Interesting Joe Louis story

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Boxing125, Aug 17, 2015.


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  1. Boxing125

    Boxing125 Active Member Full Member

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    This is taken from the autobiography Nosher. Nosher Powell was a London based sparring partner for British based Heavyweights in the 1940s and 1950s. He was of the opinion that Nino Valdes ( who he briefly spared with) was the greatest heavyweight never to have become heavyweight champion and that he looked frightening in the gym when preparing for a fight against Joe Erskine.

    If I find the book I will edit the post to give a word by word account of his story about Joe Louis but I will describe it as I remember it.

    ' During the war I got the opportunity of my life. I got to spend a month as Joe Louis's sparring partner. Even now I cannot believe that it happened. We spent lots of time together talking about boxing and Joe was the most polite and helpful person in the world.

    In reality Joe was more of a teacher to me than I was a sparring partner to him. In the gym he would praise my left hook but when we sparred it was really just to keep him ticking over. He would only ever lightly jab me and I never got hit with any of his bombs. Except once. He let go with a right hand and I can tell you it was like being hit by a truck! I could feel my legs go as I staggered and I was about to fall when Joe yelled ' stomp your feet Nosh' and I stomped as hard and fast as I could and remarkably the feeling came back into my legs and I didnt fall. Joe said ' sorry there Nosh I let go with a loose one there'.

    A conversation I remember us having was when Joe said ' My greatest night wasn't when I beat Schmeling in the first round or Braddock when I won the title it was when I beat Max Baer. I knocked him out in the 4th, but that night I felt like I could fight all night!'

    I think there is a bit more about Joe Louis ( I think it was during his time in the army in the war) in the book but I cant remember the rest.
     
    Boxing125, Aug 17, 2015
    Boxing125, Aug 17, 2015
    #1
  2. robert ungurean

    robert ungurean Богдан Philadelphia Full Member

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    Kool stuff
     
    robert ungurean, Aug 17, 2015
    robert ungurean, Aug 17, 2015
    #2
  3. impacted

    impacted Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Good story, and refreshing after years of the nonsense claimed in books by bully boys along the lines of Lenny Mclean and co.
     
    impacted, Aug 17, 2015
    impacted, Aug 17, 2015
    #3
  4. SuzieQ49

    SuzieQ49 The Manager Full Member

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    Nino Valdes was dangerous
     
    SuzieQ49, Aug 17, 2015
    SuzieQ49, Aug 17, 2015
    #4
  5. SuzieQ49

    SuzieQ49 The Manager Full Member

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    Did Nosher Powell speculate on Marciano vs Valdes?
     
    SuzieQ49, Aug 17, 2015
    SuzieQ49, Aug 17, 2015
    #5
  6. fists of fury

    fists of fury Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Good story. Sounds exactly like Louis.
     
    fists of fury, Aug 17, 2015
    fists of fury, Aug 17, 2015
    #6
  7. burt bienstock

    burt bienstock Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    The Joe Louis who kod Max Baer would have surely caught up to at some point, and ko'd Clay/Ali, were they to have met. Just look at Louis with his triple left hooks and swift murderous combinations. Once this version of Joe Louis hurt you the game was over and sayonara...
     
    burt bienstock, Aug 17, 2015
    burt bienstock, Aug 17, 2015
    #7
  8. Wass1985

    Wass1985 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    The question is could he take the leather that Ali would be landing on him? Ali would be hitting him fast and hard with combinations, I personally think Louis would wilt under the onslaught.
     
    Wass1985, Aug 17, 2015
    Wass1985, Aug 17, 2015
    #8
  9. Boxing125

    Boxing125 Active Member Full Member

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    What nonsense was claimed by bully boys?
     
    Boxing125, Aug 17, 2015
    Boxing125, Aug 17, 2015
    #9
  10. ribtickler68

    ribtickler68 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I don't.
     
    ribtickler68, Aug 17, 2015
    ribtickler68, Aug 17, 2015
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  11. burt bienstock

    burt bienstock Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Oh I see ! The "light" punching Joe Louis will "wilt" under the onslaught of the "murderous " punching Ali.... And the earth is "up" and the sky is "down"...Oh welllll :patsch
     
    burt bienstock, Aug 17, 2015
    burt bienstock, Aug 17, 2015
    #11
  12. ribtickler68

    ribtickler68 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    It's entirely possible Joe could out jab Ali, Burt. And if he does, Ali is toast.
     
    ribtickler68, Aug 17, 2015
    ribtickler68, Aug 17, 2015
    #12
  13. burt bienstock

    burt bienstock Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Ken Norton made it so tough for Ali, because he jabbed, jabbed and jabbed Ali making it uncomfortable for Ali. Jimmy Braddock after he was kod by Joe Louis, testified that Louis's jab "felt like
    a light bulb exploded in my face"...So damaging was Louis's jabbing...
    This is my contention about Clay/Ali...It was his flamboyant
    personality and colorful antics that made him thought of as the
    "greatest", every bit as much as his true ability...He did not annihilate his opponents like Joe Louis did , holding the HWt title for 13 years...He had trouble with a Doug Jones, Ken Norton, Jimmy Young etc. Joe Frazier beat him in the FOTC I saw at MSG.
    Ali was brave no doubt, agile and a showman but there was only one Joe Louis and we must not forget it...
     
    burt bienstock, Aug 17, 2015
    burt bienstock, Aug 17, 2015
    #13
  14. BlackCloud

    BlackCloud I detest the daily heavyweight threads Full Member

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    Exactly that Wass.
    People are all too quick to mention how hard Louis may hit but seem oblivious to the fact he would have his face used like a speedball by a '67 Ali.
    And once again they resort to using the Doug Jones fight as a guide.

    Looking at both their careers and the opponents they fought, Ali presents a far, far bigger problem for Louis to solve than vice versa.
     
    BlackCloud, Aug 17, 2015
    BlackCloud, Aug 17, 2015
    #14
  15. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    Ali fought an extensive collection of ko punchers, only one ever beat him,once out of three attempts.:think
    Louis was outboxed by 168lbs Conn for 13rounds.:think
     
    mcvey, Aug 18, 2015
    mcvey, Aug 18, 2015
    #15
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