Was Joe Louis's Greatest Performance His Most Famous Fight?

Buddy Baer 2 was better.

 

I like the Max Baer fight a LOT.

A very young Louis appeared that much more energised and enthused than in most of his other fights.

Louis was doing a lot of great things in there, He basically showed off his full arsenal and he was more deftly mobile than in later fights. In terms of all round performance, it was his poster fight imo.

I think we all know the incredible double left hook then right hand Ali floored Williams with for the 3rd KD in round 2.

Imo, Louis’ own 2nd KD of Baer in round 3 via 3 lightning fast and fully laden left hooks was equally sublime at the least and perhaps more impressive for the fact of Baer possessing the greater chin (as compared to Cleve, especially the 1966 version).

Coincidentally, upon the aforementioned KDs, it appeared that both opponents were not about to beat 10 counts had there been sufficient time left for same in the rounds in question.

Of course, as it was, both men were saved by the bell which only served to stall their inevitable fates for just a little bit longer.

 

I would say Schmeling rematch and the Walcott rematch. He showcased his skills against highly skilled opponents in these two fights.

 

I think the Schmeling rematch has to rank up there. He was avenging a brutal loss and did it emphatically against an all time great. I can’t say for sure if it was his best demonstration of skill but again it has to be ONE OF the best

 

Max Baer or Schmeling.

I THINK it was Buddy Baer2 that had the famous story where Chappie Blackburn said he couldn't go out because of his arthritis, he couldn't get up the ring steps. Louis famously promised..."You won't have to go up but once..." That would make it a good number 3, considering the wild nature of the first.

POST SCRIPT:

Here it is...

Prior to the first-round knockout fight at Madison Square Garden, Blackburn was in poor health with arthritis and a weak heart. He told Louis he was not sure he had the strength to make it up and down the ring steps for 15 rounds, prompting Louis to famously promise, "If you get up those stairs with me, I'll have Baer out before you can relax". Blackburn passed away a few months later on April 24, 1942

 

It's not just that, but also a big revenge plus a knockout in the first round.
But there’s more to it (I asked Djandjers; he confirmed to me). Was Louis vs. Schmelling 2 more than just boxing? Was it 'the free world' vs. 'the enslaved world'? Djandjers said something like: 'Yeah. It seemed like Louis was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.'
P.S. I know that Schmelling wasn't a member of the National Socialist Party, but he boxed under the swastika flag.

 

I think the defeat of John Henry Lewis was his best fight. But Schmeling 2 is that same window where Louis was at his "peak".

 

I think that he peaked a little bit later, in his mid 20s, as he said himself.

He was probably more dangerous after he had gone on his one round rampage.

Now if we are talking about his greatest performance, it is probably knocking out the heir to his throne, in what he hoped would be his last professional fight.