Louis was slow?

He did have some trouble catching really good movers....which is why most always pick Ali to win big over Joe.

 

Who?

 

Quick hands, average defensive reflexes and footspeed.

 

I think he had a problem with careful and economic footwork. Simple speed was never enough to seriously bother Louis. It's the contrast between, say, Bob Pastor who stayed out of trouble but didn't get much work doen, and Jersey Joe Walcott, who gave a still-great Louis fits.

I suppose you could say that skilled orthodox boxers like Conn and Walcott, gave Louis difficulty, while dancers and runners did not.

 

I can not disagree much with this.

 

exactly, that first left hook that floored retzlaff was proof of that. the more i watch louis, the more i'm amazed.

 

Joe was almost always in the correct position to punch...his feet were planted properly
to deliver his brutal combos...

 

Anyone watching Schmeling 2 will see Joe move awful fast on his feet when he had the mind too.

 

Past Prime? What do you consider Joe Louis's prime to be? He fought Farr in his first defense after winning the championship in 1937.

 

:thumbsup

When he was out for blood, he took it, for the most part.

 

...some really perceptive posts on this one, informative and well written. i don't know what the clip shown here was...but for an example of his foot speed...his fight with max baer is easy to find, and you can see how quickly he stepped around baer and got into position for his barrage.

..he was an extraordinary boxer/puncher.

 

lol, isn't that the whole point? get in position to punch?