Joe Louis vs David Tua

You talkin' bout Galento?

A few superficial similarities aside, I wouldn't call them exactly analogous.

 

Louis would have to dig in the trenches for this one and I don't know that Tua is the right man to do that against. Louis could beat the **** out of Tua just as easily I reckon and would be uncorking hell shots all fight. But Tua has the better body for warfare.

I don't see Louis boxing 12 or 15 against Tua with his slow-ish feet and small-ish stature compared to who Tua fought. I think Tua wins a brawl or a boxing match through landing the better shots on the smaller man. He probably could have it any way. "Lennox Lewis did it and so could Joe Louis" is insipid as the two share so little in common.

Tua is not Galento, Baer. Tua reasonably could have beaten them both same night, they were weak, slow and crude compared to him. Both were super laborious punchers while Tua had dynamic short power and great combinations and head movement at his best.

 

I can see no reason to think that Tua was superior to Baer.

Baer is a far far more accomplished fighter.

 

No Doubt Tua is a phenomenal puncher and extremely dangerous at all times, but we are talking about Joe Louis here. I think the fight would get ugly very quickly for Tua, with Joe scoring combinations and knockdowns. Joe takes him out late.

 

He accomplished more against lesser competition in an easier time period with less refined, smaller fighters. Greatness, Baer. But if they fought, Tuamination.

 

Louis by late KO. Dangerous fight for Louis as Tua is a deadly puncher (particularly with the left hook) & very durable - but has not much else to bring to the table. He's flat-footed, has no head movement, has no jab & is one dimensional. Louis will land regularly with very hard shots. Tua is durable - but taking flush shots from Louis will crack his granite chin guaranteed. Punching power & chin will not be enough to beat Louis & just like everytime Tua fought an elite fighter, the Tuaminator will take another loss to one of the best elite fighters of all time.

 

I see Louis winning a decision here. Not sure why so many people believe Tua would be KO'd/stopped, as he had a chin of pure granite in his prime. 235 lbs. Ike Ibeabuchi landed many power punches and Tua didn't budge, nor did Tua buckle at 250 lbs. Lennox Lewis's shots. What makes people think 200 lbs. Joe Louis would stop him?

 

Louis was a much much better puncture than Ike, much more precise much faster much better combinations.

 

Louis (Boxer-puncher) vs Tua (slugger)

Power: Tua
Speed: Louis
Chin: Tua
Footwork: Even
Stamina: Tua
Technique: Louis
Combinations: Louis
Defense: Tua
Ring IQ: Louis
Killer instinct: Even
Adaptability: Louis
Accuracy: Louis
Heart: Louis

8-2-4 advantage Louis.

This would fight would be dangerous for the first couple of rounds for Louis due to the fact he hated being crowded, Tua had a great left hook, and the two fighters would probably meet ring center and begin exchanging early. However, if Louis manages to survive, he would quickly begin to make adjustments and take Tua to school.

Tua really only had 2 gears: slug away, or stalk following the opponent around looking for one big punch. While he did have a nice sharp jab, he neglected it and I can't imagine a scenario where he could outjab a taller, master boxer such as Louis who had a consistent sharp, piston jab. Louis could have leaky defense at times, but he was good at parrying and timing his opponents. I think by the 4th-5th round, Louis has Tua figured out. Louis would keep his right hand high to protect from hooks and throws lots of jabs, 1-2's, body shots, etc picking his punches carefully and being responsible on defense. Tua probably eventually gets frustrated and goes into his shell or just tries to land a hail Mary bomb every round.

Verdict: Louis wins by UD 7 rounds to 5 or so. He'd have a few scary moments early on probably getting wobbled or dropped, but he gathers his bearings and just outworks and outboxes the 1-dimensional Samoan.

 

How in Gods name could you entertain the idea that Tua had better defense?

 

I really don't see the case that Tua is this head to head monster.

He lost every time he stepped up and fought a ranked contender.

He lost to people who were smaller than him, people who didn't have particularly good chins, people who didn't have much in the way of defense, and people who didn't have much power to hold him off.

All kinds of people beat him, in all kinds of ways.

Not a big reach to add Joe Louis, Max Baer, and a few others to that list.

 

https://c.tenor.com/FUItMRhUz3sAAAAC/tenor.gif

 

Watch this highlights video of Louis demonstrating tremendous displays of footwork, defense & counter-punching. I like the Tua defense highlights too. Oh wait... it doesn't exist.

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Small correction, Tua and Louis have equal footwork if you are using the 1951 Louis to make your comparison.