How high do you rate the Brown Bomber H2H? I'm not incredibly impressed by what I've seen of him, his defence isn't great and he could be outboxed. His power and speed are an equaliser in most fights though. I'd only really take a handful of slick boxers to beat him. How do you guys feel about him?
With the right fight plan he could potentialy beat anybody, because the tools are all there. Against the verry best of all time, it basicaly comes down to who brings the best fight plan to the party.
The only one I'd definitely favor over peak Louis is peak Ali, and that goes for any other top 10 heavyweight. I think I'd back Holmes & Lewis to get it done as well, and Tyson's a 50/50. Overall, I'd say he comfortably fits in the top 5 best Heavyweights H2H. The man perfected his style.
Oh ye of little faith...no one since the Brown Bomber's hayday beats the greatest combination puncher who ever lived...No one !
I would agree with this except I'd give Holmes and Lewis equal chances as Ali. I would be comfortable picking all 3 over Louis. I'm quite comfortable picking Louis over Frazier, Foreman, and Holyfield. I could fall on either side with Liston, Marciano, Dempsey, and Tyson.
From what I've seen of him I'd favour Ali and Holmes, his power is the only thing holding me back from favouring more
Louis is in that rarefied echelon where he can't be counted out of any match-up. He has speed and power in spades, and remains the greatest finisher the division has ever witnessed... and it's not even that close. Beating a prime Louis requires walking a very narrow tight rope where one tremor or moment of inattention means you enter the great abyss.
A simple refresher... [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sv1ph-Ecf0[/ame] errr.. how come it's so hard to link vids?
i agree but a prime ali would always give him fits imo. ali is the bigger, faster fighter who takes a great punch. i think holyfield gives him trouble as well because he could take an incredible punch and was a very underrated boxer.
Good points, but Ali never got hit by a better finisher than Louis. Shavers stung him but didn't know how to follow up. Louis almost always CLOSED THE DEAL. There is only second place in the division in regards to closing and it probably goes to Lewis.
i agree with you about being louis being the greatest finisher ever. like you said, it's not really close. with that said, ali took on bigger men who were murderous punchers. frazier, foreman, liston, shavers, lyle, etc. how those guys compare in punching power to louis is up for debate but i don't think anyone in history can afford to sit there and take power shot after power shot from louis.
That's a good point that's been brought up about the finishing aspect of Louis' game... Makes me think about when Frazier had Ali hurt and reeling in the 11th... Even the 9th, for that matter. If that was Louis instead of Frazier that was in the ring, it wouldn't have gone to a decision. Guaranteed.
I would love to see Louis clash with a peak Tyson. Joe Louis was one of the best of all time but I think Tyson would hurt him. Tyson would slip that jab, get inside and blast Louis with a right hook to the kidney followed by a thunderous right uppercut. Game over. Lennox Lewis? Joe would have troubles getting inside of Lewis' jab. The big uppercut of Lewis is more than a threat. I could see Louis knocking out Lewis but Lewis would present some monster problems for Louis to overcome.