Louis / Ali...who had the bigger puzzle to solve?

Louis would never get ahead of a moving Ali as his footwork wasn't geared that way. As McGrain said much would depend on how things stood when Ali slowed later in the fight.

 

Very true, whoever held the centre of the ring early on would be very important and quite dependant on both of their energy levels later it the fight, especially if Ali's movement isn't productive or that functional. You reiterating McGrain's point has actually made me question whether the fight would even last the full 15. The thought of Louis stalking a tiring Ali late on is actually quite a worrying thought. Equally, the amount of damage Ali dish out on Joe with the foot movement to get in and out, without taking much in return equipped with the blazing fast combinations he could produce is just as frightening.

 

Surely the question of who would win, is almost irrelevant to the discussion?

We are essentially asking who was less predictable, and in my mind the answer to that has to be Louis!

 

Sure it does, but Ali in my opinion wouldn't be as reckless and clowning with Louis as he was with Cooper. And Cooper wasn't close to winning a
round in that fight until the knock down. Ali would have that same nervous but confident energy and caution and respect for Louis as he Had for Liston. That version of Ali, bests any version of Louis any day of the week. And if OLD slow Schmeling could land lead right hands over prime Louis's jab and KNOCK HIM OUT. I'm sure Ali can land two or three faster and harder lead right hands. And stop Louis earlier than the 12rds. It took Schmeling to do it.

 

Ali did have some serious stamina in the early days. Certainly an interesting bout.

 

That's not the question. The question is who had more to overcome stylistically in the matchup. The answer for me is Louis as fleet footed speedsters certainly weren't his favorite opponent.

Louis footwork was garnered more toward balance and always being able to punch with pinpoint precision and great leverage. He would have lots of trouble with Ali.

 

I agree Louis have have to overcome more stylistically because of Ali's footspeed footwork and movement.

Bad stylistic matchup. I still think joe can figure him out but I wouldn't bet money on it

This is coming from Joes biggest fan

 

How was Joe Louis in his prime less than 2 years into his career? This myth gets tossed around so much and I just don't understand it. Despite his exceptional run of results up until that point, he obviously learnt a lot from that fight and improved after the loss.

 

The Conn first fight has always persuaded me Ali beats Joe,but as JT says below, anything les than his best would not be enough!