How Many Defences Against Ring Ranked Heavyweights Did Joe Louis Make?

[Ivich]

Louis made 25 title defences excluding that aberration against Johnny Davis . How many do you think were against Ring Ranked Heavyweights?

37 Farr
38 Mann
38 Thomas
38 Schmeling
39 Lewis Light Heavy Champ
39 Roper
39 Galento
39 Pastor
40 Godoy
40 Paychek
40 Godoy
40 McCoy
41 Burman
41 Dorazio
41 Simon
41 Musto
41 Baer
41 Conn
41 Nova
42 Baer
42 Simon
46 Conn
46 Mauriello
47 Walcott
48Walcott

[BattlingNelson]

It would be interesting to compare the exact ring ranks of contenders of the HW greats with tons of defenses ie Louis, Ali, Holmes, Klitschko.

[Ivich]

It would be interesting to compare the exact ring ranks of contenders of the HW greats with tons of defenses ie Louis, Ali, Holmes, Klitschko.

Using only the end of year rankings Louis defended his title15 times against Ring ranked opponents.
4 were number 1
1 was number 2
4 were number 3
2 were number 4
1 was number 5
1 was number 6
1 was number 7

[BattlingNelson]

Using only the end of year rankings Louis defended his title15 times against Ring ranked opponents.
4 were number 1
1 was number 2
4 were number 3
2 were number 4
1 was number 5
1 was number 6
1 was number 7

Yeah. Year end rankings are available, but that’s only indicative and will inevitably have several glaring faults as for example fighters ranked in lower divisions moving up or moving down after hw title fight.

[Ivich]

Yeah. Year end rankings are available, but that’s only indicative and will inevitably have several glaring faults as for example fighters ranked in lower divisions moving up or moving down after hw title fight.

For example Conn had vacated his Lhvy title to challenge Louis and was unranked.For their rematch he was number 1 and proved to be a dismal dissapointment.

[Dr. Z]

Using only the end of year rankings Louis defended his title15 times against Ring ranked opponents.
4 were number 1
1 was number 2
4 were number 3
2 were number 4
1 was number 5
1 was number 6
1 was number 7

Who were #1, #2, and #3's? 15 ring magazine opponents is impressive even if overwhelming majority of them were North American white fighters and not Eastern European, African American, Euro blacks, or Latino/ Cuban. Just saying this was the 1930's and 1940's. And he didn't fight a diversified field outside of Walcott who I'm guessing was ranked at heavyweight. Still that's just one of 26 title defenses. Well the blind John Henry Lewis, a light heavyweight fought Joe Louis and he was African American. Make that two title defense. One was a heavyweight. The other a light havvyweight. Just two of 26 black men stinks for title shots stinks. Joe Louis did it as a favor because John Henry Lewis needed the money. It was a farce of a fight but at least John Henry Lewis got paid.

Ring magazine did an era ratings and the 30's were last among heavyweights. The 1940's did not rate well either, but a little thing called world war II happed in that timeline, so there a reason why it did not rate well.

[Ivich]

Who were #1, #2, and #3's? 15 ring magazine opponents is impressive even if overwhelming majority of them were North American white fighters and not Eastern European, African American, Euro blacks, or Latino/ Cuban. Just saying this was the 1930's and 1940's. And he didn't fight a diversified field outside of Walcott who I'm guessing was ranked at heavyweight. Still that's just one of 26 title defenses. Well the blind John Henry Lewis, a light heavyweight fought Joe Louis and he was African American. Make that two title defense. One was a heavyweight. The other a light havvyweight. Just two of 26 black men stinks for title shots stinks. Joe Louis did it as a favor because John Henry Lewis needed the money. It was a farce of a fight but at least John Henry Lewis got paid.

Ring magazine did an era ratings and the 30's were last among heavyweights. The 1940's did not rate well either, but a little thing called world war II happed in that timeline, so there a reason why it did not rate well.

No1.s were
Schmeling 38
Conn 46
Mauriello 46
Walcott 48

No2 Godoy 40

No3's
Mann 38
Pastor 39
Burman 41 Walcott 47

Lewis wasn't blind, he had failing vision in one eye.He challenged Louis in Jan39 ,he had fought 13 times the previous year winning them all including a 12 rd ko over Elmer Ray.
The only number 1 challenger who was black was Walcott and Louis defended against him twice.
Max Baer was the no 1 challenger in 41 ,Louis had already stopped him.
Nova the no 1 in 39 .Louis stopped him in 41. Louis fought who was around.

[Dr. Z]

No1.s were
Schmeling 38
Conn 46
Mauriello 46
Walcott 48

No2 Godoy 40

No3's
Mann 38
Pastor 39
Burman 41 Walcott 47

Lewis wasn't blind, he had failing vision in one eye.He challenged Louis in Jan39 ,he had fought 13 times the previous year winning them all including a 12 rd ko over Elmer Ray.
The only number 1 challenger who was black was Walcott and Louis defended against him twice.
Max Baer was the no 1 challenger in 41 ,Louis had already stopped him.
Nova the no 1 in 39 .Louis stopped him in 41. Louis fought who was around.

He had bad vision in that's why I said blind. I did not mean the Mr. Magoo variety of blind of course. The fight was given by Joe Louis as a favor to Henry Lewis. It was his last fight.

Thanks on the information by the way. Where did you get it, older Ring Magazines?

[QueensburyRules]

- - I'd estimate 60% of his defenses were ranked based on my recollections of previous research.

[crold1]

For example Conn had vacated his Lhvy title to challenge Louis and was unranked.For their rematch he was number 1 and proved to be a dismal dissapointment.

He wasn't unranked. Raked second at heavyweight by Ring prior to the first Louis fight.

It would be interesting to compare the exact ring ranks of contenders of the HW greats with tons of defenses ie Louis, Ali, Holmes, Klitschko.

You can find those details from the study I did earlier this year:

Louis & Ali: https://www.ringtv.com/634945-to-be-...rankings-10-1/
Holmes: https://www.ringtv.com/634728-to-be-...ankings-40-31/
Wlad: https://www.ringtv.com/634641-to-be-...ankings-60-51/