Joe Louis (1938) v Max Schmeling (1936)?

That could be a tough one, that is because if Joe Louis had not learned the hard lesson from Max Schmeling about dropping his guard when throwing his right hand, his title reign would have been a short one. Even though being a champion makes you a much improved fighter with confidence and a will to fight, keeping what you have earned, you still have to possess the skill to hang onto what is yours. Max was very studious to find that weakness in Joe's defense, and to exploit it. In all practicality the same result happens to Louis as in their first meeting in 1936. On that night Schmeling taught Joe Louis a very valuable lesson that no one else had ever taught him before.

 

Now if you have the 1938 peak Louis facing 1936 Max Schmeling, i think the experienced brown bomber would have sent him to the morgue after a brutal beatdown.
BUT, since you brought up the fact he never met Max till he became champion, so you here you have a joe fighting with a flaw in his guard Blackburn hasn't corrected it yet since no one was able to expose it.
I guess Max, like in the real world would be the one to do it in this fantasy world , who knows

 

Very interesting question! Given the premise that Joe had not previously been KO'd by Max, I would say that a lot depends on how motivated Louis is for the bout. We know that in their 1936 bout Max was super-prepared and motivated, while Joe was overconfident, under-trained and believed, like most, that Joe could end the fight any time he wanted. Add in the style flaw, and you have all the ingredients for a major upset. Even so, the 1936 victory was not an easy one for Max. It was a hard-fought victory. It was four rounds before Max landed the haymakers that turned the fight in his favor, but Joe was still in the fight, even winning the seventh round. The 1938 Joe would be the defending champion and the significance of holding the title that he had so much sought would have supplied a lot of motivation. I have always believed that the Joe who defeated Max Baer would have won over 1936 Schmeling, even with the flaw, as he was highly motivated, and pounced on Baer from the beginning, moving well and utiliizing his very fast hand speed. Schmeling was a slow starter, which was part of the Louis camp's strategy for the 1938 bout in real time. Joe wanted to take Schmeling out before he could get started with his own strategy and counterpunching. So who wins? I'd say that if the same Joe from 1936 shows up, not having worked on correcting the flaw, and overconfident, Max wins. A more mature, seasoned Louis may be able to weather Schmeling's attack, in which case it would be a very good fight. As Louis would not be looking to quickly avenge an earlier defeat, the fight would go beyond 2:04 of the first round and be competitive for as long as it lasts. I would not be surprised if it went the limit, with Louis winning a close decision. Still, I would not want to wager any money on the outcome!

 

I'm afraid that more experienced version of Louis would beat Schmeling, but at the same time without their first fight I can see Max outboxing him anyway and stopping him in similar fashion.

 

I'm guessing that a Joe Louis, who hasn't learned about his weakness, learns of it from Mr. James J. Braddock (who had an excellent right cross when that hand wasn't injured). Fortunately for Joe, it doesn't cost him the fight, and he wins the title in a tougher fight than the one they actually had. Schmeling may or may not try that strategy anyway, but, either way, he gets a beat down from Joe, who now leaves the Schmeling fight undefeated.

 

Thanks my friend.

 

Nice thread,Fergy.

Probably pans out similarly to their 1936 bout if Joe has n't yet met Max in this alternative reality.

 

Joe Louis (Sonny Liston) stops Max with a surgical flurry and tosses a wink to his old foe and onlooker Harry Wills as Max slumps into a puddle of shame.