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You are Jack Blackburn and you are preparing a prime Louis to fight up and coming number 1 challenger George Foreman. What would be your plan of action for this fight?
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Joe, you gwang have to use the rope-a-dope.
I don't know me no rope-a-dope.
Well, don't use that, then.
What should I be using?
Use the peek-a-boo.
I don't know how to.
Sock him, Joe. -
With a sledgehammer. Or a horse shoe snuck into his gloves.Comment
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Circle around George. I don't need to tell him to counterpunch or protect his chin.
The key for Joe is to make his short power punches land before Foreman's looping shots. Not impossible. But that chin though.Comment
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It's very clear how prime Louis would fight Foreman. Circle, box and counterpunch with deadly intentions. Ala his bout with Max Baer.Comment
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I would let Louis be Louis. Louis knew how to fight!
I have always been of the mind that Ali's rope-a-dope was just an act of desperation that worked, and thus only later became a 'brilliant strategy.'
And if Blackburn is aware of it because of Ali, then so would Foreman be aware, and wouldn't have taken the bait a second time.Comment
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As powerful as a prime Foreman was, he was ripe for being counter punched and Louis was a counter punching legend. And as hard as Foreman could hit, he wouldn't be the only ATG puncher in the ring that night, so it's not like he can just afford to walk through Louis shots either.Comment
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--- I wouldn't presume to know more than 10% of what Blackburn knew of boxing, but I do know this:
In 6oz gloves, it's George within 6 rds. Two different eras, and I dunno how Louis would do in 8oz, but by the end, this is a bad style and natural attributes.
Anyone can check to see I have Louis permanently installed as #1 all time, yet there are always exceptions.Comment
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