Joe Louis would beat Muhammad Ali… possibly quite badly

For me the one thing that separates the two is, unfortunately, an intangible. Call it the Ali factor if you like, but I cannot concieve a brilliant but somewhat orthodox boxer like Louis beating a brilliant, unorthodox, iron chinned boxer like Ali. Yeah, yeah, Cooper caught him...because Ali had zero respect for Henry...and that was Henry's honey punch. And Frazier put him down. But did you SEE that punch. Ali was up in seconds. Ali would, in my opinion, absolutely befuddle Louis who wouldnt manage to keep up with him or cut him off; Im talking about early Ali, pre exile Ali. Post FOC Ali, Louis has a better chance against but I genuinely still make this assertion 70/30 fight for Ali. Now, this might be cultural brainwashing, but I jist can't see Joe having the bit of magic that would be needed to out point or stop Ali. Only one Greatest for me.

 

He be gone now buddy!!!!

 

One of the reasons why I don't subscribe to the Frazier would've beaten Ali at any time is this:

Having supported Ali during exile, Frazier felt extremely betrayed when Ali played race traitor politics and other tactics in the run up. He was furious and was on a warpath that the Ali without his legs and stamina couldn't overcome. Yet, people ignore just how much punishment Joe had to take to impose his will. Many a fighter would've been stopped shipping the punches and intensity of the earlier rounds of FOTC.

Ali in his prime, without an enraged Joe, doesn't lose in 68 or 69 and Yank said as much to Joe.

 

I'm not gonna go into a deep analysis because I'm a just boxing fan in my 20s I'm not some wizard of boxing who knows everything about technique.

But looking at the fight as a normal boxing fan I'd favour the faster fleet footed more athletic Ali to win on points

Louis is a great but he could be a tad static and not the fastest on his feet which I think would be a problem against a very troublesome outboxer like Ali.

The one dangerous aspect about Louis is that his power could be a factor late in fights aswell and I don't think Ali ever quite faced a puncher who had that ingredient to his game.

I know Frazier had endless stamina and was dangerous late on but he's not quite on the level of Louis in regards to power with his two fisted attack.

Like I said I'd favour Ali by decision but if its 15 round fight the later rounds could get scary for Ali.

 

I would probably put my money on Ali winning on points if I had to.

 

Man, that's a fair analysis. Don't beat yourself up over age, what you are saying makes sense.

 

Ali finds a way.

Looks like journeyman92 got the boot.

 

I'm hopelessly biased but I admit it. I don't have a hidden agenda. That being said I'm supremely confident Ali could beat all the greats who preceded him. I'm less confident he could beat all the greats who succeeded him, especially the giants.

 

I agree with journeyman here and hope he returns. Assuming this is before Louis loses his power.

Louis is too good at taking out his opponent quickly and responding to adversity which is something Liston and Foreman(at least that night) lacked. Ali is durable but like Braddock, Louis should break through eventually and if Ali can survive the fight its unlikely he can stay off the mat. On the flipside I don't see Ali knocking Louis down which is Louis's big weakness in fights with someone like a Foreman or Liston. If Louis could decimate someone like John Henry Lewis so easy I don't see a reason he can't take out Ali.

 

Wasn't Lewis four inches shorter, thirty to thirty five pounds lighter, had a seven inch shorter reach, and was blind in one eye? Is a 5 foot 11 inch, 181 pound, 71 inch reach, blind in one eye Muhammad Ali really Muhammad Ali? Was Journeyman92 banned for his disingenuity or trashing other posters?

 

I put Ali far over Louis, but I feel like Louis would be the greatest challenge Ali has ever faced apart from Frazier. This would be the TRUE FOTC.

 

Lewis stopped 88 inch reach Gastanaga and knocked out Elmer Ray with that one eye. I consider him to be the most talented larger fighter to ever take up the sweet science. John Henry Lewis's HW record before fighting Louis was at first glance 63-10-3. He had 1 unavenged loss to Feldman and had never been stopped. He was 24.

I don't know I wasn't following this thread closely before today. The good thing is here it seems they let people come back. Makes them being trigger happy seem more reasonable. Every poster I've mourned losing has returned.

 

Whilst I generally dont subscribe to a v b means c beats a, Schmelling knocked out Louis. A man with what, 40 or so KOs out of 70 fights? If he can knock him out, im sure Ali can at least knock him down...

 

Frazier had to cheat vision tests in one eye to be allowed to box, IIRC. He did OK.