How bad was Joe Louis's opposition ?

That's conclusive enough for me ,but then I was prepared to take your word anyway.
N B .I am not the one questioning Louis's defences .:huh

 

Can you show me the soruce here? I have a source where Louis camp saw Ray at the MSG, and wanted no part of him.

 

http://news.google.com/newspapers?n...VEtAAAAIBAJ&sjid=udUFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2988,1970037

"We would have been glad to take on Baksi, also Mauriello. I figure Elmer can bump both of them"

 

The problem with this sort of article is that it is merely Ray's manager putting his spin on it.

What we do know is that Walcott defeated Ray in a rematch in Ray's home base, Miami, in March of 1947.

Louis did fight three exhibitions with Ray in 1949 and handled him.

Off a list of exhibitions in an old Ring Record Book, Louis was touring Latin America from late 1946 to the summer of 1947. If he did have a summer defense in 1947, I think it would have been against Walcott who was coming off victories over Ray and Maxim. Don't forget Maxim had also beaten Walcott in the fight before Ray's win over Joe, so Ray's win was not that outstanding at the time.

 

RAY'S OWN MANAGER is the source. I posted the quote two pages ago.

Is it from Louis' own manager?

 

I know, but I think it's very important to note that Louis fought the top 2 contenders back-to-back, just three months apart. How many champions can anyone name that does that?? And yet, there's people here who think he should be criticized for failing to fight one particular LOWER rated fighter within a couple months of that. :roll:

 

I agree, its illogical to say the least. Louis takes on Walcott who has beaten Ray, chases Pastor all around the ring in their first fight, treats him as a human yo yo in their rematch ,Pastor stops Franklin yet Louis ducked Franklin?:huh

 

Here is another way to look at it.

What if every contender of that period had been white?

Would Franklin, or even Ray necesarily be held up as the biggest omisions on his resume?

 

You are asking a question to which you allready know the answer.

 

There we have it, Louis did not want to fight Ray according to this article. I also have information in Ring Magazine top 50 heavyweights which says something similar.

 

Joe Louis took on all-comers.

Some of them were great, some were good, some were just decent, and some were dreadful.

 

Just your spin....Jeffries beats Griffin, and destorys Munroe in two, and Everett in three, and draws ( But floors 2-3x ) Choynski in his 7th pro fight.

Johnson losses to Griffin, gets Ko'd by the super middle Choynski in three rounds, and takes a more shop worn Everett 20 rounds, and Munroe the distance as well. Like I said just a spin...but using this type of thinking it is illogical to say Jeffries ducked Johnson.

 

This content is protected

 

Louis fought lots of big punchers.

 

A few. Those with skills and power ( Marciano and Schmeling ) knocked him out. Those with limtied skills in Baer, and Galento floored him. I think Ray, Franklin, Thompson, or Sheppard if they had the chance could ( NOT SAYING WOULD ) have upset or made a good fight with Louis.

Ray has skills and power. In Schmeling's class.