Why is Joe Louis held in such high regard?

[thuggery]

Excellent thread, I am in 100% agreement. Wlad has not only surpassed the achievements that of Joe Louis but in all honesty, it would be a VERY easy win for Wlad. Wlad would punish Louis from pillar to pillar. Not a hard fight to break down.

[bklynboy]

Excellent thread, I am in 100% agreement. Wlad has not only surpassed the achievements that of Joe Louis but in all honesty, it would be a VERY easy win for Wlad. Wlad would punish Louis from pillar to pillar. Not a hard fight to break down.

This is re-copied from an earlier post in this thread. Do you still think that Wlad would easily beat Joe Louis?



I think that Lennox, if he came in shape, might have a chance. Not because he's taller (2") or heavier (if he came in soft at 240 he would be dead) or has a longer reach but because he was a skilled fighter who was able to take some lumps. But he had too many fights where he lost focus (see his KO loses) and where he ate too much leather.

Joe Louis was a far better fighter than you give him credit for. He was able to slip punches and not simply lean back to avoid them.

Take a look at Lewis v Ray Mercer. Now imagine that Mercer came in with 5-8% body fat (like middleweights do); imagine him faster, with more endurance, greater ability to slip punches (because he's lighter) and now realize that he's the same height, same weight and same reach as Joe Louis.

Louis could most definitely beat Lennox Lewis. Now I'm not saying that Lewis could never beat Joe Louis or that he wouldn't be competitive in their fights - he would because he was a skilled, talented fighter not because his weight and height was so much more.

Here's another example - Evander Holyfield. Same weight and height and reach as Joe Louis. He held his own against Bowe and Lewis and would have done so much better if his love of trading punches didn't get in the way of his boxing. And remember he fought Lewis at the age of 37 or 38.

Joe Louis was not too small to KO Lennox Lewis or WK.

Oh, one more thing. Louis had some pop in his gloves. Much more than Evander Holyfield.

[JAB5239]

This is re-copied from an earlier post in this thread. Do you still think that Wlad would easily beat Joe Louis?



I think that Lennox, if he came in shape, might have a chance. Not because he's taller (2") or heavier (if he came in soft at 240 he would be dead) or has a longer reach but because he was a skilled fighter who was able to take some lumps. But he had too many fights where he lost focus (see his KO loses) and where he ate too much leather.

Joe Louis was a far better fighter than you give him credit for. He was able to slip punches and not simply lean back to avoid them.

Take a look at Lewis v Ray Mercer. Now imagine that Mercer came in with 5-8% body fat (like middleweights do); imagine him faster, with more endurance, greater ability to slip punches (because he's lighter) and now realize that he's the same height, same weight and same reach as Joe Louis.

Louis could most definitely beat Lennox Lewis. Now I'm not saying that Lewis could never beat Joe Louis or that he wouldn't be competitive in their fights - he would because he was a skilled, talented fighter not because his weight and height was so much more.

Here's another example - Evander Holyfield. Same weight and height and reach as Joe Louis. He held his own against Bowe and Lewis and would have done so much better if his love of trading punches didn't get in the way of his boxing. And remember he fought Lewis at the age of 37 or 38.

Joe Louis was not too small to KO Lennox Lewis or WK.

Oh, one more thing. Louis had some pop in his gloves. Much more than Evander Holyfield.

A reasonable and objective breakdown. Thank you.

[JAB5239]

Excellent thread, I am in 100% agreement. Wlad has not only surpassed the achievements that of Joe Louis but in all honesty, it would be a VERY easy win for Wlad. Wlad would punish Louis from pillar to pillar. Not a hard fight to break down.

Wlad isnt clse to breaking Louis' achievements. But why dont you break it down for us Thug? You always make these blanket statements but never actually break anything down.

[JAB5239]

The thing is that It's hard to fight other great heavyweights when they get snuffed out before they get to prove themselves.

Than how can you say they would have been great? Difference between this era and past era's where there were great contenders is back than most fighters proved themselves before getting their shots and still fought the best available contenders even after being beaten for the title. Today they do next to nothing to get a shot and after getting a shot fight infrequently and against soft non top 10 rated opposition. In so other words they fail to distinguish themselves against truly real contenders and are the primary reason this is most likely the poorest era in heavyweight history.

[Weltschmerz]

Than how can you say they would have been great? Difference between this era and past era's where there were great contenders is back than most fighters proved themselves before getting their shots and still fought the best available contenders even after being beaten for the title. Today they do next to nothing to get a shot and after getting a shot fight infrequently and against soft non top 10 rated opposition. In so other words they fail to distinguish themselves against truly real contenders and are the primary reason this is most likely the poorest era in heavyweight history.

It's not possible for today's fighters to fight every month, due to management, promotion, sanctioning bodies, etc. Everybody knows that.

[bklynboy]

It's not possible for today's fighters to fight every month, due to management, promotion, sanctioning bodies, etc. Everybody knows that.

I don't think that anyone is suggesting fighting 12x a year. Or even 6. But 4x a year would be good. And not every one of those fights would have to be against another TOP 10 fighter.

Experience is key. David Hayes losing experience against Klitschko was a valuable learning experience that wasn't possible in the gym. Fighting more often is good for both the winning and losing fighter (unless the fighter is a one-trick pony) and it's good for the fans (hence sport).

Haye, for example, has fought 6x in 5 yrs. What kind of schedule is that?

[crold1]

Shocked me the first time I really went on a Joe Louis watching binge. He was an amazing offensive fighter. I'd seen the big fights, but never really watched and studied just how good he was.

He was, and remains, the greatest power combination puncher in history. Period.

[crold1]

This is re-copied from an earlier post in this thread. Do you still think that Wlad would easily beat Joe Louis?



I think that Lennox, if he came in shape, might have a chance. Not because he's taller (2") or heavier (if he came in soft at 240 he would be dead) or has a longer reach but because he was a skilled fighter who was able to take some lumps. But he had too many fights where he lost focus (see his KO loses) and where he ate too much leather.

Joe Louis was a far better fighter than you give him credit for. He was able to slip punches and not simply lean back to avoid them.

Take a look at Lewis v Ray Mercer. Now imagine that Mercer came in with 5-8% body fat (like middleweights do); imagine him faster, with more endurance, greater ability to slip punches (because he's lighter) and now realize that he's the same height, same weight and same reach as Joe Louis.

Louis could most definitely beat Lennox Lewis. Now I'm not saying that Lewis could never beat Joe Louis or that he wouldn't be competitive in their fights - he would because he was a skilled, talented fighter not because his weight and height was so much more.

Here's another example - Evander Holyfield. Same weight and height and reach as Joe Louis. He held his own against Bowe and Lewis and would have done so much better if his love of trading punches didn't get in the way of his boxing. And remember he fought Lewis at the age of 37 or 38.

Joe Louis was not too small to KO Lennox Lewis or WK.

Oh, one more thing. Louis had some pop in his gloves. Much more than Evander Holyfield.

An ancient Holy had Lewis rocked a couple times in their very close rematch simply by jabbing the the chest before coming over the top. Louis was great at getting inside on big men and was hard to catch after the right hand because he knew how to slip the next shot afterwards. Lennox would have had hell with Louis.

[JAB5239]

It's not possible for today's fighters to fight every month, due to management, promotion, sanctioning bodies, etc. Everybody knows that.

Nobody is suggesting they should fight every month. But don't kid yourself, they make a conscious choice to be slaves to todays excuse filled crap era and not seek out the best.