Deontay Wilder: I would knock Joe Louis out

The only way you can make a worthwhile comparison is to assume each fighter has access to the same level of support / nutrition / sports science. A better question would be if Joe Louis had access to modern training methods etc. would he be capable of beating Wilder? We'll never know but I'd argue he would. The qualities which made him so spectacular in a very competitive era for boxing would only improve with better sports science around him.

 

I have a hard time believing a guy 6'2 215lbs competing against today's super heavies. Louis is boxing royalty, he's earned and received accolades that today's fighters could never dream of. That said in a head to head it would be very difficult for these smaller guys to compete. At a 10' reach disadvantage, 15-50lbs in weight, 4-8 inches in height...that's a lot to overcome for anybody.

 

Byrd in his prime did it.

 

This. I like Wilder, but he's never faced an an effective combination puncher that was quick and had excellent stamina along with great handspeed, which is even rare in the lower weight divisions now days.

Buddy Baer had a longer reach than Wilder, had similar power, a better jab, and better defense and still got cut down. Louis took away Baers jab, stayed in range, and was attacking Baer from all angles with uppercuts, left hooks, and crosses. I don't know of any current heavyweights than can effectively attack from all angles except maybe Fury and thats only when he's in excellent shape, which is rare.

Lennox Lewis and Bowe could fight well on the inside, so I can see them presenting a tough challenge to Louis, but Wilder like most giant heavyweights nowadays are almost harmless on the inside.

Stiverne neutralized Wilder's right hand in their first fight with a few well timed counter rights. That said Wilder was able to fall back on his jab because Stiverne is slow and has no upperbody moment to speak of.

Ortiz easily too away Wilder's jab, but kept dropping his right hand, which is why Wilder started having success with the straight right and Ortiz's stamina was never his strong point.

 

I don't disagree.

However, I would make that calculation about most young, successful athletes. Like 99.9%. Usually goes with the territory as far as I can tell. I think LL would have said the same thing when he was near his peak. Now that he is retired and a little older and with the benefit of hindsight, some humility has likely set in.

 

Yeah absolutely. Just made the same point re Gervonta Davis, Charlos etc. Young guys with loads of cash, attention, surrounded by people telling them he great they are, it's not a recipe for measured humility...

So I think we should make allowances, but that doesn't mean that all of us in life aren't accountable for what we do and what we say...

 

I appreciate the detail that goes into your posts, particularly on the various technical aspects of fights, which I often don't notice. So here, have a gold star

 

Abso-****ing-lutely, brother.

 

If Louis was around now he would just be another name NOT on Deontay Wilders resume. I know Wilder has an excuse for every good fight that has hasnt managed to make but those excuses are really building up now and other fighters around him are managing to make those fights. He never fought Wlad when he had a chance, he never fought Povetkin when he had a chance, Or the other belt holder Parker, Joshua has fought Wlad, Parker and is fighting Povetkin next, and now Wilder doesnt look like he is fighting Joshua. Seems to be a bit of a trend. He wouldnt knock out Joe Louis because he wouldnt fight Joe Louis.

 

It's a little early this side of the pond, so imagine a smiley that's raising his mug of coffee in your general direction

 

Wilder weighs 215lbs.

 

Cool...

 

Yeah...