1974 George Foreman vs 1941 Joe Louis

Louis rattles Georgie’s head with quick and vicious counters

 

I feel like Louis’ chin was better than most think. It’s not platinum but he took some harsh punches from both Baer brothers without going down, who have pretty well established power. The left hook that sent Joe out of the ring didn’t have him out there for long, he strolled back into the ring after a few seconds as if he tripped. Not to mention a hard puncher Schmeling throwing the entire kitchen sink at Louis for 12 rounds. GOATlento’s entire 230 pound carcas leaped literally leaped into Louis’ skull with those left hooks yet couldn’t keep Joe down.

I feel like Louis’ was durable, but what made him stand out was his ATG recovery. If George does hurt Louis, I don’t see him keeping Louis hurt.

 

Foreman is a good chance here but will never be more than a fairly narrow underdog. The fight I come back to in his prime is against Roman, & even the first Frazier fight. He is so damn wild. Even against Frazier, he misses a lot.

Louis is not just much more accurate, but leagues faster with his hands. I suspect he’d make Foreman pay for his inaccuracy with a bruising KO.

 

In 1974 Foreman was too impatient and inexperienced for me to see him lasting more than 7 or 8 rounds against a prime Joe Louis.

Ali going into the fight talked about Foreman's lack of stamina and inexperience, and was very confident that he'd stop Foreman as soon as Foreman ran out of gas, which later happened.

Here is a piece with Ali going into detail on what Foreman's weaknesses are.

"It's gonna' be easy", Ali said. "I see where all experts and the oddmakers have me the underdog in the fight. Foreman just might be the easiest fight I've had in a couple of years. He's blown all out of proportion."

"He beats Joe Frazier and Ken Norton and all of a sudden he's a superman. The truth is he's overrated. He's perfect for me. He comes movin' straight in like a mummy."

"We'll I'm gonna' be the mummy's curse. They'll probably have to wrap him in bandages all over again when I get through with him."

"It's gonna' be a straight fighter against a scientific boxer, and street fightin' George ain't got no chance. He's an amateur and always was. He still don't know how to box."

Foreman, meanwhile will make a few boasts. It's not a talk show he's staging and when the time comes, he most likely will deliver Ali into the third row and retirement.

The big question surrounding Foreman is his stamina. He has never gone the distance in his championship bouts Ali says. "There ain't no way Foreman is gonna last more than seven or eight rounds. He ain't built for endurance."

"Sooner or later those big muscle-bound arms are gonna' get tired and those big legs are gonna' be like lead. That's when I'll step in and put poor old George away for keeps. Nobody believes when I say it's gonna' be that simple."

In retrospect. Foreman insists, "I can go the distance, not that I think I will have to. In camp, I've boxed 10 hard rounds a day with five different sparring partners, and I've gone six to eight rounds of floor work. I don't get tired on purpose. But when I'm really good condition, I can't do it."

"I have gone 10 rounds twice. you know against Gregorio Peralta and another time against Levi Forte."

"Peralta was tricky and a strong defensive fighter." he adds. "People say I ran out of gas in the 10th round of the first fight. Maybe so, but there was a reason."

Foreman plans are to cut the ring down against Ali, like he did against Frazier and Norton. "First, I'll cut off the ring and then I may have to cut off his neck." said George in referring to his plan.
https://imgur.com/jRfoIf0

 

If we're talking about post-jungle Foreman he'll probably finish Louis good,bt this is pre-jungle,so.... Louis had a good chance,he was like a more accurate but smaller Ron Lyle.

 

Foreman because Louis can't really follow the Ali/Young blueprint which requires not going down and getting Foreman frustrated. Louis probably can outbox Foreman for extended periods like Ali and Young but a knockdown is a 10-8 and theres no reason to think Foreman can't score multiple times. Durability is the key to 'rope a dope" and Louis doesn't have it. This fight would be a firefight and Foreman hits harder and can take harder hits.

Louis is good at coming back from knockdowns like its nothing but thats one knockdown. Even though they didn't have 10-8s yet prime Louis wasn't coming back on the cards he was getting his opponent out of there. Against Foreman I don't see Louis doing either.

Melankomas is right Louis's chin wasn't bad and he was much harder to knock out then knock down. That distinction doesn't matter in this H2H. If Foreman can get Louis down multiple times Foreman will win.

 

You've somehow avoided the part where Joe Louis has the most revered offensive arsenal in history as if it were nothing.

Do you think Louis isn't going to punch back? Do you think his punches can't worry George despite rendering dozens unconscious wrecks? Do you think Louis can't get inside George's swings and unload his slashing combinations?

Ignorance is bliss. I'm not even saying Foreman can't win but to totally ignore the Louis offensive threat is spellbinding.

 

Where the **** do you guys get this stufff from?

 

The bigger issue here is the durability on both ends. Foreman wasn't knocked down his whole comeback into his late 40s. I respect Louis's offensive arsenal plenty that is just not a winning strategy against George. Its staying upright and outworking Foreman.

 

I think the term "aggressive boxer-puncher" tends to fit Louis quite well, for the most part. The impression I've had for a while now is that Louis was exposed to the threat of a KD when he played the part of the out-and-out aggressor.

But he was not so pigeon-holed that he couldn't apply variations in strategy. Louis could measure and adjust distance almost effortlessly, affording him the latitude to sit back and counter his opponent to varying degrees, subject to the level of success his counterattacks carried.

I think he'd choose this kind of fight with Foreman, who'd start fast and soon learn that he can't simply blow Louis out, and can himself be hurt by Louis. I think this would engender caution in Foreman's work - slow him down a bit - which is exactly where Louis would want him.

Foreman would have his moments I don't doubt - more likely during the early stages. The Foreman Jab, if employed, is going to help temper Joe's assaults. But I don't think Big George can overcome the combination of skills and mettle of Louis. Louis is too clinical for Foreman; a sharp shooter with venom in both hands and, over the course, would really turn the tables on Foreman and deliver a lot of damage.

I'd like to think Foreman can last the distance and remain a threat throughout (and while he's a threat, there's that chance he can make something happen to turn the tide in his favor), but a late stoppage is as likely. Failing that, Louis takes the decision anyway.

 

Did Louis ever KO someone the size and chin of Foreman?
If yes, then Louis wins on style. Otherwise Foreman wins on size.

 

That was a little weird. Lyle was a super tough, hard hitting mah fah. Joe Louis was Joe Louis.

George nearly knocks Louis out of his shorts early on, but ultimately gets bombarded/shellacked by a superior boxer (with power not terribly far from Foreman's) and stopped by the 5th.

I should mention, Foreman Ali and Holmes are my favorite fighters.