Francesco Damiani has a great chance at beating Joe Louis. He was a big modern heavyweight with good punching power and better boxing skills than Billy Conn. Francesco learned and trained at the world's famous Bachino's Italian eatery in Milan, under the instrction of legendary trainer Lance Perotti.
Damiani put in a really solid effort against a prime Ray Mercer before getting stopped by an uppercut which broke his nose in early 1991. The guy was fluid and could really box. His power and conditioning were not top-notch which probably kept him from rising all the way to the top. I think the big Italian's considerable skills could trouble Louis for awhile but the Brown Bomber would eventually close the gap. When this happens around the 8th round or so its bye bye Damiani. Louis KO 8 Damiani
Damiani probably wins a split decision. He was outpointing Mercer until a fluke nose injury. Clearly an all-time great in the making.
Louis couldn't really face a modern heavyweight like this. ...Aaaaas PowerPuncher might point out, the modern training methods and scientific nutritional advancements would be too much to overcome. But, hell, even if Louis had all those advancements, Damiani destroys him inside the first round distance. This much isn't even debatable.
After getting nearly KTFO in the 1st, Damiani uses his superior boxing ability and foot speed to school Joe for the next ten rounds... until he reaches the 12th where Louis grazes him with a half assed uppercut and Damiani goes down for a 10 count. Then Joe Louis goes on to meet an old and fat Larry Holmes and gets schooled.
I think in the Louis - Damiani fight, Damiani goes down for the 10 count after 2 minutes of the first round from a punch nobody sees. Louis leaves the ring with shouts of fix ringing in his ears. Louis asks for a rematch to clear this thing up. In the rematch, Damiani goes down in 1 minute of round 1, from a punch every one sees...mmm...except Damiani, that is. Sadly, nobody yells for a Louis - Damiani 3. Oh what might have been if this had been a trilogy!
You're worse than redrooster with Ray Leonard. Why can't you just admit that Damiani is a top 5 HW all-time?
No, he didn't. No bigger than other fighters Louis stomped. When did he show that? When did he show that? That couldn't stop his nose from getting smashed in every time he fought a big puncher.