If Joe Louis Fought In The Modern Era..?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Fergy, Nov 22, 2025 at 2:07 AM.


  1. Fergy

    Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

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    Yes, add 20 pounds or so of functional strength and updated defensive drilling and Joe is a formidable match up for modern fighters.
     
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  2. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    Yeah I thought about that too. But I’m wondering if Usyk’s boxing style is better suited for outmoving and outpointing dudes are six inches taller and 50-60 lbs heavier. I mean Louis certainly flattened a lot of giants with his inside combinations but super heavies today are somewhat of a different breed
     
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  3. greynotsoold

    greynotsoold Boxing Addict

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    The biggest problem he would have is not having Jack Blackburn to train him. With modern training he would not be nearly the same fighter because what trainer today is on the level of Jack Blackburn? If you put him in this era with Blackburn teaching him, he wins whatever he wants to win.
    Otherwise, he's just another squared up, muscle bound weight bully that never really learns how to fight.
     
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  4. AntonioMartin1

    AntonioMartin1 Jeanette Full Member

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    You know, Usik I just thought about. He would probably beat Usik but Usik can land a good one and Louis would be in trouble. I havent seen anything in Usik that tells me he beats the all time greats of the past yet, unlike some here in this forum. Louis definitly beats Daniel Dubois and then goes out with Dubois' slightly pretty (but still..pretty!) sister.

    Louis will probably lose to Fury, Joshua and Wilder because of their size. I know Usik beat Joshua and Fury but this is boxing , and styles make fights!!

    Holyfield last fought like 20 years ago, Im not sure he is still modern era unless you are like me and call the modern era the time when tv went to color to now lol.. I see Holy possibly beating Louis, for sure, because of the size and Holy's underrated power and pressuring.
     
  5. Levook

    Levook Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Joe Louis knocks them both out. And anybody else around today.
     
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  6. HistoryZero26

    HistoryZero26 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    We know for a fact that Louis's power was automatic against 250 pounders.

    This era HW has had guys who can hit as hard as anyone whose ever lived. It has not had someone who can hurt fighters automatically at the top level. Today if someone has real power it means its compensating for something and they would not have gotten to the top level of boxing without it. With Louis this isn't the case.

    Louis would be a small HW but in the modern day but he'd fit into the "Bridger" category more than "Cruisers". Most guys from that era in the modern day would be 10 pounds heavier just because of the norms of this era.
     
  7. Barrf

    Barrf Boxing Addict Full Member

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    He'd demolish the CW division.
     
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  8. InMemoryofJakeLamotta

    InMemoryofJakeLamotta I have defeated the great Seamus Full Member

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    Louis wins if he's 195. He was 197 vs Carnera
     
  9. InMemoryofJakeLamotta

    InMemoryofJakeLamotta I have defeated the great Seamus Full Member

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    And the heavyweight division
     
  10. dmt

    dmt Hardest hitting hw ever Full Member

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    He was 207 vs Budy Baer at 28 years old. IMO he would only need 10-12 lbs more. Even 225 would be too heavy and he would start to lose speed. 215-220 lbs is the nice sweet spot.
     
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  11. SwarmingSlugger

    SwarmingSlugger Active Member Full Member

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    Joe Louis would still dominate he destroyed giants even in his own time, he was the perfect heavyweight.
     
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  12. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    I agree that it is very questionable whether Holyfield could be called modern, but he was champion very firmly in the era of big heavyweights.

    He is therefore often used as a template of what could work today.
     
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  13. LWW

    LWW Member Full Member

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    If Joe had access to modern sports science , nutrition there is no reason why he couldn't be ultra competitive in modern era.
     
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  14. Steve Fero

    Steve Fero Member Full Member

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    No way to predict your just making Louis into what you want him to be. Take Louis of 2nd Simon fight vs prime Tyson or Evander and who wins. This stuff about what if Louis used modern training techniques he would be this heavy and this strong is bs. There is no way to know what would happen and how did Tyson train modern? He was trained by a 1950s trainer. Maybe he could have trained more modern he d have been even better. Or maybe modern training wouldn’t agree with Louis maybe like modern pitchers and football players he would be tearing tendons and ligaments. No this is impossible to predict all you can do is pick a fight for the version of each fighter and say what you think would happen.
     
  15. Reinhardt

    Reinhardt Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    The only scenario I can see Louis losing to those 3 chumps is if it's the 38 year old version that Rocky beat.
     
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