Louis vs Johnson

[jas]

I stumbled upon this Ring Magazine cover of the 1948 October Edition:



Who wins? Joe Louis vs Jack Johnson. Discuss with reasons either way.

Things to consider:

Louis

- Louis' better conditioning, better footwork, greater activity.
- Louis' potent fast jab

Johnson

- Louis' trainer Blackburn said Johnson would have beaten Louis although there are quotes from Blackburn saying Louis would win.
- Leniency of referee in regards to Johnson's inside game.
- Johnsons defense against Louis' combos. Tyson said Johnson defense would not have been effective. Johnson was good at dealing with single shots however. Would Johnson have adapted?
- Johnson had a better chin.
- Mind games

Feel free to add more.

[bklynboy]

I stumbled upon this Ring Magazine cover of the 1948 October Edition:



Who wins? Joe Louis vs Jack Johnson. Discuss with reasons either way.

Things to consider:

Louis

- Louis' better conditioning, better footwork, greater activity.
- Louis' potent fast jab

Johnson

- Louis' trainer Blackburn said Johnson would have beaten Louis although there are quotes from Blackburn saying Louis would win.
- Leniency of referee in regards to Johnson's inside game.
- Johnsons defense against Louis' combos. Tyson said Johnson defense would not have been effective. Johnson was good at dealing with single shots however. Would Johnson have adapted?
- Johnson had a better chin.
- Mind games

Feel free to add more.

I remember reading in Corner Men Blackburn comparing the two. Blackburn favored Johnson over Louis in up to about the time Louis was fighting the second Schmelling fight. By that fight Blackburn was saying that Louis would win.

Blackburn took credit for turning Louis from a more defensive minded fighter into a stalker.

Either way - if Blackburn thought that Johnson was equal or better to the 1936 version of Joe Louis then Johnson was damn f***ing good and should be placed in the TOP 5 all-time list.

[Sugar Adam Ali]

Louis would rock johnson with combinations on the inside... Johnson would have no answer for the superior technique used by Louis

[AlisGoldDoco]

Not much love for Johnson. I had a Louis KO.

[Daddy T]

I actually think Louis would KO him. His technique was perfect, his power spectacular.

Johnson was never in the ring with anybody even remotely as good as Joe, whereas I'd argue that Joe shared the ring with a few guys who would give johnson some problems.

[ShoulderRoll]

They are from very different eras and it's hard to judge the early 1900s fighters based on the film that's out there. But Blackburn actually got to see both of them so if he favored Jack Johnson that says a lot.

Johnson was heavier and stockier, so that probably means that one advantage he'd have in his favor is strength.

[SlySlickSmooth]

Louis would do his best to not let Johnson wrestle-box on the inside, with superior footwork and an educated left hand I would tab Louis to win on a decision. Jack Johnson has weight advantage and was as tough as they come especially in his era and how he came up but Joe Louis would walk him into traps.

[rightsideup]

I pick joe in a distance fight