where would joe louis figure in todays heavyweight division ?

There's far too much emphasis on size in this thread. Both size and height can be used as positives and they can be used against a fighter to become a negative. It's not as simple as saying that because a fighter is bigger, he automatically has an advantage. That's not the case and if it was, fighters like Willard, Carnera, Baer or even Valuev would have been far more dominant that they were and wouldn't have lost their crown to much smaller fighters. As it happened, when they fought those smaller fighters, their 'height advantage' was not an advantage but a disadvantage. Dempsey, Louis and in more modern times, Haye, were all able to use their size to an advantage and stylistically, you would have to say that being smaller and lighter was an advantage in the fight.

That's the thing with all aspects of boxing, whether it's height, weight, speed, power or anything else you can name. If an opponent is good and smart enough, he can come into the ring with far less and still win. Fights aren't won on paper and if they were, boxing would be a dull sport.

Of course, it's all besides the point anyway. If height and weight was at important as some people like to make it out to be, then Chris Byrd, a small heavyweight in any era who would later make 175lbs with ease, would not have beaten Vitali, nor would Corrie Sanders, who would be a ripped 205lbs, have slaughtered Wlad inside two rounds. If those two are capable of beating Wlad then how anyone could write off Joe Louis is beyond me. Even if Byrd and Sanders were an inch or two and 10lbs heavier, that's minimal compared to the huge gulf in ability.

Louis' biggest problem against both fighters, but Wlad in particular, is his chin. He wasn't the toughest fighter in the world and could be hurt. There is a valid argument in saying Wlad could win and I have no problem with people thinking that, but to simply write off an ATG on the basis of height and weight is far too simplistic, ignorant and, ultimately, wrong.

 

1. Louis has a solid chance vs any HW on both their best nights, to laugh off his h2h ability is ignorant at best.

2. Conn was a great boxer himself & he was knocked out TWICE by Louis regardless of how well he was boxing before being KO`d, try again.

 

are we talking about the same guy who got KOed by a washed up german and KD by a past his prime never has been Braddock or a fat slob Galento?

...i guess that "solid chance" leaves room for interpretation.

 

I think he'd give the Klitschkos fits!

He would beat Wlad...Vitali would be a good fight IMO!

 

Also he was poleaxed as badly as I have ever seen a fighter by a single punch from essentially a middle weight these days in Marciano.

 

Stop acting the ****, no fighter is perfect, Robinson lost to Lamotta but he`s still the best fighter that ever lived (or let me guess, you think Floyd or Pac would beat the **** out of him because boxers are more advanced these days :roll

 

When he was a shot to **** fighter, I really wish people would learn their **** before posting nonsense.

 

2nd best HW of all time doesn't get KD by an ice truck driver.


Alright, later...i had enough fun today.

 

Schmeling made Louis quit If you've ever watch the fight you'll see Louis was not that hurt, He was just scared! He rolled over on His belly and let the ref count Him out. Louis was a quitter and a coward, and wouldn't beat many today........

 

If fighters that are natural middle weights in modern boxing are smashing his glass mandible into a thousand pieces he ain't going to fair well against modern heavyweights.

Maybe you should have this conversation with Grandpa cause im not buying it.

 

Likely beats everybody not named Klitschko. Either Klitschko is a bad match up for Louis I think, he would really need to get inside to take out a Klitschko by KO to win, something he would struggle to do throughout the fight. With Wlad's footwork it's going to be very hard to get in and test that chin, Haye came up against a similar problem. Some people here are typing as if Wlad's going to just stand and go toe to toe.

With Vitali the fights slightly more likely to go that way, but can Louis take Vitali's high punch output and power while trading with him baring in mind Vitali's head movement combined with his height has seen him barely get hit clean and stunned throughout his career.

As a betting man I would be backing both Klitschko's ( probably at good odds too) to win more than lose over 10 fights.

Would make for very interesting match ups.

 

Under 200 pounds Louis and Marciano are two of the best ever. Ray Robinson is also one of the best ever around his weight. But no one is saying he could beat the likes of Louis or Marciano. Why is that do you think?