Could Joe Louis make it from 1968-1980 undefeated?

I'm not sure an amateur 15-16 year old Tyson would knock him out of the ring.

 

Dempsey's post was well written and cool, but ancient Louis beats prime Holmes...nahhhh.

Prime Louis stops him in 9 (though it pains me to say it. because I'm Larry's biggest fan). Joe was a supernaturally great force during his prime).

1972 Ali outpoints Joe in a fight at least as good as FOTC.

 

The chances for any fighter to go through Frazier, Ali, Foreman AND prime Holmes (when aging) are slim to none. Especialy beating prime Holmes and young prime Foreman requires abilities to handle totally contrary stiles.
The only one coming to mind beating those two when aging is Lennox Lewis.

For example young LL beats Frazier (no problem here), Ali, Foreman and Holmes over the time span of 68 - 80 (age 23 to 35), but looses to single shots against Lyle and Shavers, thats the closest I can see for someone going "undefeatet" in that span.

 

I have massive respect for LL....but both FOTC Frazier and Foreman leave him unconscious imo. He couldn't take the shots...I just don't see that.

LL against 1980 Larry...yow. If we're talking Steward-era Lewis it would be really interesting. But overall, though I see LL knocking Larry down, back in 80 Larry could be a freeking seriously mean, ugly fighter when hurt (or when finishing). LL would have to deal with Larry getting up and being as he was against Shavers II and Snipes, firing back with vicious intent and basically getting control back reeeealllll quick. The possibility more than exists that LL gets trapped in the corner by the overhand and then we all know what happened whenever Larry maneuvered hurt opponents into the corner...Holmes by TKO in 9 against pre-Steward Lewis, and unanimous decision against the later LL.

But I both like and respect your posts, @GOAT Primo Carnera so I agree to disagree.

 

I don´t know about Foreman, Holmes, or 2nd prime 74-Ali. but I would bet on LL against any Frazier.
He can choose jab+bomb from distance, OR make it a Ruddock/Golota/Grant/Briggs/Vitali dog fight and chin Frazier. Frazier beating LL imho is pretty absurd.
Frazier needed that 1A+++ hook on the bottom. We´ve seen what LL could do to avoid a hook that good and more powerful from Tua.

 

You definitely have seriously valid points here. LL had almost a Foreman-level of power in that right hand, and Joe obviously could get caught coming in. I'm tempted to say Steward-era LL does a Foreman level ko to Joe...but only (perhaps) pre and definitiely post-FOTC Joe.

You might know by now I don't put any heavyweight against FOTC Frazier....

 

Foreman though...McCall and Hasim were little boys compared to George in power. If they got the right in, prime George would too.

That said, again I carefully make the distinction between pre-Steward and Steward-era LL. Steward-era Lewis could beat classic George imo. The one-handed fighter before that gets creamed, bad. Ko'd unconscious for minutes on end.

But that's just me. I really got into our conversation.

 

I doubt that anybody could!

 

Except Sharkey

 

You really think Norton would be a war for Louis?

 

He likely meant 1986 Tyson

 

Yeah I can see him and Ali being fierce rivals during this time. No man goes undefeated in a series.

 

Good point

 

Love Louis, but no. We have a new breed by then. If Pastor and Conn bothered him, Ali and Holmes would befuddle him.