Ali or Louis; who looks better on film?

They do different things better, Ali pisses on Louis with movement/footwork, jab, handspeed, use of range, Louis is far better punching technique, actually sits on his punches and turns them over and actually gets power into his shots (to say the least), better guard/parrying (well Ali can lift his gloes up but doesn't usually)

But I'd go with Ali because Ali is thinking and making adjustments where as Louis is essentially a robot who doesn't adjust until he's been drilled for a rematch

 

Its called plodding and was often exploited

 

Ali v Williams
Louis v Baer

???????????
Ali.

 

tough question

Louis was more textbook, maybe even more explosive when he went for the kill

Ali was more flashy, creative, unpredictable

depends what you like

 

Rhythm and movement are natural.


I think Ali at his best had a far more aesthetically pleasing style, Joe punches with more authority and his combinations were beautiful. Ali can actually think though and had versatility which is worth consideration. He is the more natural talent.

 

You make it sound like Ali's movement was jst for show, pointless and useless. It was the key factor in most of his victories during the 60's, the Liston fights especially.

It annoys me to no end when people take these kind of viewpoints. Like with Ray Leonard, Calzaghe and De La Hoya's flurries being just for show. Ali's footwork being overkill. Whitaker or Jones' clowning. Some people seem to have beef with anything the slightest bit colourful or flashy. Well guess what, they were more effective and successful than Ken Buchanan

 

The only man to beat Louis in his prime was Schmeling, who liked to fight flat-footed too.

 

Louis is the fighter to look at if you're a boxer looking to learn, though there's a lot to be learned from Ali's use of angles and footwork also. Visually Ali is the far more flashier boxer while the only thing "flashy" about Louis are his knockouts. It usually takes some time to truly appreciate him, and not just cast him aside as a plodder.

 

Well I see what you're saying but a boxer really should learn to get their hips and or lower back into the torque of the punch for when they need to punnish a man. Ali never learnt this

Archie Moore 'I wish I taught him 'Clay' to take a man out with 1 punch' (quote from my recollection)

 

And it made it easier for Schmelling to time and counter him, made it possible for Walcott and Conn to twist him round their finger dancing circles around him, meant Goddoy could close the gap on him

His footwork isn't terrible, and his forward/backward footwork can be decent at times although his balance is far from great and he was often knocked down, his lateral movement is pretty none existant and he doesn't cut off the ring effectively.

Things I hear about Louis's footwork:

'It's efficient' - so is standing still not doing anything it doesn't make it a good idea

'It worked for him' - well it didn't always and he succeeded despite of it rather than because of it

 

You're right with those criticisms, but a lot of fighters don't have the necessary talent to pull off more complex footwork. I can't see Louis ever being much fleet of foot while retaining his power and ability to counter at all times.

There are times when I believe Louis could have just opened up a bit more and put his opponents away far earlier than he did, but in the end his patience won out regardless.

 

ali, but louis was increible against carnera, schmeling,baer or galento