Louis's attitude up to the first Charles fight was basically "bring me the best man available and I will kill him for you!" After the Charles fight, he starts picking his opponents carefully. That tells you a lot!
Cesar Brion was a good young fighter. Watch him against Charles, then watch him against Louis. It reminds me of Larry Holmes doing as well against Mercer as Lennox Lewis did. And like Holmes, Louis was no longer as good as he was in his youth..but still good enough to convincingly beat a good contender. Cesar Brion was a good fighter. He held his own with everyone. Rex Layne, Lastarza, Louis and Charles giving them all tough fights that were tough and quite hard to score. And these were good fighters. This content is protected This content is protected Also, there is film of the version of Jimmy Bivins that Joe Louis fought that proves Louis still beat a good fighter when he took Bivins on points. Here us against Charley Doc Williams after meeting Louis. Bivins was always a good fighter, he even beat Mike Dejohn much later than when he fought Joe Louis too. This content is protected
Old Louis had significantly declined from his pre-war days, but he was still good enough to school Sam Peter, over the distance.
He was better than the Old Ali who lost to Spinks, Holmes and Berbick but possibly as good or better than the Holmes that lost to Tyson, He was rusty like the Dempsey who lost to Tunney but it boils down to wars- Ali had them, Louis had them - Holmes and Dempsey had less - older heavyweight punchers who rely on punching power should gain some muscle weight like Foreman and maintain energy like Foreman did from the Archie Moore school of aged combat
As long as he doesnt get caught with too many bombs. Peter was garbage but he was brave and threw non stop power punches.
How many of them did Brion beat? He was briefly ranked in 51, that was his moment in the sun I believe.
I don't think so. Peter was a solid boxer. Good enough to beat James Toney. Old Louis lack of power means he's trouble.
Peter was a courageous competitor, but his power is overrated. He only ever stopped one ranked opponent (on his feet) and that was Maskaev who, in 7 defeats, never lost by decision. Peter never stopped anyone in the championship rounds, either. I wouldn't advise that Louis get in the way of too many of Peter's shots, mind. However, I'd expect Louis to be able to avoid most if not all of Peter's telegraphed punches.
Why? Peter won a few rounds against Wlad; Decisioned a fat, old middleweight in Toney and stopped the 5-times previously stopped Maskaev. What else did he do to show he'd have beaten even an old Louis?
Toney, and Maskaev were probably better than anyone Old Joe Louis beat. McCline wasn't an yes out, Peter beat him too. Peter actually had a good jab. Louis was easy to hit in his older years, and if he was stunned by the likes of Conn and Farr in his prime, he's in trouble if Peter lands something solid.
Saying Peter beat Toney is a stretch as well tbh the first fight was regarded as a poor decision If 5'10 Toney can be competitive at HW when way past his best surely Louis can when he's declined but on good form.
