1991 Mike Tyson vs prime Joe Louis

[uncle ben]

The Tyson who fought Ruddock vs the best prime Louis. Who wins?

[Sugarj]

I'd probably pick Tyson, even with the faded technique. The fast starts he showed against Stewart and Tilman may still be too tough for Louis

[Luilun]

Joe Louis wins but a pre 1990 When Tyson was focus stops Joe Louis

[GhostofDempsey]

The longer the fight goes on, the greater Louis’ chances are of pulling a win out of his ass. Louis is closer in style to Holyfield and could find a way to outbox Mike, but he has to survive those first six rounds. Louis’ closest opponent similar to Tyson was Rocky. He was washed up when he lost to Marciano but boxed him well for the first several rounds. Against opponents like Baer or Walcott he took their best punches during exchanges and won those exchanges on volume and accuracy.

[Ben Bolt]

I’m absolutely sure of, that boxing – like every other sport – and its athletes, have developed A LOT since the 1930s-40s.
Tyson 1991 would have destroyed the prime version of Louis that we know of.

If Louis had been born, like Mike, in 1966, who knows how Louis would have fit into more modern times?
Or if Tyson had been born in 1914?

“You can’t separate a champion from his time.” — Sonny Liston

[sentax]

I’m absolutely sure of, that boxing – like every other sport – and its athletes, have developed A LOT since the 1930s-40s.
Tyson 1991 would have destroyed the prime version of Louis that we know of.

If Louis had been born, like Mike, in 1966, who knows how Louis would have fit into more modern times?
Or if Tyson had been born in 1914?

“You can’t separate a champion from his time.” — Sonny Liston

If Tyson was born in 1914 he'd have never gotten a chance to box if a local posse found out about what he tried to do with Teddy Atlas niece.

[BKM-]

The longer the fight goes on, the greater Louis’ chances are of pulling a win out of his ass. Louis is closer in style to Holyfield and could find a way to outbox Mike, but he has to survive those first six rounds. Louis’ closest opponent similar to Tyson was Rocky. He was washed up when he lost to Marciano but boxed him well for the first several rounds. Against opponents like Baer or Walcott he took their best punches during exchanges and won those exchanges on volume and accuracy.

Louis close to Holyfield in styles? How so, I find them to be nothing alike. Evander is a beast in the clinch and can fight very well off the backfoot, he had great movement when he decided to use it. He could also brawl with the best of them. None of this sounds like Louis.

[GhostofDempsey]

Louis close to Holyfield in styles? How so, I find them to be nothing alike. Evander is a beast in the clinch and can fight very well off the backfoot, he had great movement when he decided to use it. He could also brawl with the best of them. None of this sounds like Louis.

Watch the Baer and Walcott fights. He could exchange on the inside, counter from the back foot, fight at range, cut off the ring. He was a boxer-puncher like Holyfield. Like I said, he was “closer” in style to Holyfield than anyone Tyson fought I didn’t say they were the same.

[ShoulderRoll]

I’m absolutely sure of, that boxing – like every other sport – and its athletes, have developed A LOT since the 1930s-40s.

The trainers that were around in the 1930's and 1940's were more knowledgeable than the trainers now. There really aren't many boxing teachers today with the quality of a Ray Arcel, Eddie Futch, Cus D'Amato, Angelo Dundee, George Benton and so on.

The styles then were more diverse and plentiful too. It was common to see a shoulder roll defensive posture, for example. These days? Floyd dominated the modern era of the sport with it for 20 years (and James Toney didn't do too bad with his version either) but everyone that tries to copy it can't seem to do it right.

It has become an almost lost art.

Does that sound like boxing developed? Or like boxing started to devolve?

[The plunger man]

Tyson would just be to much for him....I am big of Louis and he was a murderous puncher and finisher but it was different era.