This content is protected 1. Jabbing, and little else. Even. 3. Fought head-to-head. Joe was busier, but had little effect on Savold. Savold scored with reasonable effectiveness near the end of the round. Louis. 5. An exhausted and battered Savold attempted to throw several overhand rights at Louis. Emphasis: attempted. Louis. 6. After a bit of back-and-forth, as well as a low blow by Savold (it still impresses me that Joe never complained about a low blow in any of his fights when he got hit with one), Louis hurt Savold with a hard right hand. Then he dropped a bloody Savold with a powerful left hook. Verdict: It was imo Joe's greatest win of the early 50s period. He certainly showed that old power. However, I have not been able to really enjoy Joe's 50s stuff. His 30s and 40s stuff is so good, it's tough to watch. Seriously. I mean, it's a declining great, and an admirable one at that. Not to mention, early 50s Joe is just kind of boring to be honest. While this was nothing like Joe's demolitions of Max Baer, Max Schmeling, and Billy Conn, it was an impressive display of power at this stage in Joe's career. It's up to you.
The announcer keeps referring to Savold as the British Empire champion. The British Empire champion at the time of this fight was Jack Gardner, who was British. Savold was an American, from Minnesota I think. He was recognized as the world heavyweight champion by the British Board of Boxing Control (I believe the organization was called) after he stopped Bruce Woodc-ck in 1950. In fairness, the IBC was heavy handed in matching Charles and Walcott for the title in 1949 without any elimination tournament. No doubt they were the two best out there, but it is the world championship, and Bruce W should probably have gotten a shot at one of them before the final elimination bout. The British were peeved and matched Bruce W with the best remaining contender, Savold. The expectation was probably that Bruce W would win and be established as a title claimant. As they say, the best laid plans of mice and men. This fight was scheduled for 15 rounds, but when Louis, who had lost to Charles, won, the British recognized Charles as champion. Louis apparently was penciled in for a shot at Charles in the fall but Walcott upset Charles and that apple cart a few weeks later. Savold had been a contender since the 1930's and seems a fair boxer and dangerous puncher who consistently came up short against the top men, losing to Conn, Bivins, Mauriello, Baksi (2 of 3), Ray, and eventually Louis and Marciano. A better than fringe contender, though not a top man either, but a guy who in fairness fought them all and had a number of impressive wins and knockouts over top ten and occasionally top five types. Your take on Louis at this point is fair. The fight impressed me as a dull beat down. The film is not helped by an announcer who did not do his homework at all. Thanks for posting.
