FANTASY FIGHT: Joe Louis vs Evander Holyfield (15 Rounds/Poll)

I am not a big Evander guy. I give him credit for having the heart of a lion and being willing to take on anyone. While he could beat almost anyone on a given night there were too many nights that weren't given. I think the Brown Bomber was a level or two above the Real Deal and I will go with Louis via 15 round decision.

 

Back and fourth action fight until Louis drops him and ref has to call it off.
Louis by TKO between 10th and 12th round IMO

 

Louis stops Cw Holyfield. HW Holyfield loses a decision but it's a hard fight for Louis

 

Tough fight for both guys. The well supported view on Evander is that if he gets stung badly enough, he might reactively indulge himself in a good ol’ punch up - which wouldn’t necessarily be wise against a cool, powerful and ruthless technician like The Brown Bomber.

 

I'd bet on Holyfield beating Louis by decision. Louis was very methodical and controlled in the ring, which was good, but Holyfield was used to chaotic fights against Bowe and Tyson where all hell broke loose—and for the majority of that, he weathered the storm and won.
There is obviously the advantage in training methods, psychology (wasn't Holyfield's wife a doctor of pain management?), and nutrition that Holyfield would have, too. Plus, never underestimate what Holyfield did to Tyson. There was no heavyweight like Tyson in Louis's day for Louis to gain the necessary experience to broaden his skill set. Boxing back in Louis's day was very stiff, from the stances to how boxers moved. Holyfield would just be too modern for Louis.

 

Holyfield loses the first half of a competitive fight but overwhelms Louis late, finding his range and working his way into his 'hell zone' from where he grinds Louis down, stopping an exhausted, shell shocked Joe in the 14th round in a fight of the ages. Holyfield is down twice early but his recuperative powers and ability to adapt to the other fighters power allow him to remain competitive even in these rounds.

 

Evander as always would show great heart but his willingness to engage would be his undoing.
Louis by KO

 

Would be an absolute mad fight.
Both are getting hurt and it'd keep people on the edge of their seats.
I think eventually the harder punching from Louis will be the decider.
Louis stops Evander between 12-14 rounds.

 

I think that Holyfield is just a tougher and grittier fighter than Louis and that ultimately it might just come down to that.

 

Holyfield is going up against a faster handed, much harder hitting heavyweight who is a better combination puncher than him. Louis also had a great, powerful jab. Something that Evander always struggled against.

This is just a bad match up for the real deal. Joe won’t have much trouble landing his jab, and will win the majority of exchanges with faster hands and superior combinations, and his power plus his accuracy will badly hurt Holyfield even despite his chin.

Evander’s roughhouse tactics will be nothing new to him as many of his opponents used the same tactics. Louis will probably win via knockout in the later rounds, though Holyfield can go the distance if he fights smart.

 

I simply cannot see any other outcome but a Louis ko,,Holyfield rises from a knockdown in the 8th then is ko'ed by a left hook. As others have pointed out Louis is a level above Evander.

 

I voted for Joe. Both fighters were great. The harder puncher wins by decision or late stop.