, doubtless he came in well-prepared. Louis made him look worse than he was, but yes his best days were behind him.

 

Best 5 opponents or best 5 performances.

If its opponents its probably Baer bros, Braddock,Schmeling and Conn.

 

He wasn't past it. He had only 1 pre war fight after Louis II and he destroyed Hueser in 1 round. Before the 2nd Louis fight he was on 7 fight win streak and was considered the HW champ by many people.

 

Can’t see the Baer bros & Braddock above prime Walcott, myself.

 

I rate Braddock higher and Walcott lower than most people do.

 

It's quite tricky to say.

His previous two wins and his next win are good enough, but the gap between him and the opponent could have concealed a bit of slippage.

 

In chronological order, and factoring in the stage of Louis's career:

Carnera
Baer
Schmeling II
Conn I
Walcott II

 

The same can be said about their first fight in reverse, Louis was green, so basically none beat none in their primes.