How Joe Louis rated his opponents

That was a great article.

Some interesting bits:

• Louis said Carnera could be champion in 1964. The reason i find this interesting because this is a recurring theme in history. The current bunch is never really thought of that highly, and champions of 10-40 years ago would "always be champion today".
  
  
• He thinks Patterson is a gentleman, but not mean enough nor taking a punch well enough to be a great fighter.
  
  
• He considers Liston the best heavyweight around at that time. Note that this was after Clay embarrassed Liston for the first time, but before the second time. Louis covered that fight live from ringside, by the way.
  

 

Maybe he meant Liston would have taken a dive against Primo.

 

I can well believe it.

Braddock would not have been phased by any fighter in history, Sullivan, Dempsey, Louis (obviously), Liston, Foreman, Tyson.

Neither would Billy Conn.

 

In a friendly sparring session (one I'm sure you're well aware of), Conn drew blood on a wide open Max Baer, who stifled a curse and tried to tear young Billy's head off. When King Levinski tried to sucker punch and then provoke Maxie to "C'mon 'n fight!" during their exhibition, he nearly got killed. (Sometimes overlooked is the fact that Baer clobbered him with left hooks to do the job. The man had some serious two handed power.) Conn lived to tell about it.

Tunney, Greb and Loughran have also been described as genuinely fearless.

 

Louis raved about Rocky's power saying he hit harder than Schmeling. AS far as the list and how it was intended, I have no idea. Such high ratings of men he destroyed is a bit strange ..leaving Rocky out, very sketchy if you ask me ...

 

It suggests to me that he was able to pick up on openings and opportunities he felt he might have been able to capitalize on during his prime years. Louis did have some early success against Rocky, as diminished as he was. It has even been suggested that boxing history might have changed that night if his jab hadn't been hampered by that hideous tumor on his left shoulder which had plagued him throughout his comeback. (That growth is too often ignored when considering his post title career. I think it's astounding he was as successful despite it as he was.)

As far as highly rating men he destroyed, it should also be mentioned that his 1951 rankings included everybody who went the 15 round distance with him, and that Pastor was the first man to get through ten rounds with him twice.

Carnera is the only name that doesn't quite seem to fit here. During their match, Joe was unusually demonstrative with Primo at the conclusion of each round of action, gesturing with an affectionate pat of camaraderie on Carnera's back or shoulder as they turned to their respective corners. Primo made friends easily, and he probably helped Louis get into wrestling after Joe had fallen on hard times. In retirement, I get the sense that Baer, Galento, Carnera and prominent others of the 1930s probably formed a pretty tight knit fraternity. Rocky was more of a later generation. Where boxing ability was concerned, I suspect Louis categorized Marciano more with Galento (horrors!:scaredas than Max Baer.

 

I don't understand Baer being rated so high.

 

Probably on the basis of Max's combination of size, chin, punching power and stamina. Yes, it is somewhat baffling, but Joe never wavered in giving Max his second place on those listings.

 

I watched the Carnera Louis fight today just for the hell of it.

Carnera was a very good boxer. Contrary to his size, he fought a very slick style. In his bout with Louis, Primo's jab was his choice of weapon. With his lengthy reach, he would try throughout the whole fight to keep himself and Joe distanced. If he happened to get close with Joe, he would throw shots of his own in, believing in his power. However Louis won most of those battles.

If you want to know how Louis would have taken down the Klit brothers, check out that fight. Joe's plan to attack fighting such a hard to reach man, was to counter Primos measuring jabs, take a big step in simultaneously, and throw a long straight jab or right. When he found Primo slipping up on his job to measure distance, Louis would make him pay by leading with the hook. If you watch, you will notice Louis really had to reach Primo in his punches, but he was successful at connecting many times.


Primo was a game fighter, it took 6 rounds for Louis to chip away at his defense. I think the Klit bros personally are better than Carnera, however I think Primo would have been a plateful for any fighter in any era.

 

Horrible picks by Louis. Walcott, Schemling, and Charles are way too low. And no Marciano on the 1964 list?

Louis seems to think Braddock, and Farr were better than HOF heavies in Walcott, Schmeling, Charles and Marciano. This is utter BS.

 

I think I do.

Although Louis's destruction of Baer might look easy to us watching, he would have been acutely aware of Baers power and ability to absorb punishment.

This is the kind of oponent that a fighter always dreads taking on psychologicaly, even if he is well suited to it stylisticaly, and Louis was probably glad it ended as quickly as it did.

 

Contrary to what many believe he actually said there power was different after the fight he said Tyson was the sharper puncher and The Acorn was the Harder puncher.

 

The way he destroyed Baer and Carnera im surprised he has them so high.