Joe Louis Versus Muhammad Ali

"He's smart. The trickiest fighter I've seen. He's had 29 fights and acts like he's had a hundred. He could write the book on boxing, and anyone that fights him should be made to read it first...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

https://vault.si.com/vault/1967/04/10/zora-folley-ranks-muhammad-ali-as-no-1


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)

 

Sports Illustarated and Mr. Jacobs employed the scientific method, i.e. another person who took the same steps would get the same results. I wish SaintPreem could have responded.

 

The reasonable inference is Jacobs measured the fastest jabs. Another person using the same instrument, a synchronizer, should get the same results.

 

Ya think Galento's fastest punch was as fast as Ali's fastest punch. I don't even think SaintPreem would endorse that notion.

 

There is no need to be abusive. This is a board where educated gentlemen like SaintPreem and others come to discuss the greats of boxing. To your question Jim Jacobs, manager of Michael Gerard Tyson and owner of the largest collection of boxing film measured the speed of various boxers with a synchronizer and concluded Ali was the fastest. Sports Illustarated used an omegascope and came to a similar conclusion.

 

Sports Illustrated used an OmegaScope and Jim Jacobs used a synchronizer.. If you find these instruments of no utility there is nothing I can do to disabuse you of that notion, sir or ma'am.