1910 rules means 45 round fight and long clinches with punching and some grappling allowed. Helps Johnson.
Johnson would outsmart Louis early and contain him well on the inside. Bigger guys like Buddy Baer tried imposing their size and weight in the clinch against Louis and failed but Jack was much more technical with how he clinched. He wouldn’t focus on imposing his weight as much as trying to control Joe’s wrists, biceps, forearms. However, I think the main question is how long could he keep that up for? How long can he “contain” Louis and stop those explosive combos? I doubt he’d be perfect for enough time to drown Louis in deep waters past the 20 round mark. Joe is also probably the only world class combination puncher Jack’s faced that’s his own size; Langford, at least from the film we have of Johnson’s opponents, is the only elite combination puncher he fought and Sam was 20 and like 150 pounds. Jack’s reactive, largely reflex-dependent style with those low hands carries its risks and while he has the benefit of being a great athlete, how’s he going to react when Joe eventually does land something big? He can’t be perfect forever, probably not even for the first ten or so rounds so maybe Joe can get him out of there before the difference in experience across multiple rounds can make a difference.
EXCELLENT analysis--well done! I think Johnson would be cagey enough to neutralize Louis's power and can ultimately win by simply wearing him down and "outlasting" him--(Especially under 1910 rules with 45 rounds and a more "grappling" style of clinching which was pointed out earlier. Johnson was great at that type of clinching and he had a lot of strength.)
45 rounds is not 1910 rules. The point of the 45 rounds was to ensure the fight didn't go the distance. Boxers were not anymore prepared to fight 45 rounds in 1910 then they are today. While 20 and 25 rounders were kinda common for important fights they were more then offset by 4 and 6 rounders. And the 20s and 25 going the distance was rare as well. Louis would knock out Johnson in a few rounds tops. Grappling favors the more dangerous fighter because it can be used to set up punches as it closes the distance. Louis is lightning fast. It makes things even worse for Johnson. If they grapple Louis can just tee off with body shots.
I said rules to be short thought would be understood. Of course rules can vary. A typical title fight of that time period see Jeffries and Willard fights both 45 limit. The clinching also could have varied but was typical at that time that they spent a lot of time in clinches and it was allowed. When you might have to go 45 rounds the strategy is different. Johnson had a vicious uppercut he used to throw in clinches. More modern times they break you up sooner in a clinch. Today they’ve almost completely eliminated fighting in a clinch.
