Joe Louis tells how he would beat Ali

"There's just no way to train yourself for what he does: the moves, the speed, the punches and the way he changes style every time you think you got him figured. Wendell Newton, my sparring partner, jumped around and he was awkward, but he wasn't Ali. Ali is something else. I fought middleweights, even smaller men and they weren't as fast. This guy has a style all of his own. It's far ahead of any fighter's around today, so how could those oldtime fighters, you know, Dempsey, Tunney or any of them keep up? Louis wouldn't have a chance—he was too slow. Marciano couldn't get to him, and he would never get away from Ali's jab. The only one who would have a good chance was Ezzard Charles, a real fast heavyweight who was smart and was perhaps the best combination puncher of them all."

ZORA FOLLEY RANKS MUHAMMAD ALI AS NO. 1 - Sports Illustrated Vault | SI.com

 

Gotta respect Folley’s opinion but he still had his own creditable successes during the fight even though he was past it with likely depleted stamina and punch resistances.

I wouldn’t call Louis necessarily that slow of foot - remember, Ali talked up Joe being “too slow” more than anyone else.

Louis had much faster hands than Zora, punched much harder and far more effectively in combination. Joe was also far more on point technically - features that would make a world of difference as compared to the complexion and outcome of Zora’s fight with Ali.

 

Holmes must not have known much about boxing history up to that point.

 

Folley is one of the last people whose opinion I would trust. Ali gave him that title fight as a favor, he wasn't exactly unbiased.

Almost everything he says in statement is complete tripe.

 

Sure he doesn't.

 

I reckon you meant rights not jabs.

I was hoping barrf or anyone else would respond by saying but that wasn't the best Louis. Clearly putting credence in what someone did against a very young Ali yet to fight for the title isn't that relative to the fully developed peak Ali of some 4 years later.

Louis definitely improved his defense but he was still quite hittable for the skilled practitioner and Ali's right hand over a jab was lightning.

It's a great matchup. A majority seemed to be reached over time that Ali would decision Joe in a really good fight and i'm on that train.

 

You wonder if some of these guys have ever watched an Ali fight. A while ago it was that he couldn't clinch until the 70's.

 

This one is good too:

"I hurt him to the body, but he's tough.In the ring the guy doesn't show when he's been hurt. ... Not even the smallest sign, the way most fighters do."

And as I posted earlier, Folley spoke very highly of his ring IQ in this same interview as well. And then we have Cooper speaking highly of his strength in the clinch from their fight the year before.

So strength, toughness and ring IQ were all there in the 60's according to the guys that actually faced him. But I'm pretty sure that that simple fact won't bother the ones that keep pushing the narrative that these things only appeared in the 70's version.

 

If they fought, I think Ali would have definitely, I feel in my mind, beat him because Ali was the computer printout of everything that was a problem for Joe Louis. The movement which Joe had problems with, even in a little small light heavyweight Billy Conn and Jersey Joe Walcott, those guys Joe always had problems with. I was fortunate enough to get to know one of his best friends who came from Detroit like I did, and he said Joe’s management always had to keep him away from boxers, people who could move, because Joe had problems with movers. But you know, he did what he had to do. He beat everybody of his era and held the title for so long and was a perfect gentleman when it comes down to what was required and necessary at that time.

Source: Heavyweight History With Emanuel Steward: Part 2 Of 3 • East Side Boxing • News Archives (https://www.boxing247.com/weblog/archives/127951)

 

That wasn't some open flaw that anybody could exploit, Schmeling worked for that opening and spent rounds setting up that right hand. The idea that Ali is just going to lean back and tag him with the right without setting him up, every time Louis throws a jab is ludicrous.

 

I wonder if you've ever watched a Louis fight.

Implying that Ali was as good a right-handed puncher as Schmeling without evidence suggests you haven't watched much Schmeling either.

 

That Emanuel Steward fella seems to know a thing or two about boxing.

 

I've watched him against Baer, Schmeling x 2, Carnera, Braddock, Galento, Buddy Baer, Conn, Walcott, Charles and Marciano off the top of my head.

But what have I said about him that you disagree with?

I watched his fights against Sharkey, Louis and Baer. I e all the biggest ones against the best competition. I don't think his right was on the same level as Ali's. I don't see how you can reach any other conclusion.