First, you bring Tyson into this but Tyson was Champion at 22 and Louis when he fought Max the first time wasn't. He was about one year away from winning the HW title.
There are stories that Louis wasn't at his best on that night because he was living it up and not focusing on training. Kind of like Tyson with Douglas since you brought Tyson up. But, that is on both of them for not being at their best.
What Schmeling did to him that night was to expose the flaw of Louis dropping his hand after he jabbed and in the end, knocked Louis out. What Louis took from that fight was that he learned from his mistake when facing Max, and in order to prevent Max from doing it again, he attacked Schmeling from the start. So even if the flaw was still there or Max figured out another way to beat him, Louis knew he was the better Fighter of the two when he decided to fight instead of just boxing to break down the opponent.
What Louis also learned from that fight is that you have to be prepared both Mentally and Physically for each fight or you risk losing. He went on a tear after that loss as proof. It wasn't just about boxing and making a good living anymore but the addition of those two and wanting to be the best; wanting to be CHAMPION...which is why he wanted Max again.
Schmeling in the 2nd fight was past his best. Not Shot, but past his best. Not so much that he was two years older in the rematch since he continued to win after the Louis victory, but I factor in what I've heard about the intense pressure he had going into that fight and not wanting to be a part of the Nazi system. Like I say: Mental and Physical counts. So say he was still quite good, the pressure he had to deal with may have had a negative effect on him for that fight.
Louis had pressure on him as well, but it was a good pressure he could handle that forced him to train and be at his best...while with Max, I think it took a negative effect with him.
You also have to remember that Louis was still young, continuing to learn, and also even better in rematches. Once he saw a style in the first fight, he would adjust in the second...which helped him to continue to improve.
Here is an example when this style from Godoy presented itself to him:
Fight 1:
Now the rematch after seeing the style:
Fight 2
I think Louis at his absolute best beats Max at his best...specifically if it is a best out of 3.
My opinion is also that Louis absolute best came after losing to Max because he needed that loss to correct himself and improve as a fighter. It made him train better and keep him motivated to fight and be the best.
There are stories that Louis wasn't at his best on that night because he was living it up and not focusing on training. Kind of like Tyson with Douglas since you brought Tyson up. But, that is on both of them for not being at their best.
What Schmeling did to him that night was to expose the flaw of Louis dropping his hand after he jabbed and in the end, knocked Louis out. What Louis took from that fight was that he learned from his mistake when facing Max, and in order to prevent Max from doing it again, he attacked Schmeling from the start. So even if the flaw was still there or Max figured out another way to beat him, Louis knew he was the better Fighter of the two when he decided to fight instead of just boxing to break down the opponent.
What Louis also learned from that fight is that you have to be prepared both Mentally and Physically for each fight or you risk losing. He went on a tear after that loss as proof. It wasn't just about boxing and making a good living anymore but the addition of those two and wanting to be the best; wanting to be CHAMPION...which is why he wanted Max again.
Schmeling in the 2nd fight was past his best. Not Shot, but past his best. Not so much that he was two years older in the rematch since he continued to win after the Louis victory, but I factor in what I've heard about the intense pressure he had going into that fight and not wanting to be a part of the Nazi system. Like I say: Mental and Physical counts. So say he was still quite good, the pressure he had to deal with may have had a negative effect on him for that fight.
Louis had pressure on him as well, but it was a good pressure he could handle that forced him to train and be at his best...while with Max, I think it took a negative effect with him.
You also have to remember that Louis was still young, continuing to learn, and also even better in rematches. Once he saw a style in the first fight, he would adjust in the second...which helped him to continue to improve.
Here is an example when this style from Godoy presented itself to him:
Fight 1:
Now the rematch after seeing the style:
Fight 2
I think Louis at his absolute best beats Max at his best...specifically if it is a best out of 3.
My opinion is also that Louis absolute best came after losing to Max because he needed that loss to correct himself and improve as a fighter. It made him train better and keep him motivated to fight and be the best.
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