How well does a motivated Tim Witherspoon do against Joe Louis?

I don't see Witherspoon as a good match up for Louis.

Witherspoon's best shot is to land that big overhand right hand that could knock him down.

Witherspoon's crab defense might confuse Louis at first. But the crab defense works well vs guys who throw 2-3 punch combinations. Guys who through 5-6 punch combinations like Louis will find gaps in the crab defense. The crab defense is weak to great combination punchers IMO.

A peak 207 lb Louis of the Baer 2 fight is too much for Tim. Tim had a habit of standing close to his opponents as opposed to dancing away from people like Holmes or Ali. You can't stand in front of Louis unless you are a Foreman or Lewis type puncher (which Witherspoon isn't).

I mean Tim is a good puncher. But a outstanding one like Foreman, Tyson or Lewis? Nope. Louis has such quick hands that by the later rounds, he will find gaps in the crab defense and will likely knock Tim down a couple of times to win a decision or a late stoppage.

I give Witherspoon a solid chance of winning the early rounds but Louis will figure it out. Ultimately, Louis is the quicker handed guy with superior power and combination punching.

I give Tim a 10% chance of winning but my pick is Louis by late stoppage.

 

The Philly shell will catch the straight punches but it won't catch all the hooks and uppercuts thrown amongst combinations. Witherspoon will be in front of him a lot too, not forcing him to reset and chase. Louis is the better boxer of the two.

Joe Louis TKO between rounds 5 and 10.

 

He could make things difficult for Louis.