Were does Joe Louis rank in a all time P4P ranking?

Hard to rank him P4P because HW generally aren't ranked highly P4P. Much more impressive to have success in multiple divisions then in only one. Not to mention a small man beating heavier opponents is more common in lower weight divisions whereas at HW its more rare and doing so would be valued more P4P then the reverse. Despite that Louis does have one of the greatest title reigns in HW history and he did beat some good P4P fighters like Conn. So idk I would say 20-30 or so is fair.

 

25 successful, successive, lineal title defences is the highest in boxing history, in any weight division. Almost all of them in dominant fashion and none of them controversial decisions, until past prime right at the end of his reign.

No fighter in history was as far removed from the field as Louis was, for as long as Louis was.

I rank him as the 9th greatest boxer of all time.

 

Correct, I should have said none controversial until past prime, right at the end of his reign. Edited accordingly.

 

Probably somewhere in the top 30, not his fault smaller divisions were more stacked with talent.

 

I think whats crazy about Louis is there was enough time and good opponents to get him to 50 defenses if not for WW2. This is a key divider between him and Ali whose longevity totals are otherwise very similar.

P4P I'm not so sure how this scales because ranking HWs who didn't come from the lower weight classes is really going against the spirit of the whole thing.

 

Top 20 IMO

 

I have him @ no 10 all time

 

Why is it more impressive to have more success in multi divisions than at heavyweight? You can become a 5 weights champ in the lower divisions just by putting on 15 pounds or so whereas as a heavyweight you may have to beat all the time ,multiple fighters who outweigh you by 30-40 pounds an taller than you by 4, 5 inches

 

Because that's the defination of P4P? Constantly beating fighters who are either similar size or bigger then you is ranks more P4P then dominating one division. Not to mention that generally the level of talent and skill is much higher in the lower divisions then at HW. Its why overall HW usually aren't ranked high P4P outside of Ali and Louis (though even then I think most people have them higher then they rightfully should be but that's just my opinion).