Consensus opinion on Louis vs Dempsey circa 1945-50?

Teddy Hayes said Louis would stop him in about four and I agree. Jack had at best a punchers chance very early. No knock, I just can’t see it so I favor Teddy.

 

Louis said about Marciano as an opponent: "that he Louis, didn't like to be crowded.

And of course Dempsey had a tendency to crowd people.

 

Teddy Hayes had a violent falling out with Dempsey so he may have been less than objective.

 

Ray Arcel picked Dempsey.

 

Arcel would be one to really know Joe Louis as a fighter inside and out. He went against him so many times in the opposite corner. If he picked against Louis I'm sure he didn't do it lightly. There was so much respect there. That tells me Dempsey must have been some Tiger.

 

Not really .. he loved Dempsey and picked him as the greatest champion at a certain point but he said the one exception was possibly Joe Louis ..

see 5:30

This content is protected

 

I would bet a lot of money Louis destroys Dempsey early

Dempsey is made for Louis

 

Not sure where but I remember coming across an article from that time period in which someone picked a number of old-school champions, including Jim Corbett, to beat Louis. Could be wrong, but I'd be shocked if many of those old-timer "experts" would have picked Louis over Dempsey back then.

 

Some did.

There were people arguing that Louis was the GOAT before he even held the title!

 

Who?

 

Makes sense.

I wish there were an easy way to pull together some kind of longitudinal assessment of Louis' standing relative to older heavyweight greats.

 

Both guys get hit a bit on film. But I think Dempsey's and much quicker feet and ability to circle and get angles vs the statuary like Joe Louis would give him the edge. It would not be a long fight. Someone likely wins inside of 6 rounds or sooner. I say Dempsey inside six, but if it goes past 8, Louis and his better; late-round conditioning I think would take over via a late round stoppage.