Ray Arcel claims Ezzard could have beaten prime Louis [1951]

I'm sure he wouldn't want to admit his fighter only beat Louis because he was shot to bits.

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Ezzard was too hitable, Louis would have stopped him fairly early and make him look bad.

 

Louis KO within 11-14 rounds

 

I can't see Louis KOing a prime Ezzard. I mean, Rocky couldn't do it in the first bout.
Louis needed 13 to KO the skillful Conn.

Even if loses, Ezzard goes the distance.

 

Great fight, but prime for prime I will have to give it to EZ for the first fight.

 

This really hammers the point in that old timers were clueless about boxing and can't be trusted about the things they say.
They didn't even know what the jab was.

 

Conn was much more passive and defensive than Charles. Ezzard would try to force a fight, to which Louis would find an opening with his perfect accuracy and blistering handspeed

That being said Ezzard had terrific defense and a chin of steel, which is why I said rounds 11-14. Louis was a better puncher than Marciano, though perhaps he was better at breaking down ring general masters

 

Ray Acel had a lot of fighters he claimed would beat prime Louis, if I remember rightly.
They got to calling Ray "The Meat Wagon" before Louis was through with them.

4 days after this article appeared, Charles was iced by Walcott.

 

I think a prime Louis was more accurate and powerfull than Rocky, and Charles also wouldn't have a reach advantage. Ezzard was much more of an offensive fighter than Conn, so I don't think that's the best comparison. He did have a good chin, but a prime Louis would just be too much. Conn also had a very good chin, never being knocked out other than by Louis/

 

The Louis of the 2nd Schmeling fight, would be hard for Charles to handle. In a more relaxed, slowed down boxing match, then Charles would be very competitive.

 

Correct. Peak Louis would have given Charles hell.

 

Trainers said weird things all the time about their fighters or fighters they like. Those rose tinted glasses go into overdrive mode. Same thing here, I would disagree with Arcel on his notion.

 

I don't think Ezzard wins. I just don't think he gets KOed.

 

He was caught up in the moment

 

I am glad that Walcott and Charles are finally getting their due, but lets not get carried away.

The couldn't do to a badly depleted Louis, what Max Schmeling did to a young one.

I think it quite likely that somebody like Billy Conn could have held the title if he had come along in their era.