Joe Louis would beat Muhammad Ali… possibly quite badly

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Journeyman92, Jun 18, 2025 at 8:14 PM.


What’s your opinion?

  1. Louis

    17 vote(s)
    28.3%

  2. Ali

    42 vote(s)
    70.0%

  3. Draw

    1 vote(s)
    1.7%
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  1. Journeyman92

    Journeyman92 Out For Milk Full Member

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    :rolleyes: We shall see
     
    Journeyman92, Jun 19, 2025 at 5:55 PM
    Journeyman92, Jun 19, 2025 at 5:55 PM
    #46
  2. MarkusFlorez99

    MarkusFlorez99 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Ali in the late 60s is a h2h nightmare. It is just what I observed against Folley, I have already very hard time seeing Louis beat that Ali
     
    MarkusFlorez99, Jun 19, 2025 at 5:58 PM
    MarkusFlorez99, Jun 19, 2025 at 5:58 PM
    #47
    META5, ThatOne, swagdelfadeel and 1 other person like this.
  3. Journeyman92

    Journeyman92 Out For Milk Full Member

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    Yes Cooper and Doug Jones would agree - look at all the shot fighters and 2nd raters he obliterated “oooh” “aaah” you can’t have your cake and eat it, in the 60s Ali was not as good of a boxer as the 70s version - which one do you want?
     
    Journeyman92, Jun 19, 2025 at 6:06 PM
    Journeyman92, Jun 19, 2025 at 6:06 PM
    #48
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  4. Pugguy

    Pugguy Ingo, The Thinking Man’s GOAT Full Member

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    Hey Mac, all due respect but you might have to wave the white flag re Ali being able to fight off the ropes.

    I thought it best that the damning counter evidence be put forth by a friend rather than anyone else: -

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    Pugguy, Jun 19, 2025 at 6:14 PM
    Pugguy, Jun 19, 2025 at 6:14 PM
    #49
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  5. MarkusFlorez99

    MarkusFlorez99 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Lennox Lewis got KO'd by Rahman in the midts of his prime. Shi happens. Ali does everything better than Walcott and is physically superior in every way. Ali looked much better beating Cooper in the rematch 3 years later, just beat him up from round 3 onwards and the first 2 rounds were even imo
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    MarkusFlorez99, Jun 19, 2025 at 6:20 PM
    MarkusFlorez99, Jun 19, 2025 at 6:20 PM
    #50
  6. Journeyman92

    Journeyman92 Out For Milk Full Member

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    Ali did not do everything better than Walcott… actually if they were the same size I’m pretty sure Walcott would win. He did not fight inside better, did not maintain distance better, did not punch as good or use his shoulders for his defence, he got hit more, his footwork was questionable… how’d he get hit with so many left hooks somehow always circling to his left? - let’s also not mention his body punching… abysmal - Ali was a great fighter but he was in no way “better at everything” even if he would probably beat Walcott.
     
    Journeyman92, Jun 19, 2025 at 6:36 PM
    Journeyman92, Jun 19, 2025 at 6:36 PM
    #51
  7. Journeyman92

    Journeyman92 Out For Milk Full Member

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    A shot Frazier is no Joe Louis, he was a guy with a bad defence, hate and a left hook at the time. If we are talking about prime Ali why are we mentioning late 70s rope work? It’s something he developed later, which Ali are we using? The best versions right? 60s- early 70s is what I’m using.
     
    Journeyman92, Jun 19, 2025 at 6:40 PM
    Journeyman92, Jun 19, 2025 at 6:40 PM
    #52
  8. he grant

    he grant Historian/Film Maker

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    the prime Ali’s size, strength, chin, skill and speed make him a far different and difficult match up for Louis than a Pastor or a Conn or anyone else Joe ever met but anyone knowledgeable here would know that difference … Louis was a fantastic two handed fighter, very fast and power but after an average chin , slow feet were his biggest challenge. As an amateur Louis fought with a style defined by speed of foot and movement but Blackburn reprogrammed him as a shuffling puncher and it would be a very challenging match for Joe. Louis best performance, destroying Max Baer, is a rare filmed fight were we see a more mobile Louis and he was magnificent to watch.
     
    he grant, Jun 19, 2025 at 9:11 PM
    he grant, Jun 19, 2025 at 9:11 PM
    #53
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  9. Melankomas

    Melankomas Prime Jeffries would demolish a grizzly in 2 Full Member

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    When? The afterlife?
     
    Melankomas, Jun 19, 2025 at 9:29 PM
    Melankomas, Jun 19, 2025 at 9:29 PM
    #54
  10. Journeyman92

    Journeyman92 Out For Milk Full Member

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    Do you want to run this? I’ll *Forum Cartel you like Foreman’s reputation, what are we doing you wanna debate this with?
     
    Journeyman92, Jun 19, 2025 at 10:16 PM
    Journeyman92, Jun 19, 2025 at 10:16 PM
    #55
  11. Melankomas

    Melankomas Prime Jeffries would demolish a grizzly in 2 Full Member

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    Sullivan beats em all so idc really
     
    Melankomas, Jun 19, 2025 at 10:32 PM
    Melankomas, Jun 19, 2025 at 10:32 PM
    #56
    Journeyman92 likes this.
  12. Melankomas

    Melankomas Prime Jeffries would demolish a grizzly in 2 Full Member

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    If he’s fighting the same aging Louis that Walcott fought….and that version of Louis would probably be 60s Ali’s best opponent!
     
    Melankomas, Jun 19, 2025 at 10:35 PM
    Melankomas, Jun 19, 2025 at 10:35 PM
    #57
  13. Journeyman92

    Journeyman92 Out For Milk Full Member

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    That’s what I thought nerd
     
    Journeyman92, Jun 19, 2025 at 10:41 PM
    Journeyman92, Jun 19, 2025 at 10:41 PM
    #58
  14. ETM

    ETM I thought I did enough to win. Full Member

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    I don't see how Louis would get him to the ropes. Remember Frazier cut the ring like PacMan, zeroing in on Ali's body. So much pressure even the rounds Ali won he expended so much energy he would eventually go to the ropes where Frazier worked him over.

    Joe Louis is gonna stalk Ali giving Ali the time and room to dance on his head. Ali would fight Louis similar to the way he fought Liston. Joe may go the distance or Ali may bust him up and stop him.

    Louis's best chance would be a scenario in which Ali is dominating him and gets too cocky. Joe could possibly time him with a right hand and get back in the fight. Its a tall order for the Brown Bomber.
     
    ETM, Jun 19, 2025 at 11:09 PM
    ETM, Jun 19, 2025 at 11:09 PM
    #59
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  15. ETM

    ETM I thought I did enough to win. Full Member

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    Ken Norton was a Marine though.
     
    ETM, Jun 19, 2025 at 11:14 PM
    ETM, Jun 19, 2025 at 11:14 PM
    #60
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