How long does 95-96 Mike Tyson last vs peak Joe Louis?

This Mike was still quite dangerous in the first few rounds but by this point he'd probably fade mentally in the later rounds.

Mike was still a solid 220 lbs of muscles and quite quick, he wouldn't be put down early. When he really was a total shell of himself he still lasted 7 rounds with the giant Lewis.

 

It would be up for grabs for about five rounds. After that things go more in favor of Louis

 

Louis could be very vulnerable. There were a lot lesser fighters than Mike that came out and put Louis down, even if he did come back and win.

The ones that gave Mike Tyson problems were the big ones 6' 5" with long arms. Louis was not that and was a stationary target.
It's true Mike at that time was getting out of prison and was far removed from his glory years, but he could still punch.

If he lands on Louis early, it's all over. If Joe can extend him for several rounds maybe he has a chance.

 

It wasn't over when Buddy Baer landed his left hook in round 1, when Max Baer landed both lefts and rights in round 1, when Marciano landed big rights and lefts in rounds 1&2 or when Galento hit him square on the chin in round 3 but a past prime Tyson will be the one to take him out early. I am not convinced.

The Joe Louis who crumbled early under big punches never existed.

 

But they did hit more than hard enough to finish a guy who was as susceptible to big punches as you think Joe Louis was.

 

To be quite honest, I'm not even sure Louis wins this.

Even '95-'96 Tyson was much better than Galento, Buddy, and a multitude of guys who dropped Louis. Now this is obviously oversimplistic but so is writing off Mike Tyson as simple as "How long does he last against Louis lolz".

 

How sure are we that Tyson had more raw power than the Baer brothers? Sure he was far better and quicker but those two landed flush on Louis many times, and it’s not like he just went down every time.

Buddy’s left hook had so much momentum on the knockdown over Louis, and he legit just strolled back into the ring

 

I always found prime Tyson to be a devastating matchup for Joe, and it’s not like Mike was that far past it by this point. He would be a world class HW in every era

 

Both the Baer's power was incredible, up there with the best of them in that department, probably harder hitters than Louis himself.
We know for sure that Louis had to be beaten continuously for multiple rounds to be taken out, he had to be exhausted first. That's where he differed from Lewis and Liston.
Going fifteen with Ezzard Charles after two years of inactivity at 36 and being reduced to a punching bag for the last 5 rounds should at least show how durable Louis was.
Wouldn't bet on anyone to knock Louis out with one or two hits in the first 3 rounds.

 

Peak Tyson would be the only fighter I’d give a significant chance at stopping Louis early, even then it certainly won’t be a few punches. Louis has excellent recovery, heart and a pretty sturdy chin himself

 

That's fair, peak Tyson could theoretically knock out anybody.
That said I'd give Louis better odds against Tyson than I would Dempsey, Liston, Marciano or Bowe.
Louis could dictate the range using his footwork and let Tyson walk into his combos instead of being forced into exchanges the way other heavyweight punchers who lacked the ability to back away would be.

 

If Louis can survive the early rounds I'd favour him. Tyson wasn't particularly effective late in a fight at this stage. I'll go Louis by UD.

 

Tyson honestly has a good chance of winning, the classic will hate me for this but Louis was skilled as he was stiff, very. If he survives up to round 6 then yeah I might favor him