POLL: Which fighters would you favor over Joe Louis?

I picked Ali, Tyson and Foreman.
Ali can beat him on points. I think good boxers who can punch a bit have more tools than punchers who can box a bit and Ali had a good chin. Joe was primarily a puncher. In a three fight series, I'd favor Ali 2-1.

Mike and George might KO him. Joe still has a good chance in those matches though.

Holmes, Lewis and Wlad have a good to even chance, 50-50. Larry's a good boxer, LL and Wlad are big tall boxer-punchers.

I'd favour Joe over Jack, Rocky and Vitali.

 

I never heard ot this before. He was brain damaged already back then? Can you elaborate? (not that I'm doubting you, just interested as a part of Louis's and boxing's history)

 

https://www.boxingforum24.com/threads/joes-reflexes-for-the-first-walcott-fight.605873/

 

Everyone except Dempsey, Marciano. Very few on that list have the offensive skill level Louis possed. Actually only prime Tyson to be honest .But Louis's chin is a big question mark against most of the fighters mentioned. I can't get past Louis being dropped by multiple fighters in his career, and rocked by light punching, and natural light heavy Conn . Louis's foot speed, and defense wasn't that exceptional either. Louis defeats all heavyweight champs from 1900's until the 1960's after say 1961 through the 2000's he'd have a extremely difficult time with almost every champ with the exception of the Spinks brothers, and some of the alphabet champs of the 80's . And Fighters like R.Jones, Ruiz, the type that shouldn't have been able to win a championship, but somehow they did.

 

I don’t think Frazier made it on the list.

 

The answer is..... in a three bout series....nobody except maybe dempsey

 

Good call.

 

No, I think It's maybe close to 50-50, but I'd favour Louis.

 

His defense was fine. He could do it all excellently : slip, block, parry, side step.
He was a great all-round boxer and his chin was pretty good.

It's remarkable how skewed the perceptions of Joe Louis have become.

 

I'd take Foreman and Tyson to beat him up more than Dempsey

 

I went with Ali. I reckon his movement is enough to give him an edge on points.

I don't favour anyone else over him but think stylistically Lewis, Foreman and Tyson pose legitimate threats. In saying that Louis is still one of the best p4p punchers I've seen on film. His punch technique is the best I've seen at the weight. Compact, fast, accurate and devastating. Imagine how good he'd look filmed in HD colour, with close ups and multiple camera angles? Wow!

 

Ali is the only one I'd favor somewhat confidently, and Tyson maybe 50-50. That said, I think everyone on this list has a realistic outside chance.

 

Marciano destroyed him in their actual fight.

People are really reaching for Louis on this thread.

 

Context is king, Louis was not remotely close to his prime at that point, was seventeen years into his career. To count that fight as an indication of what a prime healthy, undamaged Louis would do against Marciano is absurdity.

 

How so though, and this is what I'm really trying to get at. Louis' movement wasn't good or even fine (as you referenced his defense, which I would label as adequate but not good). So how do you envision Louis moving around the ring against a prime Ali who's on his toes? That vision doesn't seem to play out well in my mind for Louis. Louis isn't KOing Ali, and I just dont' see him landing more than Ali to take a decision. What does your picture look like?