Louis faces Dempsey's best 4 opponents which for the purposes of this debate are Tunney Sharkey Firpo Gibbons How does Joe do ? Does he improve on Jack' s results ,or struggle here and there?
The Tunney fight would be the hardest here, his foot movement would help him, it would be very close, Louis would beat Firpo the way he beat Baer but he didn`t like when fights swarmed him so if it wa action packed he could lose, Louis was much more skilled than Dempsey and harder to hit with the jab, this is the key punch in boxing and set up Louis`s amazing combo`s, Tunney won`t land as many jabs on Louis as he did on Demsey who was wide open for the jab, Firpo couldn`t set his punches with the jab like Louis which could turn the fight, the other two would also be outjabbed and knocked out by Louis, different class entirely I`d say.
I agree with Mark Ant that the Tunney fight would be the hardest for Louis. However, I think Louis would eventually catch and KO Tunney, especially over 15. Denpsey caught Tunney with a beautiful counter and combination in the second fight. Almost put him out for the count, and this was past prime Dempsey. Louis was definitely adept enough to land in similar fashion. However, this could be arguable as Louis was not as 'explosive' as Dempsey, but much more calculating.
Well Louis did face a washed up Jack Sharkey, however the Sharkey that fought Dempsey was a top fighters. I still like Louis here via mid to later round TKO. I think Tunney decisions Louis,and Gibbons has an outside shot of doing the same. Firpo's lack of skills means he;s a likely early loser, but the first few rounds could be exciting.
Tunney could win a decision here. Could also stop Louis later. A Sharkey loses by KO. Firpo may knock Louis down, but he gets chopped up, prolly before the 6th bell. Gibbons is also a live one here. Mostlikey loses a decision. So no, he probably doesn't improve much on Dempsey's results.
Louis close decision over Tunney tough fight to pick IMO Louis beats the rest Louis 4-0-0 But I would call Tunney a very live dog, and if he can get a 10 rounder I might even pick him
Tunney and Gibbons have almost zero track record at heavyweight. I think Louis blasts them both. He disfigures Firpo. And I think the Sharkey match-up has already been performed.
I think that Tunney and Sharkey would be a threat to a declining Louis. Much would depend upon the timeline, but even the Louis of the Walcott fights, would have a good chance against these men.
And Louis at his best was slightly under or over 200 pounds. So how dwarfed is Tunney at 190?? Tunney might have a shade in height and reach. I am shocked as one of the better films guys that you think Tunney has no chance. He had fast feet, a top jab, and more power than several who stunned or floored Louis. And he was only down one in many fights with a top Ring IQ. The Dempsey that Tunney fought had quicker feet than Louis ever did. What happened ?!?!
I'm not arguing size of the Louis or Tunney here. I am arguing what they did in the heavyweight division. As a heavyweight, Tunney played a game of capture the flag and retired. He carefully maneuvered himself to a title shot, was a blip on the screen and ended with zero depth to his resume at that weight. Louis left the greatest imprint the division ever beheld and likely will ever see. He was proven beyond all doubts in the division. I know plenty of Tunney and his filmed fights against decrepit Dempsey (once on a slick, non-punchers canvas) and a more decrepit Gibbons in his final fight. I know he looks good against past it fighters, one a lightheavy himself. That's not enough for me to give him much of a chance against the best version of Louis.
