This content is protected I personally think this fight is right before Joe Louis' prime, so I hope I don't offend anyone when I say that I don't think Louis looked great at all before he knocked Ramage down the first time. But I expected it. I really enjoy the knockout though. What looked to me like a right overhand from Louis dropped Ramage, albeit in a rather sloppy fashion (the fall, not the punch that produced the knockdown). Naturally, Ramage goes in full retreat after that, with Louis storming after him. What happened next was beautifully done by Louis. Louis parries a pawing right from Ramage with his left as he raises it to jab with his left, which he does, closing the distance between them at the same time that he jabs. Louis then covers up as Ramage moves in to tie Louis up. He hits Louis with a right hand and nearly throws a left, but Louis quickly but casually raises his guard and takes Ramage out with a fast left hook you have to watch time and time again (even though where the camera is just makes it hard to see the hook by Louis, even in slow mo). Verdict: Not classic Louis, but if this is one of Louis' less significant performances, which I think it is, we live in a wonderful world of boxing. Give it your time. The KO is just too masterfully done to pass up.
I think I can see why the first fight warranted a rematch, Ramage seemed to have the exact style to trouble Louis. And you can see here that Louis clearly looks a little inexperienced IMO. He's a little more open here and hasn't quite mastered his back-hand parry or his counter-jab. He still had that brutal power and hand-speed though and he absolutely ****ing polaxed Lee with that left hook. Thanks, Will. Never seen this one before.
It shows how spectacular a fight is when you're not impressed with performance like this. The standards used for Louis are as high as possible, which is why he's the real GOAT candidate at his weight.
Louis was only about 8 months into his pro career. He might be still have been learning but he showed a lot, especially KO power in both hands. Ramage was one of the best boxers in the division at the time and probably was the most mobile heavyweight out there, at least of the ones I have seen on film.
