How would Joe Louis have done in the 70s?

Yeah but Schmeling was very good. And why do you have my sentences in quotes?

 

I'll say only this.
Louis wouldn't have twenty-five title defenses.
He'd have more unexpected losses along the
way against opponents that wouldn't be seen as a serious threat.
Think about his 1st pro loss to Schmeling.
There were many fighters better than Schmeling during the 70's era.
Think about Louis's many knock-downs , many against boxers not seen as hard punchers.
Think about all the proven hard punchers of the 70's era.
Louis is the greatest offensive boxer in heavyweight history, and even in the talent rich 70's he'd have success.....
Just not as much.

 

It was the 70's, even Bonavena could be a frustrating night

 

He would do very well and would be a champion at some point.

He would not replicate what he did in the 1930s and 1940s.

 

Only Frazier was on that level, but he didn't have the style to survive Louis and outbox him the way Max did.

 

Not as well as he did in the 40 s but certainly beats All those below the big 3 .

 

Agreed. The guy who smashed an undefeated 29 year old champion Frazier wasn’t on that level either.

 

Best version of Ali in the 70s aka Norton 2 would be too fast too mobile for Louis wins a decision.

Holmes of Shavers 1 again would be too fast too mobile for Louis wins a decision.

Peak Frazier of FOTC could beat Louis although I'm a bit concerned of Frazier coming straight ahead against a lethal puncher like Louis.

Foreman would be an interesting one but I favour Louis stylistically though he did well against big Heavyweights who carried power.

Call me crazy but I think Young would be a very tricky style for Louis to overcome aswell.

Everyone else Louis should be favoured against I think Louis would do well in the era but I don't think he'd be number 1 and he'd have atleast 3 or 4 losses IMO.

 

I favour Ali and Holmes to beat him, Frazier is 50/50, he beats Norton, Foreman is an unpredictable fight, he needs to time him consistently because Foreman isn’t going to back up unless he’s badly hurt, if Louis is only able to land stiff punches, Foreman won’t care, but if there’s anyone who can time you with power punches, it’s Louis.
Jimmy Young could give Louis a lot of issues stylistically, but absolute prime for prime, Louis closes him off enough times to land enough effective punches to outwork him for a competitive decision.

 

Foreman lacked Frazier's and Schmeling's skills, he got by well on his power but was vulnerable to boxers with good footwork and was also risking it against notable punchers by slugging with them.
I wouldn't put him in the ring with Louis on any day of Foreman's career.

 

Louis would go from December 31, 1969 to January 1, 1980 undefeated.

 

It's simply not true that Foreman merely got by on power. One of the most unsubstantiated myths that simply won't die. Jumbo Cummings was said by Bruno to hit even harder than Tyson, which allowed him to dominate (a shot) Frazier in a way Foreman could only dream of.... oh wait.

Foreman was objectively on a level higher than Frazier seeing as he's routinely seen as the best heavy of the decade, excluding the greatest of all time.