Is Joe Louis technically unevolved, or is he up to modern standards?

If he was fighting today then I'm sure he would be weighing over 220lbs.

 

He would have weighed what he felt most comfortable at, and what his body allowed him to weigh. My guess is he'd have topped out around 210 and fought at cruiser, then maybe bulked up to around 220 for a move to heavy. He didn't have a huge upper body but he may have been able to pack on some weight around his midsection and thighs the way Adamek did. What effect that would have had on his overall game is anyone's guess.

 

You think he'd beat Usyk easily?

 

I'd criticise the fact that he tended to stand a bit square on when delivering combos. The off-centre stance has been successfully used in the modern era at all weight divisions.

 

I was just about to ask the same thing, but you beat me to it!

It's possible (but by no means certain!), that Louis would blast out big guys like Wilder, Joshua, Wlad, etc... but I think he would have a real hard time against a fast, mobile boxer like Usyk.

 

He seemed to be a natural big guy with big bones and a wide frame. As someone mentioned Holyfield managed to get up to 215lbs and Louis had a bigger frame than him so for him to get to 220lbs shouldn't be too much of an ask.

 

Well if he juiced up he could theoretically pack on a ton of muscle while retaining his speed and sharpness, but no one responds to steroids and growth hormones in exactly the same way, and Louis might just as easily end up a sloppy mess.

It's just too much of a guessing game to theorise how he does at that weight.

 

What was the average weight of a heavyweight in those days? Especially one that was 6'2.

 

Somewhere around 200 I believe.

 

From the 1990s onwards a 6'2 heavyweight would be around 220lbs. So someone like Louis would be around that figure today.

 

Yeah, I don't doubt that Louis could get up there. I just question whether it would be in his best interests.

IMO, his frame suited current CW a lot better.

 

I'm not a technical expert, posters on here have forgotten more than I know, but technically, especially offensively he looks sensational to me!

 

I think Usyk would give him major problems, and likely outpoint him. Then again, I think Usyk gives everyone major problems.

 

Joe Louis technically was modern 80 years ago and is still modern today. I would go as far to say that he is as technically advanced as anyone ever...which speaks volumes because there have been some true geniuses between the 1930s and now.