Is Perception Reality: The punching power of Joe Louis

What's the available evidence exactly and in your opinion how does it suggest that he's on the same level as any particular contemporary heavyweight?

 

I would say, and accurately so, that Buddy Baer was an under-skilled, poor man's Lou Savarese.

 

No he was better than that. Lou Saverese was not rated on the all time greatest punchers list.

I think you don’t like black and white film.

 

Look at the available evidence of contemporary heavyweights. Charr, Miller, hammer, whyte, breazeal... in boxrec top 20 only four guys with more than 30 wins. Quarter of the top 20 heavyweights have just 20 wins or less to their name. One of them is rated the worlds best.

Aged 27 Buddy Baer retired after 60 fights with a 82% knockout record.

 

The starry eyed ruminations of the idiots at Ring hold no purchase with this intrepid observer. I bet Michael Grant punched harder.

And I do not watch movies made after 1971 with 2 exceptions.

 

I know, you told me. The only two films you watch made after 1971 are Cannonball run II and Ernest goes to camp.

 

And I would say you are entirely correct!

 

Slam Dunk Ernest, actually.

 

That’s just evidence that Baer fought and knocked out more men than current heavyweights. Doesn’t tell us he first thing about whether he was a comparably talented fighter or what his career would’ve looked like with fewer no-hoper opponents to pad his stats.

 

You have always been a stinker and remain so!

 

Here’s a rare film of a 19 year old Buddy knocking out Jack Doyal in madison Square Garden. It starts at 7mins.

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And here is Buddy against Louis.

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What makes puncher?

" Heavy hands " AKA natural power? Yes. Vericloty on the punches? Yes. Good technique? Yes.

Louis IMO had two of the three, but once he lost his speed, his power became ordinary. It is my opinion that Louis was a special puncher with those 6 to 8-ounce gloves he wore, but would rate a notch lower if he fought today with the 12-ounce gloves.

As with most punchers, suspect competition makes them stand out.