Emmanuel Steward said something to the effect if you went in a lab Muhammad Ali would be the boxer to come out who would have beat Joe Louis.
Ali. Louis isn't ever putting him down for the count and he's still too slow. Ali out points him because he's a better boxer, faster, and has a granite chin. Ali could and would steal rounds with his flurries too.
I cannot see Joe Louis beating Muhammed Ali in a decision, can Joe take him out? Doubtful I think Louis has a better shot at ko'ing a younger greener Ali
Joe Louis all the way. I admire Muhammad Ali, to me he is the Greatest. But Ali in the 1970's was way too dramatic in the ring, he lacked all of his 1967 gifts, the stamina, reflexes, timing, footwork , and reflexes. In the 1970's Ali was beaten by Frazier and Norton, Ali even had his jaw broken by Norton in March 1973. The 1970's Ali did suffer more Neurological issues from that constant use of the Rope A Dope. Louis would have picked his shots against the legs less Ali who started entering the ring very pudgy, something he did not do in 1967. Louis would have stayed on Ali, broke him down and maybe even stopped him late. I feel deeply saddened by posting this but Ali maybe shouldn't have come back in Oct 1970 after a 43 month exile, because he was easy pickings for a fighter like Joe Frazier and Ken Norton.
His health would have been likely better but he doesn't sniff the GOAT conversation if he retires in 1967.
I agree nor does he have immortal wins like the one over Foreman. I think he would've gotten Parkinson's regardless as it seemed to be genetic, but it wouldn't have been nearly as bad nor come as early in his life.
I heard that some doctors warned Ali to retire from boxing in fear of Parkinson's as early as the 1960s, they knew he had a genetic component or something
Agreed. Muhammad Ali could then could have been the only other undefeated retired Heavyweight Champion besides Rocky Marciano, 49-0, 43 KO"s for Marciano. Muhammad Ali would have retired with a record of 29-0, 23 KO's, 9 title defenses.