The best I've faced Joe Louis

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by janitor, Aug 14, 2012.


  1. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    As far as I can tell, his answers would be as follows. The opinions are taken from Louis's own words unless there is an asterisk next to them:

    Best fighter: Mike McCallum -- Billy Conn

    Best Boxer: McCallum -- Lee Ramage

    Best puncher: Merqui Sosa --Al Delaney

    Quickest hands: Roy Jones -- Not sure*

    Quickest feet: Nunn -- Bob Pastor*

    Best defense -- Lee Ramage

    Best chin -- Arturo Godoy*

    Best jab: McCallum -- Primo Carnera*

    Strongest -- Don't know*

    Smartest -- Lee Ramage

    Can you help me to fill in the gaps?
     
  2. Nonito Smoak

    Nonito Smoak Ioka>Lomo, sorry my dudes Full Member

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    My opinion of whom Joe Louis would choose as his "Best I've ever Faced:"

    Fighter- Schmeling

    Boxer- Conn

    Puncher- Galento

    Hands- Charles

    Feet- Conn

    Defense- Farr

    Chin- Godoy

    Jab- Schmeling

    Strongest- Marciano

    Smartest- Walcott
     
  3. TheGreatA

    TheGreatA Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Joe Louis goes over his opponents' attributes in 1944:

    http://news.google.com/newspapers?i...AJ&pg=5499,1917929&dq=joe+louis+fastest&hl=en

    Smartest and fastest: Conn
    Best defense: Conn
    Most effective left hand: Conn
    Best right hand: Braddock
    Best chin: Max Baer
    Most courageous: Lee Ramage
    Most troublesome: Arturo Godoy
    Fastest retreater: Bob Pastor
    Worst opponent: Johnny Paycheck (no surprise)
    Hardest punch he took: Delaney's right hand
    Hardest punch he landed: Right hand on Uzcudun
     
  4. Longhhorn71

    Longhhorn71 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Carnera or Baer may have been the strongest.....Carnera was a circus strongman at one time.
     
  5. TheGreatA

    TheGreatA Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Here is a funny article analyzing Joe Louis's career in 1951:

    http://news.google.com/newspapers?i...=1888,5729184&dq=joe+louis+fastest+conn&hl=en

    Sounds awfully similar to what has been done to many champions in recent times. Especially the quote at the end:

    "Louis was just beginning to come along when Schemling first exposed his inability to guard against a right-hand counter. It was a weakness he was never able to correct, a weakness that kept him from truly being great. Imagine, for example, Dempsey working on it."

    As if Dempsey was known for a great right hand counter.
     
  6. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    Interesting that Louis thought Braddock a harder puncher than Schmeling.
     
  7. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Did he never mention Walcott?
     
  8. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Before that the writer makes some good points, though. Especially about how dubiously low his ranking of Charles is. Fighters are almost always most generous to the ones they beat, and Louis was obviously no exception.
     
  9. SLAKKA

    SLAKKA Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Again the praise of Ramage. Wish that guy was better managed.
     
  10. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    Louis generaly seems to have given Walcott a good write up, but he wa prety consistent in ranking him beneath Conn and Baer.
     
  11. apollack

    apollack Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Best fighter: Conn

    Best Boxer: Conn, Walcott

    Best puncher: Schmeling, Max Baer, Buddy Baer, Marciano, Mauriello

    Quickest hands: Conn, Walcott

    Quickest feet: Pastor, Conn, Walcott, Godoy

    Best defense -- Farr, Godoy

    Best chin -- Farr, Godoy

    Best jab: Carnera

    Strongest -- Simon, Nova, Max and Buddy Baer, Godoy, Marciano

    Smartest -- Pastor, Schmeling, Conn, Braddock, Walcott, Charles
     
  12. SuzieQ49

    SuzieQ49 The Manager Full Member

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    Louis rated walcott over Ali
     
  13. SuzieQ49

    SuzieQ49 The Manager Full Member

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    Louis also faced the very best version of Marciano. This rates well over a guy like max baer.
     
  14. he grant

    he grant Historian/Film Maker

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    How can anyone dispute the biggest puncher he fought was Marciano ? He was way ahead of Schmeling or Galento ... Max Baer was up there but he did not land anything ..
     
  15. edward morbius

    edward morbius Boxing Addict Full Member

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    While Louis might have made these picks at anytime, I think it worth noting that it was made in 1944 for a publication meant for American servicemen. It is perhaps no surprise that the German Schmeling was snubbed.