I want to say Schmeling in this good fight, but you have to wonder how he deals with a leftie as good as MM.... Hell, I'll take Moorer on points. Faster, southpaw, and heavy handed enough to get Max's respect. Thats assuming Mike throws punches, mind you. The Moorer from the Foreman fight. The Moorer from the Holyfield I fight probably can't get it done.
Schmeling may not have fought many southpaws but I think his style would have worked well against them, especially a not very durable one like Moorer. The right hand should find its mark, and Moorer couldn't afford to take too many of them. I think there are actually some comparisons with Moorer and Louis. I'm not saying they mirror each other but physically they were about the same size, both liked to wait for opportunities to throw their counters/combinations, worked behind a fine jab, a solid guard but not much in the way of upperbody/foot movement, both could be knocked down.
I agree, A. I don't think Moorer would do badly if he did work, stepped off and hooked off his jab. He may even stop Schmeling. However, if he paused and stood to much waiting, I agree, the right hand would be there and Moorer would have trouble taking too many.
I can't say that I've seen very many of Schmeling's fights, except for some of his more notable ones, but I'm inclined to thinking that neither guy ever faced someone of the other's description. Both guys had enough to take each other out. It would be interesting to see if Schmeling tries to turn this into a chess match, and boxes in a clever bout, or does he get lured into trading with Moorer? I haven't a clue. Someone already brought up a very good point in that Moorer's southpaw stance might throw something into the mix, but I really can't decide on an outcome.
Schmeling was such an awkward guy to fight though, he'd stand right in front of you but with an unorthodox angled stance, coupled with his upperbody movement. Whenever you missed him, he was always in position to make you pay with the right hand, and it was quick and powerful. I think Moorer might actually have more trouble solving Schmeling than Schmeling will against Moorer. You can't stand around and think about what you're going to do with him, which is well displayed in Louis's two fights with Schmeling. [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUpARrgnPQQ[/ame] [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDGxonC-LZs[/ame]
Agreed, Louis was wise in dispatching Schmeling early, never giving him a chance to get his game going. Had Max Survived the round, and established any sort of rythym, it probably would have been another long night for Louis, ( though I still think Joe would have won at that stage.) Schmeling was crafty and dangerous. I think he does better in more head to head fights than some probably think.
The Schmeling of the 1st Louis fight would have won the chess match AND the fight vs Moorer..by a solid decision and even possibly by a late rounds stoppage. That sudden, accurate right hand would have been nothing but trouble for Michael.
Very good observations, GreatA. I think that I'd take Schmeling for the same reasons in this fight...Schmeling KO late.
