What if Joe Louis never became a boxer? Who'd have been champ?

So, in this scenario, do you see Conn challenging before 1941?

Or do you think Conn and Rosenbloom would've fought sooner if they were both basically light heavys?

Or do you see Rosenbloom having a several-year reign - say from 1936 to 1941?

If so, who do you think he (Rosenbloom) would've successfully defended the title against? Same with Conn. Who would he have defended against?

 

Who do you see him fighting?

 

Anyone else see a wildcard becoming heavyweight champ?

Someone who never even challenged for the title - like a Lee Ramage? Maxie Rosenbloom?

What about guys like Godoy or Farr, who gave Louis stiff tests?

See any scenarios where they could've won the title, and against whom?

 

Primo Carnera was rated ahead of Schmeling in the ratings when Braddock beat Baer.

Think the mob could've gotten Primo a second title shot against Braddock?

Think Primo beats the Cinderella Man?

What happens if Primo regains the title in 1936?

Does Schmeling beat Carnera? Does the mob make Primo a champ for some time? Do Italy and Germany control the heavyweight title during WWII?

 

Schmeling may have gotten to a title shot first. He beat Hamas in 1935, when Hamas was the number-one contender.

But Carnera was number two.

Would Carnera have moved up to number one, with Hamas' loss?

Would Schmeling and Carnera have fought an eliminator, while Baer angled for a rematch with Braddock?

Would the mob have turned the screws on Braddock and made him fight Carnera ... while Schmeling and Baer fought a rematch eliminator?

Would Baer have beaten Schmeling again and we never heard of Schmeling again?

That could happen, too.

Is there a situation in the late 1930s/early 40s where Max Baer is the champ and his brother, Buddy, is the top contender? (Do we have a Klitschko situation in the 1940s?)

If so, do they fight each other?

Or does someone like Lou Nova beat Max Baer for the title, and Buddy Baer avenges him and takes the title from Nova? (Another Klitschko scenario.)

Does TWO TON Tony, who did rise to the number-one contender spot, become the champion at some point?

 

Do you think Bivins and Walcott will have trouble getting a heavyweight title shot if no black fighters since the Jack Johnson era will have gotten heavyweight title shots?

 

Not necessarily.

Someone may have been a dominant champ.

I'm not trying to steer this in any direction. I was just curious of all the different scenarios.

Also, is Jersey Joe even in the title picture?

When Louis picked him, Walcott was considered such a no-hoper the NY State Commission wanted it to be an exhibition.

Without that close first fight with Louis, Walcott may have just been a journeyman his whole career.

He (Walcott) may have benefited most from actually fighting Louis.

Some black fighter would've come along and opened the doors Louis did.

I'm just not sure who it would be.

Maybe it would've been Bivins. But he didn't even fight in WWII. Louis' reputation got a huge boost out of serving and beating Schmeling.

Then again, maybe someone else would've picked Jersey Joe, thinking he was an easy fight, and they would've been upset.

I don't know. Just posing the questions. Seeing what people think.