As seems to be the consensus here I'd probably go with Ali whilst crying throughout, in turn destroying a classic. What really doesn't sit right though is when the fight goes past ten, and a bruised Louis is still poised and patient, he may thread through some thunder, rack up a few knockdowns, and take the decision. Wouldn't be surpised. Just dead.
Regarding this hypothetical match-up/mortal-wager, I once told my dad "I'd bet on Ali; if Louis won, I'd die a happy man." Louis a quite live underdog, IMO, though there's also a chance Ali wins by a considerable margin.
When Joe went the Championship Distance, it was no picnic against Tommy Farr (but probably his most skilled boxing display), he took an SD in Godoy I, an SD in JJW I (where his challenger was actually older than himself), then in his comeback, his power made it suspenseful against Charles (where both got badly swollen up) but Ezz took a lopsided decision. Ali's record over the Championship Distance was 8-2, plus two 15th round stoppages and two near 15th round stoppages (Manila and Shavers). Joe never produced a stoppage later than round 13 (Simon I and Conn I). If Ali hears the final bell, then I'd be very hard pressed to supply a scenario where Louis somehow takes the decision. Viewing JJW I where the Bomber tails him around the ring round after round, I just can't see him being competitive on the cards with late 1960's Ali.
I think they'd need a trilogy. Both were good at adapting within a fight and especially in rematches. I could see Ali befuddling him with his speed, elusive head movement, and unorthodox counters, but Louis manages to win the next fight with his steady supply of body shots, blistering combinations, and constant pressure behind a piston jab. This, of course, depends on if Ali survives to the final bell in the first place. Ali had an iron chin and amazing heart having survived numerous sluggers who hit even harder than Louis, but few boxers managed to follow up with more than 1-2 punches after they hurt Ali. He was so damn good at clinching, rolling with the shot, and covering up tightly if hurt. But if there's one guy who had the combination of skill, speed, and power to actually connect with multiple flush bombs it was the brown bomber. Ali would need to be in tip top shape and not get greedy. Stick and move, stick and move. No fancy shuffling or rope a dope stuff, no mixing it up at ring center or attempting to play possum. He'd need to be on his toes and firing and all cylinders from start to finish. Louis was always in position to punch even if he missed and had amazing fundamentals and balance.
Of course we can always disagree in gentlemanly fashion, yet always remain agreeable. As I've stated before, I don't believe Joe ever figured out the style Pastor and JJW used, 11 years apart, which establishes a pattern for him. In their rematch, JJW jettisoned his boxing and went for the kill. Jack Blackburn didn't live to see it, but he reportedly preferred JJW as a better prospect early on, and actually favored JJW over Louis in a prospective prime for prime bout with both healthy. (For Charles-JJW I, the television announcer describes JJW as having slowed down, available preserved kinescope viewing on YouTube. At the final bell, the audience booed as the announcer said they were used to seeing Louis produce knockouts.) In Pastor II, Bob got up five times in the opening two rounds to be catching up after 10 rounds with ten to go, but got foolishly overconfident. (Allegedly, he raised his hands after ten rounds, but I haven't made this out on that footage. As with Galento getting up to uniquely return the favor to Louis, this shows Joe was not an absolutely infallible finisher despite the quote, "Once Joe Louis had a man in trouble...") Presuming Ali wins the first time, I believe he'd stick to what was originally successful. Now, did JJW win his first bout with Louis? Yes, under a ten point must system, but since it was on a rounds basis, his two KDs on the Bomber only counted for two rounds. Then, a badly tiring JJW lost the last two stanzas by running away. For the rematch, he didn't trust the judges, so he went for the kill, but was leading conclusively at that stage for a second consecutive bout after decking Louis yet again. So JJW 2X and Pastor 2X is very troubling for me regarding a trilogy between Ali and Louis. I think the second bout becomes Ali's clincher in that trilogy.
Since I’d have absolutely no clue who I’d consult then I guess I’d just flip a coin and hope for the best
Good post buddy, and to the unbiased member, a nicely laid out blueprint for a Ali/Clay victory, thinking the fighter that fought Terrell would be Clay at the very best of his abilities, and I would favour him to outpoint Louis, with an outside chance of a late stoppage. stay safe amigo.
I like 'em (Louis and Ali) both, but Joe a bit more in my viscera. When I was a kid (b. 1965), I was sort of 'boo hiss' Ali in the way I might have related to a 'rassler heel like Ernie Ladd. Of course, Ali himself adapted/adopted quite a bit of 'rassler-crowd psychology.
Hello Gods?……when will the outcome of this match be confirmed? When that day comes, I think the instant and considerable drop in the number of members here will be sad. Who’s picked Louis like me? - I just want to get a gage on who will be left - I don’t want to be The Omega Man like Chucky Heston with no one to talk to but dummies (aka mannequins).