How good were Joe Louis's skills? (With poll)

Obviously his skills were quite dominant for his eras.

Today's era is different. It remains to be seen if Louis could carry that dominance over to the newer generations

My guess would be no. The types of opponents he faced back in the 1930s have obviously not stood the test of time. Those types of fighters have been replaced

 

are you sure? I mean boxing was way bigger back then more fighters all over the world, more boxing clubs etc, they used to fight more too and 15 rounds with smaller gloves

 

Yeah boxing changed a lot between years but I don't think today guys are more skilled than before at least hw div

 

Louis was extraordinary, he proved it again and again. Most naysayers are just the indefensible "oh dear, boxing has advanced so much over the years" stripe.

Watch Willie Pep or SRR and tell me how much boxing has "advanced".

 

Boxing has changed, yes, but changed doesn't always mean advanced. How some of these classic Heavyweights could and would (or couldn't and wouldn't) adapt to modern conditions, equipment, officials, and powers that are in 2021, is the reason there are 2 (and possibly 3) camps In the forum. I really don't think humans have evolved that much in the last 100 years or so. From about 1942 on, I rarely encountered a fellow human taller than me. Nearly 60 years later, that's still true. Training methods have changed, so has modern "nutrition." Is it really all that improved? I believe it has improved in many ways, but I'm not so sure about how much. The Classic fighters would have some advantages, also, against the 2021 fighters. It sure is fun to discuss it.

 

During that time, America held what in effect was a monopoly on heavyweight boxing. Between Carnera's defence in Rome against Uzcudun in 1933, and Patterson's defence against McNeeley in Toronto in 1961 - there was not a single HW title fight, that took place abroad! That's 55 straight title fights, all held in the US. During this time only 6 non-americans fought for the title.

Contrast this with today, where the top heavyweights are spread all over the world, and where we have much more international competition. I think it's difficult to compare two eras, that are so different!

 

It's true, that the US produced BY FAR the greatest number of top heavyweights back then. My point is, that there was no real "threat" to their dominance - unlike in the past couple of decades, where the rest of the world has been catching up.

 

Money was in America as today but there were more HW's and clubs everywhere.. Today big guys prefer to play basket or Football

 

Once again, this is seen through American eyes. There are big guys everywhere - do you think those outside the US are taking up basket and football, to win fame and fortune?

 

Sure, you can interpret anything, any way you want - and can never be proven wrong.