It seems that the kryptonite for powerful, lethal punchers often are that they are prone to frustration when the other fighter make them ineffectual. Liston, Tyson, (young) Foreman, Duran and perhaps Dempsey could be used as examples here. But this didn't seem to be the case with Louis. Against for example Conn and Walcott he kept his cool until the opportunity presented itself and then he took it. Which other fighters had this quality do you think?
Nah. Louis was being out boxed and beaten on. It was unnecessary bravado from Conn and Walcott that cost them. Louis did not tactically change things to change the tides. These guys line right up in his big guns cross hairs.
Exactly, Conn got carried away and tried to trade punches with Joe... never a good idea! Louis was a very patient fighter, though - perhaps overly conservative, which led to him getting beat on some occasions when he could have just ran the guy over (Schmelling).
Well, okay. But Louis never became flustered or got wild or reckless, even when things got quite desperate. His ability to keep calm and collected at all times was quite astounding. But I do agree with the post above that sometimes he could be a little too studious.
That is not entirely fair. Firstly it is debatable to what extent it was bravado and to what extent it was their luck giving out. Secondly Louis in both cases was given a split second oportunity and took the oportunity when he was given it. Liston, Foreman or Tyson might well have come unraveled one way or another by then in either case.
It was the quick stutter-step forward before landing that crushing right hand that made the difference.
The "Conn got optimistic and started to trade" story has begun getting its own life and seems to grow day by day. On ESB anyway. :yep The way i see it, Louis started closing the gap better and better the further the rounds went. While Conn was ahead, it's not like it was a shutout. 7-5 in rounds something. You can't run for the entire 15. Louis was crashing right hands home in the 12th already, and there was nothing Conn could do about it.
Conns effort was magnificent and should not be overlooked. Some things have to be said in Louis's defence however. 1. Louis could still have won the fight on the cards if he took the last two rounds (not implausible given how things were going) 2. Louis also had a chance to finish Conn in the 10th when Conn slipped and Louis backed off and let him get up. 3. Louis backed Conn against the ropes before he got "overconfidant". 4. It says a lot in a fighters favour if his critics have to focus on a fight that he won to denigrate him. That would not be necisary for a few great fighters.
Felix Trinidad Diego Corralles Bob Foster Azumah Nelson all very cool heads.Total confidence that they would get their man eventually
Some fighters that were unflappable: Salvador Sanchez Jose Luis Ramirez Alexis Arguello Carlos Monzon Eder Jofre Emile Griffith Ricardo Lopez Zab Judah