Joe Louis wouldn’t be out of the top 3 in any era

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Melankomas, Sep 12, 2025 at 12:49 PM.


Thoughts?

  1. I agree

    18 vote(s)
    81.8%
  2. I disagree but he’d still be at the top level

    2 vote(s)
    9.1%
  3. I disagree and think he would be nowhere near the top level in some eras

    2 vote(s)
    9.1%
  1. Melankomas

    Melankomas Prime Jeffries would demolish a grizzly in 2 Full Member

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    At heavyweight. Do you agree and if you don’t, what eras would he be out of the top 3 in?
     
  2. Mandela2039

    Mandela2039 Philippians 2:10-11 Full Member

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  3. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    I agree he’d be a top 3 guy in any era. I’m 50/50 on weather or not he’d dominate them all.
     
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  4. DJN16

    DJN16 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Oh well maybe. I'd say he is still the tidiest most perfect puncher of all heavyweights.

    Boxers from years after his time came along with better footwork and of course the real super heavies came along.

    Historically and P4P among heavies he is top 3 without doubt.
     
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  5. OddR

    OddR Well-Known Member Full Member

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    It's hard to compare across era's so who knows.
     
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  6. HistoryZero26

    HistoryZero26 Boxing Addict Full Member

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  7. themaster458

    themaster458 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Probably but I think any ATG HW at their best would be top 3 in any era
     
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  8. slash

    slash Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Him and Ali both.

    But that is a good question.
     
  9. Mike Cannon

    Mike Cannon Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Hi slash.
    With you, in fact I only see 2 in any era, Ali and Louis, really cannot see a reasonable case for it not being thus, I am an Ali advocate for No 1 but I get the fans who see Louis as such, then Johnson, Dempsey, Marciano, Foreman, Lewis, Holmes, in any order you like.
    stay safe buddy, chat soon.
    Mike.
     
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  10. USFBulls727

    USFBulls727 Active Member Full Member

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    So beating the likes of Conn, Mauriello, Simon, Schmeling, Max & Buddy, Nova, Pastor, Galento, and Farr translates into similar success against the likes of Lewis, Wlad & Vitali, Tua, Tyson, Holyfield, Bowe, Ruddock, Mercer, Byrd, Moorer, Foreman, Ibeabuchi? How confident are we of that exactly, and why? Galento's left hand momentarily had JL on skates. What do you suppose would happen if the bigger, faster, more athletic Ruddock's left hand gets home? What happens when Lewis or Wlad blasts him with a right hand? I don't see Joe's chin holding up as well vs. some of the 90s punchers.

    We'll never know the answer of course, but Louis surely would have had a far more difficult schedule in the 90s, and I see that as highly questionable that he would be a top 3 guy in that era. Definitely not ahead of Lewis IMO.
     
    Last edited: Sep 12, 2025 at 6:20 PM
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  11. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    Absolutely, and that is being conservative.

    Like saying that Usyk wouldn't be out of the top three today.
     
  12. White Bomber

    White Bomber Boxing Addict Full Member

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  13. HistoryZero26

    HistoryZero26 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    By definition only 3 HWs can be top 3 in any era. Number 4 can be best in most eras.
     
    Last edited: Sep 12, 2025 at 8:49 PM
  14. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

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    If he was born and raised in that era, absolutely. The cream rises to the top.
     
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  15. InMemoryofJakeLamotta

    InMemoryofJakeLamotta I have defeated the great Seamus Full Member

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    Remember when you said that Mike Tyson wouldn't crack the top 20 in the 1920s? You said even Mike Tyson circa 1988 would be lucky to beat Luis Firpo in 1923.
     
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