If Max Schmeling hadn't beaten Joe Louis, how would this effect your ranking of him?

I am sure that at some point somebody would produce a thread detailing what people had said about him early in his career.

It would become apparent that he had been much more highly regarded than Sharkey or Baer while he was active.

There would also be some analysis of the rankings of his key opponents, and what those fights meant in the division at the time.

Somebody who knew what they were looking at, would realize that he had been one of the most dominant contenders in history.

A person who knew their way around the era, would be able to piece the puzzle together, even without the Louis fight.

 

Like you said, though, he DID get that win.

How would Frazier rank without the FOTC on his resume ?

 

ok...no problem... compadre.

 

Many sports fans don't even realize he lost to Schmeling or if they do, never saw it. They talk about the rematch. Taking Schmeling out of the picture erases Louis most important fight and would lower his legacy.