London Prize Ring Rules. Would Joe Louis's knockout power and technical perfection be too much for Cribb, even under his own rules...or would Cribb's style allow him to finish Louis with his rough combination of wrestling and early pugilism?
I think that Louis's hands would last about one round then he would be helpless as his style stands. Whether he could adapt is hard to say.
Not sure it would be quite that easy for Louis to break his hands...Blackburn would surely have some basic experience with this sort of thing, and advise Louis to keep his punches somewhat lighter and avoid the left hook.
Quite so. I've often wondered about the talent pool in the very early 19th century. Training theory was abysmal, from the manuals I've seen--one routine calls for a combination of jellied meat, chocolate, and various types of alcohol (plus a single nut for breakfast :huh), while others consisted of dehydrating the guy until he's nearly dead mixed with vomiting and a diet of a single type of meat and dry bread. On the other hand, there seems to have been a relatively large base to build on--plenty of local champions at country fairs and suchlike, a relatively sophisticated support establishment, and a large population of fit young men from heavy manual labor jobs. Plus, of course, that unnatural toughness that comes from living under third world conditions.
I think that Louis,s hands would probably last longer than Cribbs chin,eyebrows,nose ,and belly ,which would be a good place to concentrate his attack.
Nothing more fun than going back to 2007 to answer a question that is literally unanswerable! Cribb should have the advantage here, even if LPR isn't his preferred ruleset. It was still different enough from modern boxing to give Cribb the fight. Louis wouldn't have an answer for Cribb's grappling and pace either.
Sometimes I wonder had boxing stayed barekuckle which champs would rise and fall?? I do not think Rocky Marciano would be champ with his wild swings(Damage hands) But I can see Joe Louis learning the art.
