Why was Joe Louis so good at beating super heavies and by knockout?

Hi Buddy.
Have no issue with your assertion that Conn was more of a correct boxer than Ali, if that is the case Ali must be the greatest incorrect boxer that ever lived no ? as for Louis capitalizing on the body off Ali, not so sure that would bring about his downfall, it's pretty much agreed that no one, but no one, took shots to the body better than Ali, so I don't see Joes route to victory that way, just for perspective I see both incarnations of the great man beating Joe, the 67 Ali would I believe run out a clear points victory, and the early 70s version, being bigger, stronger, and punching harder, stopping Louis in the latter rounds of a 15, and I don't see any scenario where Louis stops Ali, or anyone else for that matter.
stay safe buddy, chat soon.
Mike.

 

You might be right.

But then again, if Sonny Banks can deck Ali with a hook, if Doug Jones can stagger him with a right, and Henry Cooper can drop and badly daze him with a hook (which required smelling salts in the corner to get him right again), then Joe Louis, who was a far and away better puncher and more complete fighter than all of them, possibly could time Ali as well. When Louis hurt guys, it was good night soon thereafter. (Not to mention that even Ken Norton, who just slid in with a well-timed stiff left jab, then belted away when he got close, gave Ali all kinds of trouble in 3 fights. Yes it was a diminished Ali, but still, in three separate fights Ken gave Ali major fits. Well, if Norton can do that, what does Louis, with a far more educated left jab, and superior precision power punching, do?)

Only in Valhalla will we know for sure.

 

I think because the super heavies in his era were big, but couldn't really fight. The more recent super heavies are big, but have more ability.
They talked about this on "Friday Night Fights" back in the day and said the same.

 

Hi Buddy.
So might you.
Slight caveat , if I may, the Banks and Jones fights were fought very early in his illustrious career, but your point still stands to a degree, that said the shellaious left hook from Frazier aside, Ali didn't feel the canvas again, where as Louis was still getting kd much later in his career, and by well, not very good opposition, Galento. B Bear, etc, you are right in citing the Norton fights, and I am in full agreement, I suppose it's the eternal choice, Ali or Louis.
stay safe buddy, chatsoon.
Mike.

 

The thing is, Louis' aggressive in your face style lent itself to getting hit harder on occasion, because he took risks in order to knock out his foes as soon as possible. The guys he fought were not bums by any means. 234-pound Galento was 74-23-6 - that's over 100 fights of experience. He beat some good fighters, too, including Al Ettore, LeRoy Haynes, Nathan Mann, Harry Thomas, and even Lou Nova after losing to Louis. Jokes aside about his body, he could fight. Buddy Baer was 6'6" 250 pounds, had a punch, and also was experienced, at 60-5 coming into the first Louis fight. He too had plenty of good wins, including Abe Simon, Lee Savold, Nathan Mann, and Galento. They didn't just hand title fights to inexperienced novices to go up against Joe Louis. These guys were seasoned veterans of the game. If Louis blew threw them, that only was the result of and should be credited to his greatness, not their lack of ability.

 

Hi Buddy.
Agreed on all counts, thanks for letting me down gently, good,as always to chat with your goodself, its an education.
stay safe, chat soon.
Mike.

 

You could say the same about Tyson, no? Most of the guys he fought as champion were stiffs, imo. Tyson was dominant in a weak division (like Duran) Too bad Tony Tucker was injured pre-fight (broken right hand) , ergo he had no offence. He was bad-ass, far better than any of the guys Tyson fought as champion. I give him a very good chance of beating Tyson, but we'll never know.

 

He beat them badly because they sucked. Simon and Buddy Bear would have a hard time just working as sparring partners for today’s top heavies. Take a look at the films if you don’t believe me. Simon was a big slow clod who had no punching power even at his weight. Baer was a 6 6 stiff who didn’t even have a style that took advantage of his height. He fought out of almost a crouch. Sorry buddy they were huge for their day but not that big by today’s standards. So they would actually need ability to win today.