Joe Louis, greatest heavyweight of all time?

[Lubutheimmortal]

Yeah, thats why I became a boxing writer. I needed an outlet for all of the things I wanted to talk about in the sport. Boxing is my ****, it's my drug.

I think Louis was down many more times than 3 or 4. I think it might have been 10 or something like that.

I went to Boxrec, and counted 16 times he was knocked down. 7 in his amatuer. I was way off but I wasn't sure at all. Least I know now!

[Hydro]

Does anybody know how many times Louis had been knocked down in his career?

Schmeling, Baer, Braddock, Galento, Walcott (2x), Marciano (2x)

[Lubutheimmortal]

Schmeling, Baer, Braddock, Galento, Walcott (2x), Marciano (2x)

According to Boxrec he had more than that...

[Mr. Ryan]

According to Boxrec he had more than that...

For real, homey seemed to go down a whole lot. Thanks alot for the answers my dudes.

[Lubutheimmortal]

For real, homey seemed to go down a whole lot. Thanks alot for the answers my dudes.

No problem, I was curious myself to be honest.

[butterfly1964]

The Walcott decision was total bull****. I don't give credit on the merits of inept judging. And about the double thread, mistakes happen and we all got to learn to deal with them.

I'm talking about the second fight when he knocked Walcott out.

[butterfly1964]

Does anybody know how many times Louis had been knocked down in his career?

Ten times.

1936

Max Schmeling 2x - Fourth round and Twelvth round.

1937

James Braddock - First round

1939

Tony Galento - Third round

1941

Buddy Baer - First Round

1947

Jersey Joe Walcott 2x - First round and Fourth round

1948

Jersey Joe Walcott - Third round

1951

Rocky Marciano 2x - Twice in the Eighth round.

[Lubutheimmortal]

Ten times.

1936

Max Schmeling 2x - Fourth round and Twelvth round.

1937

James Braddock - First round

1939

Tony Galento - Third round

1941

Buddy Baer - First Round

1947

Jersey Joe Walcott 2x - First round and Fourth round

1948

Jersey Joe Walcott - Third round

1951

Rocky Marciano 2x - Twice in the Eighth round.

Looks right to me. I tend to rush things (i multi task to much), so I am sure I mis added some of the knocked Louis scored in with the knockdowns against him. Thanks butterfly for more indepth answer (including the rounds, and fighters).

[SABBATH]

Actually, Louis' best win was Walcott, not Schmeling.

Walcott had a better resume and in my opinion also was a better fighter than Schmeling. Joe's best opponents that he defeated might look something like this.

1) Jersey Joe Walcott
2) Max Baer
3) Max Schmeling
4) Billy Conn
5) Jim Braddock
6) Tommy Farr
7) Buddy Baer
8) Tony Galento
9) John Henry Lewis
10) Abe Simon

I've read that Louis considered his 1935 win over Max Baer to be his best ever performance. Interestingly, Baer climbed back in the ratings to #1 challenger in 1940 based on his strong showings against Tony Galento and Pat Comiskey. While Baer was rated #1 Louis granted title fights to Al McCoy, Gus Dorazio and Tony Musto who were not ranked in the top 10 at the time.

LOUIS LOOKS AHEAD TO SEPTEMBER BOUT; Elated by Victory Over Godoy, Champion Plans to Oppose Max Baer or Galento COLLECTS $55,989 CHECK Earnings Soar to $1,704,341 --Beaten Rival's Share of Stadium Purse $23,620


His thudding fists having pounded Arturo Godoy into submission through eight blazing rounds at the Yankee Stadium on Thursday night, Joe Louis, elated at his success in this latest defense of the world heavyweight championship, yesterday looked forward to the twelfth challenge for his crown.
-The New York Times June 22, 1940

BAER CARRIED OUT PRE-BATTLE PLANS; Kept Up Body Attack, Forcing Galento to Uncover Chin --Loser's Hand Hurt

Jubilant over his victory, Max Baer declared tonight that he now wants another chance at Joe Louis for the heavyweight title. This was almost the first thing he said when he got back to his dressing room, where he was almost smothered by the crowd that followed him in.
-The New York Times July 3, 1940

Louis-Baer World Title Contest Looms for Chicago in September; Promoter Jacobs and Max's Manager Discuss Plans, With Decision Due in Several Days --X-Rays Show Galento's Hand Broken
-The New York Times Thursday July 4, 1940,

Strangely and unfortunately, Louis promoter Mike Jacobs decided not make the fight as he deemed there was not sufficient interest in a Louis-Baer rematch. I guess there was more interest in watching Louis defend against guys like McCoy, Dorazio and Musto that weren't ranked.

Jacobs instead proposed that Louis face the winner of a fight between Bob Pastor (who Louis had already defeated twice) and light-heavyweight champion Billy Conn.

[butterfly1964]

Walcott had a better resume and in my opinion also was a better fighter than Schmeling. Joe's best opponents that he defeated might look something like this.

1) Jersey Joe Walcott
2) Max Baer
3) Max Schmeling
4) Billy Conn
5) Jim Braddock
6) Tommy Farr
7) Buddy Baer
8) Tony Galento
9) John Henry Lewis
10) Abe Simon

I don't know about putting lewis in there, as he was legally blind at the time, so I heard. Also Jack Sharkey should be on that list. He was a pretty good fighter, who did give Louis some trouble when they fought.