Which of Joe Louis's title challengers would have done best in the 70s?

Joe Walcott....... Hands down, Wally was Joe Louis' BEST foe as champion from 1937 to 1949.... Oddly enough, Wally was also Louis' last title challenger of '47 & '48.....

MR.BILL

 

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To answer the question, I'd say Buddy Baer or Lou Nova.

 

Arturo Godoy would have been very tough for a lot of guys to beat in that period. Max Baer wouldn't have done too badly either, as long as he stayed away from the best of the slicksters like Ali, Young and Ellis. Buddy Baer was big and powerful and could have made the ratings. Billy Conn might have outboxed Quarry to a decision..

Believe it or not I really like Bob Pastor as a contender. Very underrated in my opinion.

 

Well, if Schmeling and Walcott are off the table then it's gotta be Ezzard Charles or Godoy(if Ezzard is off the table as well). Ezzard had the boxing skill and athletic ability to do well in any era...not to mention his success in 2 weight classes. Godoy is an odd backup choice but I believe his gritty nature and awkward style would allow him about as much success as Quarry or Bonavena...not too shabby.

 

Although they fought before Louis was champion. My pick is Max Bear.

 

Totally agree though Ezzard Charles is still my top pick. I see him as a vastly upgraded version of Ellis and would have success against Quarry, Lyle, Bonavena, Chuvalo, Shavers and Norton but most likely would struggle against Holmes, Ali and Frazier...

 

Tommy Farr or Lou Nova

 

Agree, and I think Ezzard Charles would frankly be a very difficult opponent in any heavyweight era. In fact, he'd likely be a champion in more than half of them. Ezzard was technicially better than almost any heavyweight, had plenty of stamina and was next to impossible to KO when he was prime. A few years ago, I started a fantasy matchup thread between a prime Charles and prime Larry Holmes.. I actually gave Charles the slight edge via decision.

 

Schmeling was a shell in '38 of his former self, and by neglecting Walcott the title challengers are pretty marginal during Louis' reign of terror............

So, if I can't have Schmeling or Walcott, well, I gotta go with Jack Roper....

MR.BILL

 

Bob Pastor or Billy Conn.

 

they weren't, that was media savy, selling newspapers and drumming up fan interest. they were also more direct and less PC back then too.

Louis' challengers were good fighters, with a good handful of greats as we all know!

 

Lou Nova and Arturo Godoy for me. I'm not considering Max Baer or any other champ Joe fought.