Larry Holmes vs Joe Louis? 15 rounds

This is one of those rare matchups where you could make a case many different ways on either side because of the difference in eras and I would have no idea until I could actually see them in the ring for a round. If Louis seemed big enough and strong enough to move Larry around in the opening round, it could be a rough and maybe short night for the Easton Assassin. Likewise, if Larry looks two notches athletically above Louis and starts moving circles around him then start writing round after round on the cards for Holmes towards a lopsided decision. I personally admit I have no idea how this would play out. Anyone else who is "certain" I think is selling one or the other short here.

 

Usyk is 6'3 220+ pounds with a 78 inch reach and a unique great Southpaw in the Heavyweight division incase you haven't noticed that's not a 174 pound Light Heavyweight.

Tyson had been a professional for 1 year when he fought Tillis are you really comparing that to Louis being an established champion with over 50 fights against Conn ?

Holmes won every round against Rodriguez all 3 judges had Holmes winning by a shut out ?

Billy Conn was a great fighter but he's Light Heavyweight sized not Heavyweight sized atleast by modern standards.

I don't know how you can't comprehend that a 81 inch reach 210 pound great Heavyweight in Holmes with good movement and a ATG jab isn't a more troubling style than a 174 pound 72 inch reach Conn.

Louis got a gift decision vs Walcott in their 1st fight at age 33.

Holmes lost to Spinks at age 35 then clearly beat him in the rematch at age 36 but was robbed.

Louis at age 36 lost nigh on every round to Charles in a one sided loss.

Holmes's 81 inch reach makes up for his slightly slower movement Louis would have a great deal of trouble dealing with the movement and the reach Holmes also hits considerably harder than Conn.

Are you talking to yourself ? You're basically ranting to yourself putting words into my mouth when i've said nothing of the sort.

No one has said Conn was not a great fighter....but you have a nostalgic view believing 174 pound Conn is amongst the greatest Heavyweights of all time that's just nonsense. Conn is not classed as a Heavyweight by modern standards and you somehow can't comprehend that.

And as i keep saying Holmes is faster on his feet than Louis, faster at range, and has a significantly longer reach.

Norton did not have a "china chin" that's absolute nonsense he went over 50+ rounds with Ali, Holmes, without ever being off his feet. Norton is also amongst the top 5 Heavyweights of the 70s and you make it sound like going the distance with Norton is a bad thing what an odd thing to say.

Yeah Norton probably wouldn't match up well vs Louis but guess what ? Holmes also wouldn't be in a life and death struggle vs Conn needing a come from behind KO so that works both ways.

Holmes has better footwork than Louis i've said that about 10 times now i've also said multiple times Holmes is quicker at range.

You're "Loling" but you're the one thinking a 174 pound Light Heavyweight is one of the best Heavyweights H2H and Holmes would go life and death with him. That comment in itself says it all i just think you're a bit too nostalgic which is fine because i prefer older boxing aswell even though i'm in my 20s. But i do think overall there is a bit too much nostalgia with some of these comments, i just think we're not going to agree on this so it's best just to end it here.

I think we both agree Louis and Holmes are both great and i haven't dismissed Louis's chances of winning i just have Holmes as the slight favourite.

 

Shavers would be dangerous to Louis early but more than likely he gets pummelled and stopped in the middle rounds. Possibly Shavers could drop Louis but that's about it Louis would work him over.

 

Better than Galento.

 

…

Okay?

 

I think LH is too long for Joe and points him with the jab working all night. Just my opinion.

 

I think Holmes controls the bout with his boxing skills and quickness. He would do some damage to Louis eyes with his jab. Joe Louis was good at picking up on mistakes his opponents made.

At some point The Brown Bomber is going to clip Larry on the button. He's gonna make a mistake. Holmes would be in serious trouble because Joe Louis was the best finisher ever.

Except Larry Holmes had legendary recuperative powers. The Easton Assassian climbs off the canvas to win a UD.

Lawrence Holmes

 

Based on what!?!?!?!?

People keep repeating this. What world-class finisher & first-rate puncher did he ever get into trouble & recover against? NOT ONE.

They certainly are legendary, because they’re far more myth than reality at this point.

 

Two outcomes in my mind.
Larry leads on points for first few rounds, Louis rallys back through the 5th, 6th, and gets a stoppage at some point.
Or....
Joe blitzes him in 2-3 rounds.

 

Louis was just too tough, too much dog, too much of a real fighter with more than enough skill to back it up, and it's not like Holmes was some professional strongman that was miles ahead of Louis in strength or anything, in fact I would go as far as to say Holmes' conditioning and stamina could be considered very second rate compared to Louis, Holmes was a skilled boxer and sure he had some tough moments in the ring that he overcame, but that doesn't change that he was a far, far cry from Louis' caliber

 

Debatable.

 

Louis stalks Holmes and puts him away in the 7th or 8th round (maybe even earlier). I don't see how Holmes survives this fight.

 

Usyk is the exact same size as Muhammad Ali. Even has the same reach. He always was a natural heavyweight as an adult. He just shredded and dehydrated down to 200 to fight at cruiser.

If you want a salty way to say it, a weight bully decided to stop being a weight bully and instead fight in his actual weight class, and it turns out, he's still better than everyone there.