Oleksandr Usyk vs. Joe Louis

Louis had some hassles with mover-boxers and Usyk is not only one of the best of those, but significantly bigger than Louis too. Add his iron chin and endless stamina and I favour him. Granted Louis may have an equalizer in his fast hands, accuracy and combination punching. Speed can often neutralize slippery fighters. I reckon Usyk's angles and constant motion will mean that even though Louis is fast, he may not be able to land flush or consistently. At the end of the day I think Usyk is simply a better boxer, bigger and tougher and that he will wear Louis out down the stretch.

 

No it hasn't.

 

Usyk looks quick because his competitors are for the most part slow.... Yes even Fury.
Just rewatched Fury vs Usyk again moments ago. Fury landed a lot of right uppercuts on Usyk , but not one time did he "close the door " (My Old coaches speak) Or bring the hook behind it.
Fury mainly a arm puncher slapped with the uppercut ( Not getting leverage. Yet he hurt Usyk)
He either clowned after he landed the shot, or grabbed.
Neither Fury or Uysk countered much. It was " I punch you block, or you punch I block."
Neither had the ability to read what the opponent was about to do, beat him to it. Or slipped or rode the punch , and instantly countered .
Neither men's offensive flowed. There combinations went to the head or the body, for the most part, but usually never combined both.
Than ( To get that ugly vision out of my head)
Rewatched Louis vs Baer.
And Baer , for all his limitations put punches together better than Usyk or Fury!!!!
Against Joe Louis.
And Joe reminded me what the Sport I love used to look like. Instinctive and lightning quick counters, perfectly precise punch placement in combinations, little wasted movement. Punched with the opponent, none of that block and wait to the opponent stopped punching so prevalent in today's game. No repeatedly taking self out of punching range.
There are levels to boxing.
And for the last 20 yrs or more it has progressively gotten worse.
Everyone fights the same way, ( both orthodox and southpaw) the same distance, and usually the same pace.
Usyk could beat Joe Louis......
Bench pressing...... Maybe....
Not in a boxing ring prime vs prime.

 

I have a better opinion or Usyk now, but Louis is still my bet.

Sure Usyk has shown the skill and toughness to hang in there, but Louis is a master combination puncher with amazing speed and accuracy, very different than anything Usyk has faced.

Fury proved that Usyk can be caught and hurt, but Louis is not Fury
If Usyk gets caught he wont be facing a fumbling nearthdental as Fury but a master finisher who knows how to close the deal.

Louis UD, maybe late stoppage.

 

Louis was a different type puncher. One of the top 2%. He drops combinations right down the middle.

 

Excellent Post.

 

I think that you ask how the men who got somewhere against Usyk did it.

They basically fought him, and didn't give him too much room.

Other men could have done better.

 

I know that I might take a few hits for this, but I see certain similarities between Usyk , and Jim Corbett.

When you actually rationalize the footage of Corbett, he is constantly feinting with both his feet and his hands.

Every Usyk opponent has described that as being "menially exhausting."

 

Usyk isn't doing anything new in heavyweight boxing that wasn't done by thousands of different boxers since the Queensbury Rules were implemented in 1865 and especially since what I consider the start of the modern era in the 1930's.
If Usyk opponents made that comment its more an indictment of how poorly trained they are opposed to anything special Usyk is doing.
And judging by how quickly he shows fatigue Perhaps it would be better for him to use those feints when he is with in punching range of the opponents, not when he's clearly not.
He waste a lot of energy, it clearly starts to show around 6-7th rds.

 

I'd say fighting such huge men has a bit of influence in him tiring around that time but the impressive thing is that he comes back with that big second wind like he did against Fury. He was in big trouble around that time with Fury and got himself out of it to finish very impressively to put it mildly. He looked like he was potentially done but he didn't look to survive he just changed tact a little and fought to win. He had the guts to lay everything on the line. If that's not impressive nothing is.

I don't think he's Jesus reincarnated wearing boxing gloves but nor do i think he's Mildenberger or Dunn to pit it mildly. He's one of a few in recent history who would match up decently with some past names.

 

Good post.
For me all this discussion at the end comes down to this question: can Usyk recover if things dont go his way? can he recover if he gets into troubles?

Fury managed to put Usyk into hot water and Usyk proved he could fight his way out. Good for him, but it was still Fury.
If it was Louis, Usyk would be toast.

 

I'd favor Louis myself but credit has to be given where it's due.

 

The only thing that matches old-timer bias in this sport is recency bias. You beat 36-year-old retired fat ass alco Tyson Fury, & next month, you’re knocking over Joe Louis.

Evolution, you know.

 

Boomer take. Usyk would destroy every fighter Louis beat easily. Louis wouldn't beat every fighter Usyk faced sport has evolved its a shame you're too stuck in the past to see that.