Prime Joe Louis Beats Rocky Marciano --- Convince Me

I'm really sorry to hear this.

 

Yeah, I didn't correlate that he was Joe Rein. There is a thread a little ways back regarding his passing.

Never met him in person but had a few offline conversations. Nice guy, great insights. RIP.

 

you know there are cases when an older fighter loses to a younger fighter such as Jeffires vs Johnson, Ali vs Holmes, Tyson vs Holmes, Marciano vs Louis and we can see how a prime version of the fighter would have done much better but in the case of Tyson vs Holmes and Marciano vs Louis style seems to make a big difference.

Joe Louis is my # 1 heavyweight of all-time and I think he was the best combination power punching heavyweight ever, he was always one of the best finishers, that being said I think his offense would have been a rougher thing to get past in his prime but from watching his fights vs Godoy, Galento and others who where not near the relentless punchers or offensive fighters as Marciano I can see where Marciano's style would always be a problem, not that I can be sure of a winner in this fight or other intriguing battles of ATG's prime for Prime.

unfortunately not many era's have had prime for prime battles, Ali vs Frazier FOTC may be one where both men were prime going in (not going out) but I can not think of many others. I think Jeffries-Johnson-Ali-Holmes would have always been close fights but I may lean towards the losers to win prime for prime. As far as Tyson-Holmes and Marciano -Louis - I think Tyson would always be the wrong fight for Holmes and Marciano-Louis may be a fight that would destroy both men but prime vs prime competitive and hard to say because of styles

 

I agree that for even a prime Louis, Marciano's style would give him a few problems. But the way I see thins fight going, Louis would stop him late after a tough fight.

Joe Louis had more than just power, he was possibly the greatest finisher to grace the heavyweight division and despite the fact that he probably still had most of the power he had in his younger days by the time he fought Rocky, he did not have the accuracy or speed.

Would be a great fight, but my prediction would be Louis by KO at some point after the 10th round.

 

I agree. It's not an easy fight but I would put my money on Louis to close the show late. Marciano never fought such a devastating puncher and vicious finisher. If he got hit once, he would get hit three or four times... Sooner or later, he would have to pay the price.

 

Louis's power was a thing of the past when he fought Rocky, how many right hands did he throw? Louis had three stoppages in his last 8 fights and 2 of them were tko's

 

As nice a guy as has graced this forum.

 

Yeah, I mis-read that part. Louis, in no way, had near the power against Marciano that he possessed a decade or more before.

 

I love both fighters,and while i feel rock has a great chance,remember the hell Ezzard Charles gave him and how mediocre he looked against ****ell.On a another subject,the author of Rock's new book states that he was only 5'9" not 5'10"1/4 we have always believed.

 

I'm just a simple fellow. Punchers beat swarmers. I can totally see Louis timing a short left hook clean as a whistle on Rock loading up a right hand from New Yersey.

 

If Marciano REALLY was human!!..Too bad you dont have any pics of that fight! And how hard to you have to get hit to be in a coma and never really quit recover!?...Thats pretty bad

 

John Garfield died, shame he will be missed a great poster and a gentleman