Can Joe Louis realistically beat 1999 Lennox Lewis, '88 Mike Tyson and 67 Ali

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by MarkusFlorez99, Oct 14, 2025.


?

This poll will close on Jul 10, 2028 at 10:51 PM.
  1. Yes his technical prowess and power would be a problem for anyone

    16.7%
  2. No he loses to all of them

    83.3%
  1. MarkusFlorez99

    MarkusFlorez99 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    15,140
    17,139
    Jan 13, 2021
    How does Joe Louis fair against these future champions ?
     
  2. Melankomas

    Melankomas Prime Jeffries would demolish a grizzly in 2 Full Member

    7,139
    8,820
    Dec 18, 2022
    He’d be a very live dog but those are arguably the 3 worst matchups possible for him
     
    Fergy likes this.
  3. BCS8

    BCS8 VIP Member

    61,007
    81,473
    Aug 21, 2012
    He'd have a nightmare time imho, unless he gets to choose Levi Billups version Lewis, Jake Paul version Tyson and Berbick version Ali. In that case he might sweep 3-0.
     
    Fergy likes this.
  4. Steve Fero

    Steve Fero Member Full Member

    349
    270
    Dec 17, 2019
    P2P Louis loses badly to all 3. He has a punchers chance of course but not a good one.
    Might do the best with Ali cause he had the least power of the 3. Ali would trash him and stop him late. Tyson would be explosive and maybe end the quickest. Louis could do damage but Tyson would be like a 47 Walcott on steroids. Against prime Lewis it would be almost impossible. Much too big when combined with him also being a very good fighter.
     
  5. Ice8Cold

    Ice8Cold The Hype Job Spotter. Full Member

    2,989
    4,581
    Jan 1, 2024
    He'd be badly outboxed by all of them like the first Schmeling fight.

    Joe Louis would have to go all out and go straight in for the KO.
     
  6. Steve Fero

    Steve Fero Member Full Member

    349
    270
    Dec 17, 2019
    Agreed he’d have to make the greatest effort of his career to be beat any of them. With the kind of devil may care aggressiveness he’d leave himself open for blockbuster punches by Lewis and Tyson. For Ali it would be the counter right cross over the jab which is what Scmelimg meant when he famously said ‘I sees something’ and led to his victory. Ali was a master at that. See Zora Folley and George Foreman fights. It’s super stinging and has a cumulative impact.
     
    Ice8Cold likes this.
  7. Fergy

    Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

    29,893
    36,692
    Jan 8, 2017
    Oh man, those three are terrible matchups for the Bomber.
    Tyson and Lewis could actually KO him early .