Muhammed Ali And Joe Louis: Who's The Greatest Heavyweight?

[StarshipTrooper]

Alright then ; I'll do my best on both.

Overall

Overall I rank Louis as the Greatest Heavyweight of All Time, Ali gets my #2 spot, and I'll tell you why I peg Louis for #1......

Louis was a much more dominant Heavyweight Champion than Ali was. Dominant to the point that even some of his toughest challengers were labelled "bums" by comparison during Louis' title reign, and the "bum of the month club" stigma.

While I'd peg the competition in Ali's era to be slightly thougher than the competition during Louis' era ; it is by no means an easy feat to reign on top as long as Louis did and be that dominant, regardless of the era.

His historical title reign is the stuff of legend, and something we'll likely never see duplicated ever again.

For that, and the domination of his opponets during his run at the top ; I peg Louis as my All Time #1 Great Heavyweight.

Head To Head

Head to head is a different story ; I like Ali in a head to head matchup due to his cat like reflexes, incredible speed and stamina, and his tremendous ability to fight through adversity.

While it's true that neither of them have seen a fighter quite like the other ; I think Ali would be the one in this matchup who would adapt to Louis, more so than Louis would be able to adapt to Ali.

I think Ali's incredible reach and slashing jab would keep Louis on the defensive and looking for opportunities.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Louis land a bomb at some point in the fight, and put Ali on the deck.

But Ali would did what he'd always done when he was knocked down ; he'd get up, recover from the blow, and dig his way back into the fight off of his jab.

The only way I can see Louis defeating Ali in a head to head, is if we're talking a prime Louis vs. a green Clay. He may be able to bomb out a young Cassius Clay.

But a prime Muhammad Ali is a different story altogether.

Excellent as always Bringer!

Poet

[boxingbuff]

Styles make fights,and to make a long story short, Ali easily wins a unanimous 15 round decision.

Styles my man,styles.

[StarshipTrooper]

Styles make fights,and to make a long story short, Ali easily wins a unanimous 15 round decision.

Styles my man,styles.

The impact of styles is somewhat overblown. While in certain cases, such as short-armed pressure fighters against George Foreman or Ken Norton against slick boxers, the stylistic matchup is determinative; in most cases the better fighter wins regardless of the style matchup.

Poet

[ßringer]

The impact of styles is somewhat overblown. While in certain cases, such as short-armed pressure fighters against George Foreman or Ken Norton against slick boxers, the stylistic matchup is determinative; in most cases the better fighter wins regardless of the style matchup.

Poet

I've been saying that for quite a while myself.

It's just one of those worn out cliche' sayings that almost everybody in NSB says, and then some other guy comes in and quotes him and says "totally bro! styles totally make fights! like...yeah!....you know?".

Every once in a while it proves itself to be true all over again, but the vast majority of the time the better fighter wins regardless of the style.

[StarshipTrooper]

I've been saying that for quite a while myself.

It's just one of those worn out cliche' sayings that almost everybody in NSB says, and then some other guy comes in and quotes him and says "totally bro! styles totally make fights! like...yeah!....you know?".

Every once in a while it proves itself to be true all over again, but the vast majority of the time the better fighter wins regardless of the style.

It got traction because the boxing talking heads on HBO, Showtime, and ESPN chant it like a mantra. Like most things they say it's an over-simplification and they spout it because they figure your typical boxing fan is too stupid to understand what's going on.....Then again, considering what gets posted in NSB everyday, they may have a point

Poet

[bojangles1987]

Styles come into play as far as who gives a fighter a good fight more than it does whether they can beat someone.

In an Ali-Louis fight I don't think we ever saw Louis fight someone comparable to Ali, whereas Ali has fought big punchers aplenty. I think Ali would definitely win a comfortable decision here, with the chance Louis puts him on the deck with a good punch.

[GJC]

Maybe alone is this but I always think of Louis as a great thrower of combinations rather than a one shot KO specialist. Looking at Ali's fights and I think I have pretty much seen them I can't really remember him being hit by a 3 punch combination. One shot which put him down and he bounces up but cannot remember him being hit by a combination he was so good at smothering and moving away. So not sure (if to my mind) Louis biggest weapon is going to work. Walcott and Conn gave Louis problems, so got to go with Ali.
The weird thing is i'd have Louis beating Marciano 6 or 7 fights out of 10 but i'd fancy Marciano to have more success than Louis against Ali. Probably on my own in that theory but it would be dull if we all thought the same I guess.

[mickey malone]

Maybe alone is this but I always think of Louis as a great thrower of combinations rather than a one shot KO specialist. Looking at Ali's fights and I think I have pretty much seen them I can't really remember him being hit by a 3 punch combination. One shot which put him down and he bounces up but cannot remember him being hit by a combination he was so good at smothering and moving away. So not sure (if to my mind) Louis biggest weapon is going to work. Walcott and Conn gave Louis problems, so got to go with Ali.
The weird thing is i'd have Louis beating Marciano 6 or 7 fights out of 10 but i'd fancy Marciano to have more success than Louis against Ali. Probably on my own in that theory but it would be dull if we all thought the same I guess.

50/50... Like the comment on 3 punch combo's.. Ali., by his own admission was weak on defense.. Against Foreman, Lyle, Shavers & Liston he could narrowly afford to be.. Frazier & Norton (who had more handspeed) gave him massive problems, & had Cooper not been of a raw bone complexion, would'a done the same..
Now this was Louis's game... Any further thoughts??

[0Rooster4Life0]

Overall Who was the Greatest?

I favour Joe Louis, No one in History Dominated The Heavyweight Division as did Joe Louis, He held the title for 11 Years and 9 months i beleave, Ali held The title 3 times adding up to 7 Years and 6 Months, Bringer Touched On it Before, Joe Louis Brushed away his Opponents with ease, People Labelling Top contenders as "Bums".


When I see Joe Louis fight, Its like art, His punchers are picture perfect, Throwing Combinations with fantasic Power and Accuracy. His punching style was second to none.


ROOSTER

[mickey malone]

Overall Who was the Greatest?

I favour Joe Louis, No one in History Dominated The Heavyweight Division as did Joe Louis, He held the title for 11 Years and 9 months i beleave, Ali held The title 3 times adding up to 7 Years and 6 Months, Bringer Touched On it Before, Joe Louis Brushed away his Opponents with ease, People Labelling Top contenders as "Bums".


When I see Joe Louis fight, Its like art, His punchers are picture perfect, Throwing Combinations with fantasic Power and Accuracy. His punching style was second to none.


ROOSTER

Well put Rooster!