I thought I'd make a gauntlet of Joe Louis fighting ATG fighters that came before him, I thought it'd be interesting since there's a lot of potential matchups here. Here's the gauntlet: Level 1: Sam McVey Level 2: Joe Jeanette Level 3: Jimmy Slattery Level 4: Maxie Rosenbloom Level 5: Harry Wills Level 6: Tommy Loughran Level 7: Gene Tunney Level 8: Sam Langford Level 9: Jack Johnson Level 10:: Jack Dempsey How does Louis do? Do you think he gets stopped at some point, or that he clears the gauntlet?
If it was peak Louis for each 10, smart money is on him going unbeaten, imo. If its the peak versions of all 10, whilst Louis ages, then it depends at what point the McVey fight is and over what period of time the other 9 fights follow.
I don't know whether he clears the gauntlet, because that is going to be a tough ask for anybody. However I think that he was very plausibly the best heavyweight who had ever lived, while he was active.
Here's my thoughts: Level 1: Sam McVey (I feel like McVey is tailor made for Louis stylistically. so Louis KO5) Level 2: Joe Jeanette (Jeanette is a slicker version of McVey with better defense and a granite chin, I think Louis win though. Louis TKO12) Level 3: Jimmy Slattery (I think Slats, like Conn, would trouble Louis with his movement and jab. Slattery was one of the quickest and most athletic movers of the 20s, and I think it would bother Louis until Slats gets caught and stopped. Louis KO10) Level 4: Maxie Rosenbloom (Same thing with Slats but I think Maxie poses a bigger threat, so Louis decision) Level 5: Harry Wills (Wills is tough, but he's a sitting duck for Louis' shots. Louis TKO7) Level 6: Tommy Loughran (Loughran is the most difficult prediction for me to say here, because I think he's one of the toughest matchups for Louis here on paper. His jab and movement is superb, as well as his defense. However, Loughran also lost to Carnera and Sharkey at heavyweight. I'll take Louis by decision, possibly majority or split) Level 7: Gene Tunney (Louis might stop here, Tunney is the probably the smartest fighter on here when it comes to pure fight IQ, and I think he would take command of most of the fight. Whether or not Louis can catch him is a different question, however even if he did I think there's a good chance Gene would recover and take back control. Whoever wins, it's probably a split decision) Level 8: Sam Langford (I think that this would be the most grueling fight here for Louis, mainly because of how much of a beast Langford was. I see this being a very competitive fight, but I think Louis will eventually stop Langford. However, over 3 I would expect Sam to take one. Louis KO14) Level 9: Jack Johnson (Johnson, although being effective defensively, wouldn't be able to compete with Louis when it comes to punching or trading. Louis wins a comfortable decision) Level 10:: Jack Dempsey (Louis would win a very hard fought but quick fight, where he will definitely taste the canvas atleast once or twice. Louis TKO8)
Plausible. Also we aren't entirely clear how good Sullivan, Jeffries or to a lesser extent Johnson were.
Johnson floored Jeannette multiple times,so how granite was his chin? Langford has to be seen as a live underdog,but he was vulnerable to top drawer jabbers. I don't see Louis getting McVey out of there early, nobody managed that. Tunney has a real shot at outpointing Louis,imo. Johnson smothers Louis' attacks and takes a decision Dempsey takes out Louis inside 4rds, Louis beats everyone else.
Should've worded it better, yes Jeanette went down a lot but he always got up. I think this would be the case against Louis as well
I can only say I doubt if Joe beats them all, one after another. That's a hard list for anyone to go through without picking up a loss. I do believe Joe could avenge the loss with a rematch, whoever it is that gives him that loss.
IMO, a stand alone, respawned peak Louis beats them all. BUT, Dempsey presents as the most live dog, and very dangerous for Joe in the early rounds say 1-4 but still not to be sneezed at for several rounds thereafter. Of the list of challengers, suffice to say that Louis vs Dempsey would be my pick as the best dream match by far.
Hi Buddy. Very good call on Tunney, didn't cross my mind until I saw your post, but yea, he has the resilience, boxing brain, and chin, to maybe thwart Louis as Conn did for 12 rounds, around these later rounds would be more hazardous for Gene, the Bomber would be told by Blackburn that he was trailing on the scorecards, and to close the space, and shorten the punches, in the hope that Gene gets carless, but I agree its by no means a certain for Louis. stay safe buddy.
Well...Sam McVea would press him like no one did when Louis was in his prime or even in his entire career, including Marciano by the end of it. Can't say he would beat Louis but the first rounds would be absolutely extraordinary and for me - and based on styles - he clearly would have a 50/50 chance against Louis. One the best fights ever! Joe Jeanette would get outboxed by Louis but I can see Jeanette on top of Louis getting hit, dropped, back up and fighting him inside. Another crazy fight but based on styles, I'll favor Louis by late stoppage or decision. Jimmy Slattery would also start fast using his jab like a piston. I think Louis would give those first rounds away and KO him in the mid-later rounds once Jimmy had to fight in the backfoot. Maxie would make Louis to hit nothing but air for half the fight but once he got him, that's it. Got Louis in this one by a late KO or by a very close decision. That said, Maxie would give quite a performance. Harry Wills would give Louis Hell before the bell. Can see a few knockdowns going either way but finishing in a decision for Louis. Crazy fight all things considered. Tommy would battle Louis for 15 rounds like a warrior from another World. Can't see any of the guys knocking the other out but I can see Louis winning by decision. Gene Tunney movement, jab and straight right would be a nightmare for Louis like Jersey Joe was. 50/50 fight for me. Sam Langford would be tougher than McVey and Tunney. Sam would pressure Louis with no break during the entire fight and not only till the mid rounds. He would do it for the entire fight, in all rounds and without a second of relaxation and with a barrage of punches to the body and head....constantly! Doesn't matter how many times Louis would clip him, I risk to say that Sam would come up all times and finishing all rounds on top of Joe. Of all, Sam is, for me, the one with best chances against Louis and the only one I can risk to say with some confidence (some, guys) that I can see him beating Louis either by stoppage or on points. Jack Johnson would get KO'ed by Louis in the mid rounds. Louis jab and head movement would make Johnson confused and in the process Louis would work for a mid-fight KO by hitting him almost at will from the start. Dempsey would be the same as Johnson. Just my opinion. Peace to all!
