What if Joe Louis had to rely solely on his boxing skill?

I think he would be champion for a while even without that power......

 

I think he still woudve won the title and defending it successfully though he may have lost to Conn and maybe even Farr. He couldnt have pulled the Walcott fight out.

Though if he only had averaged power he may have fought a little different style.

I think he couldve still beaten the likes of Max Baer, Buddy Baer Lou Nova and Abe Simon. The big lumbering guys wouldve been target practice.

 

Who called Louis a master boxer.. ummm no...

 

90 percent of his opponents and most of those who watched him live.

 

You consider him a master boxer?

 

In 1936 there were a series of articles entitled "The Secret of Joe Louis' Punching Power". I do not remember the author's name, but he made the assertion that even without the punching power he would still be winning on the basis of his boxing skills.

We got a sense of how Louis would do in this scenario when he came back to boxing in 1950. In particular, his power was diminished and he came to rely more on his jab and left hook, which were still good. He still had ample power to score some knockouts, but won quite a few fights by decision, one being over a faded, but still formidable Jimmy Bivins. Years later, in assessing the hard punchers that Marciano fought, Nat Fleischer named Walcott and Moore, but not Louis, saying that "... by the time he fought Rocky, Joe had long since lost his paralyzing punch." Even at that, Joe held his own with Marciano through the first half of the fight, relying almost entirely on his left jab.

 

Honestly, if he didn't have power, he'd be getting knocked out on a regular basis with that chin and defense. As it stands, even with his power, I'd still pick numerous fighters to beat him or give him hell.

 

I do.

Most people consider master boxing as someone who is on their toes, dancing and throwing out the jab. I dont.

Louis was not as strong as 90 percent of todays superheavyweights yet he is 10 times as effective, because he times his punches and throws good crisp combinations. He knows when to throw them and he times them perfectly.

I actually think that this is what gives him his power. His boxing ability and skill. Just because he didnt dance around doesnt mean he wasnt a master boxer. In fact some might say it is because he doesnt dance around that he was a master boxer.

And sure he didnt have that ability to slip and duck punches like a Tyson or dempsey or even use his legs to defend like Tunney or Ali. But he did have a tight defence and good fundamental defensive skill which made him hard to hit. this all boxing skill, in my opinion.

Rocky Marciano is another who is grossly underated in the skill department. You dont have to look flashy to be skilfull.

 

I am with the crowd that say Louis would tighten up his defense and movement. His hand speed would be quicker because he would be looking to hit and not be hit.

When a fighter discovers he has the power to KO any man in front of him, I think that leads to a loosening up of standard defense and sensablities.

Joe would be a great fighter because he had heart and talent and a desire to win. His power was a gift that made this all the more clear.

 

His boxing skills were pretty good too. Joe would still have been a world champion,but not one of the top 5. More like top 20.

 

Ofcourse Joe Louis was a master boxer.

Unless you consider "boxing" running around the ring like a clown. He never did that but his boxing skills were nice.

 

I don't think Louis had an elite defense, honestly. It's decent, far from great. He had one of the best offenses ever, and I can't think of too many guys who punched better(His form is godly). An A+ and a B- averages out to a high B, low A...He was very, very good. I wouldn't call him a master, but then, I reserve that title for about 5-6 people period. I think it should be our absolute highest praise for skill level. Muhammad Ali wasn't a master either. But I can appreciate that it is a bit like splitting hairs.

Again, I don't think Joe Louis could ever have not been a puncher. His punching form and sense of timing was so immaculate, his punches would have had authority if he had tiny kids' hand and slower speed. He just maximized his body behind each blow and always hit the right spot and the right time.

 

I think Joe Louis had great boxing skill.
I like his defense actually, the parrying right hand style, the minimalist slips to the left and right.
Eddie Futch considered him a master boxer, that's good enough for me.

 

Against the same competition he faced he would do just fine and would probably win as much as he actually did. However, it's hard not to factor in the fact that his chin was questionable. Without his punching power, my guess would be that he would have had more trouble getting back into fights.