Joe Louis vs. Muhammad Ali

Ali is too fast for Louis. I like Louis but Conn danced circles around him and Conn is a lightheavyweight and not as fast as Ali either. Louis is always dangerous of course but a prime and focused Ali isnt going to be stopped.

Ali UD.

 

Alis hand and feet speed is faster than Conns imo.

 

Ali wins this one by decision, and wins probably 10-5 in rounds.

I think it would look very similar to his first fight with Liston, only I think Joe will be more competative and go the distance.

 

Louis TKO15.

 

Alis lead right dominates this fight. Forget the jab Ali throws that sharp right straight down the pipe all night long.

Joe never adapted well during fights he stuck to his game plan and struggled if it didnt work. Conversely Ali adapted well and found ways to win.

People talk of Alis jab, movement and speed but the punch that won him his biggest fights was that fast, crisp lead right (Liston, Foreman, Frazier). It is unorthodox and unexpected so hard to prepare for or counter and kept those guys out of rhythm and off balance.

Joe was susceptible to right hands which further compounds his problem with Ali.

 

Who beat's who across eras is pure guesswork.

The fact is that in terms of acomplishments both Frazier and Norton are pygmies next to Joe Louis. There is no reason in terms of their either their acomplishments or stylistic characteristics to imagine that they would beat Louis.

So the question is-

How well would you take it if Louis won this fight?

Hypotheticaly?

 

Dance, dance, dance. Ali's legs, reach, and speed, would keep him too far away from Louis for too long for Joe to score enough to win. As Louis rarely threw punches unless his opponent was within range, he might be very fresh late in the match, and still dangerous. Joe was not particularly good at cutting off the ring, and his body attack would need to be from long range, exposing his head to Ali's counters. I do not think Muhammad would try to take Joe out, but settle for a comfortable decision win. It's very likely Joe does not take a backward step in this one, but he patiently would wait for his opponent to lose patience, and go after him. Ali would be smart enough and durable enough to outwait Joe, and prevail over the 15 round distance. I just can't see Louis winning against Muhammad on the scorecards.

 

Ali UD. I couldn't see it any other way. Well, perhaps Ali late stoppage.

 

I like Louis big, even if Ali fought the perfect fight and boxed on his toes, Louis was the greatest power counter puncher of all time. Ali could run but he can't hide

 

If Billy Conn could box circles around Louis for 12 rounds and almost take it from Joe then I think a much bigger/stronger and just as fast Ali could win. We're talking about a man with an 80" reach and iron jaw to boot. Plus, Ali would'nt make the same mistake as Conn and try to take Joe out. He would stay on the outside and use his reach and footwork to his advantage. Joe fought in an era where HW's fought at generally slower pace. Compare that with Ali/Frazier 1. Much much faster pace. Could Joe keep up with that? I don't think so. Ali by decision if he does'nt get stupid.

 

Old China Chin Norton beats Louis?Don't bet on it.:nono

 

Ahh, this just isn't a good matchup. Despite the greatness of Louis and Ali, that doesn't necessarily make for a good fight.

Louis matched against Larry Holmes, Mike Tyson, even George Foreman, would be more interesting. If anybody could shock Big George with one shot, it'd be Joe Louis.

Ali would dance circles around Louis, beating him up with jabs and light, quick rights over the Louis jab. Joe would be plodding after Ali, unable to do much because Ali would smother Joe using his old tricks of holding behind the head and cupping the elbows and forearms of his opponent.

Ali's strategy would be the same as Schmeling's: keep tossing that right hand. The difference is, the quickness of Ali's right hand would do more damage and do it earlier.

The only shot Joe has at a win is to catch Ali with a left hook, which was always Ali's vulnerability. Muhammad would square off slightly from the waist up so he could counter quickly with a right over the opponent's left shoulder. It worked most of the time, but it also cost him against Henry Cooper and Joe Frazier who nailed him with left hooks over Ali's cocked, low right hand. But they couldn't keep Ali down and I don't think Louis would either.

Also, Ali's stamina was unmatched. If an opponent could go 15 rounds all out, Ali could go 16. If the other guy could throw 50 punches per round, Ali could throw 60.

And the gloves of that era would favor Ali. He'd have a better chance of slicing up and lumping up Joe's face. It wouldn't be pretty.

Ali by TKO, round 10.