Oleksandr Usyk vs. Joe Louis

It's possible Usyk would take more damage over the course of the fight with Joe, but what makes you think Joe would be in a position to throw 6 punch combinations against Usyk? He's a far cry from Max Baer. I don't recall Usyk ever getting tagged by a combination once in his career (granted he's not fought anyone of Lewis's caliber)

For whatever reason people talk about older Heavyweights as if they all retired undefeated. Classic Matchups Vs Modern matchups are usually very productive but anytime it's "Heavyweight earlier than 70's Vs Heavyweight after 70's" the former always obliterates the latter somehow.

For example people wax lyrical about how young Foreman would demolish Usyk when IN REAL LIFE he lost to Jimmy Young ffs. People like Sugar Ray Robinson, Henry Armstrong and Ezzard Charles get a much more rational assessment of their strengths, weaknesses and match up ability on the Classic Forum, but when it comes to Heavyweights it's like people think their masculinity is on the line and they just come out with stupid ****.

Example - Every single Sam Langford, Jack Johnson, Jack Dempsey, Rocky Marciano H2H thread in existence. Mohammed Ali gets less benefit of the doubt and lower H2H odds than those guys ffs. I'm not sure what it is about black and white that makes people lose their minds.

 

Yes some people do overrate prior heavies. However, Usyk has gotten a lot of credit in the classic section. Usyk is one of the rare guys in the classic section that many people pick to beat previous ATG heavies.

I can't be a 100 percent certain that Louis will be able to land combinations on Usyk. True, Usyk is light years ahead of Max Baer in terms of skill.

However, Louis did have very quick hands. Quicker than Bredis, Bellew, Chisora, Joshua, Huck etc. All of these guys managed to tag Usyk with a few shots here and there, especially Bredis. I think Usyk will find it harder to defend against a guy with such quick hands.

On the other hand, Louis is unknown vs southpaws, just like Holmes and Lewis. So i can't make Louis a favourite, let alone a big favourite. I have no idea how Louis's chin will hold up vs Usyk's underrated left hand.

 

I would pick prime Joe Louis in a best of 7 against any Heavyweight who ever lived, and I am picking him here. Those would be 7 great, competitive fights to watch, though. I want tons of freshly popped buttered popcorn!

 

See you are a fan of math and the metric system

 

The day they moved away from stones and pecks and nautical fathoms is the day measuring died. Curse the French!

 

Usyk 3 times a day and 5 times on Sunday

 

Again, you do realise that you're picturing a Peak Joe Louis, and comparing him to a 37 year old Usyk?

Joe is a better combination puncher than Usyk regardless but using the least athletic version of Usyk we've ever seen to make that point is intellectually dishonest.

It's very odd that people are only sighting a post - prime Usyk's showings against people that have absolutely no physical resemblance to Joe Louis, instead of the actual Joe Louis sized people he fought in his prime. Why are people quoting an out of prime Usyk's performance against an out of prime Fury instead of Briedis, the skilled, fast, iron chinned and hard hitting man that Usyk fought in his prime with a similar weight and with nearly the exact same height and reach as Joe Louis. Would that not be a better point of comparison?

Funnily enough I don't even think Usyk fought as well as he could have in that fight, but it still makes more sense than bringing up whatever he did with Fury.

 

Southpaw advantage gives me a 50/50 viewpoint

 

very fair

 

Usyk has a bad style for Louis. His footwork, southpaw stance and lateral movement could make Louis look very bad. I hate to say it but I would put my money on Usyk.

 

I am in favor of Usyk here and i think Louis would struggle immensely with his movement and speed to land cleanly. It just wouldnt be enough. If you give Louis the modern advantage of PEDs that Usyk and others benefit from, it would help, but i am still not confident that Louis would win.

 

Usyk. Louis isn’t proven against 230, 6’3 modern era southpaws who have cleaned out the best at cruiser and heavyweight.