Curious as to how Joe Louis would survive the opening rounds vs a prime Mike Tyson

Yes that is common knowledge per Tyson. The only two times Joe Louis was stopped was once pre peak via a suatained beating that was brutally avenged. The other time was in his last ever fight as an old man by an up and coming great and he took quit a bit before succumbing even then too.

Yes but i am alluding to times Tyson was hurt early in fights. Bruno and Tucker both hurt him early. He could be hurt early. Neither possessed the pedigree to follow up effectively as neither were good enough and certainly not in the same league as Joe Louis who the massive majority consider the greatest puncher at any weight of all time. If those guys could hurt Tyson early so could Joe Louis, that's for sure. The flip side is also true as Louis was hurt early as well against lesser guys.

So they were both hurt early by lesser fighters than each other.

Not the ones i am talking about. Douglas and Holyfield were reasonable punchers but not in the same stratosphere as Joe Louis. If Joe Louis hit Tyson as often and as cleanly as those guys did the fight would have been over much sooner.

And vice versa.

But as i say Tyson (at his peak) has been hurt early by much lesser punchers and finishers than Louis. So to has Louis. To count out an early shower for either would be foolish given what we know about both.

Louis always got up and always won, certainly in his peak years. He was never defeated at his peak let alone stopped.

The fight is a two way street and i could happily entertain scenario's where either could win. It would be a barnstormer.

 

Being lineal champ in one era, does not necessarily mean, that you would be competitive in another - especially if we're talking heavyweights and those eras are 100+ years apart.

 

My mentioning of the handful of times Louis was put on the canvas and got up to win, was one addition to what we know, in respect to Louis' durability. And, this was really making comparisons with Holyfield, as opposed to matching Louis' durability against Tyson's offense.

That said, the above seems to be predicated on Tyson actually managing to drop Louis (and finish him, perhaps) because other, apparently lesser fighters managed it. Well - not every Louis opponent did and, whilst one can make the assumption it would happen, if they wish, it's by no means a given, when considering Tyson's own flaws and the many more strengths Louis has in his locker (other than his ability to to take punches).

I didn't mention the Louis jab and so I assume you are making this an additional talking point.

Yours is a plausible theory. But, again, I don't think it is a given that Tyson would necessarily capitalize on the perceived weaknesses of Louis and that Louis would for some reason not have anything else in his armory, with which to counter Tyson's early ferocity (which dwindled after the early rounds). The Jab is one of several options open to Louis and I think it would be a backstop, as opposed to a primary weapon for him, in this battle.

I see this being, in the main, a close-quarters contest.

 

Right. But I happen to believe Tyson and Louis are the 2 best punchers in heavyweight history. Both are probably the 2 best combination punchers as well, which is included in my "best punchers in heavyweight history" claim. They were the best at stopping their opponents inside the distance.

 

That might make a good thread actually.

 

Good post, its hard to argue. The only issue I take is that Louis, who could be dropped could get dropped multiple times, then stopped. If anyone can keep Louis on the floor its Tyson.

 

If Louis took a few rounds to get going, he's meat.

The best way to slow Tyson down it to hit him hard early, or tie him up. Louis wasn't very good on defense or clinching, os his best defense is a good offense. Joe Louis would need to fight like he did in the 2nd Schmeling fight here.

 

Louis could potentially get dropped multiple times and stopped but again it's a two way street. It's a great matchup and one i think would end within 5 (and possibly well within that) whatever way.

 

Indeed.

Finally a PPV I wouldn't have a problem paying $100 for...

 

Tyson throws the right , Joe uses a little footwork and bam! ,hits him with a snapping left hook.