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Lots of people think for some reason that he is the best or second best heavyweight ever. To me that is ridiculous.
First of all, Louis got dropped by damn near everybody. Yeah, he got up to win most of them, but he was still getting dropped by people who arent even considered worthy opponents. If Louis could get dropped by guys like Galento, Buddy Baer, Walcott and Schmeling, then guys with LOTS more power like Foreman, Tyson, and Frazier would be able to put him down and keep him down.
Secondly, lots of you claim that he did everything perfect and had one of the best jabs. He couldnt have had that good of a jab if Max Schmeling exposed the fact that Louis brought the jab back low and KOed him. How could he have had the second best jab if one of the tools used to beat him was countering over his lazy jab?? As far as the skills go, He "did everything perfect" but he got dropped continuosly, obvious he was doing something wrong because not only was he easy to hit but easy to drop. Furthermore, the "perfect" heavyweight was getting outboxed by a light heavyweight Billy COnn and would have lost if Conn had not made a mistake and decided to trade with the bigger guy.
Lastly, his competion was far from great. Now to put this into perspective, lets compare his oppositon in equivalent matchups against the opposition of the man I think deserves to be considered the #2 heavyweight... Evander Holyfield. Every great had an opponent linked to them, For Louis that is Schmeling. Holyfield will always be remembered for his bouts with Tyson. They both faced a big not too talented guy to jumpstart their heavyweight career (Carnera,Douglas), they had a skilled competive memorable opponent (Walcott, Bowe). They both face a good skilled fighter alittle past their primes (Charles,Leiws) and they both fought a smaller guy on the way up the heavyweight ranks while they were WAY past their prime (Marciano, Toney). SO...
Joe Louis Evander Holyfield
Max Schmeling vs Mike TYson
Primo Carnera vs BUster Douglas
Joe Walcott vs Riddick Bowe
Ezzard Charles vs Lennox Lewis
Rocky Marcaino vs James Toney
*Bonus
Jim Braddock vs John Ruiz
Buddy Bear vs George FOreman
Billy COnn vs Micheal Moorer
If they were to fight it out, the only guy from Louis era I can see maybe getting a win would be Marciano beating TOney and maybe Billy COnn beating Moorer. Other than that Louis era gets demolished.
The bottom line is that Louis was a good top ten heavyweight, and was the best of HIS era. HOWEVER his biggest wins were lacking compared the other great fighters he would have to be better than to be # 2 and he is no where near the best.
First of all, Louis got dropped by damn near everybody. Yeah, he got up to win most of them, but he was still getting dropped by people who arent even considered worthy opponents. If Louis could get dropped by guys like Galento, Buddy Baer, Walcott and Schmeling, then guys with LOTS more power like Foreman, Tyson, and Frazier would be able to put him down and keep him down.
Secondly, lots of you claim that he did everything perfect and had one of the best jabs. He couldnt have had that good of a jab if Max Schmeling exposed the fact that Louis brought the jab back low and KOed him. How could he have had the second best jab if one of the tools used to beat him was countering over his lazy jab?? As far as the skills go, He "did everything perfect" but he got dropped continuosly, obvious he was doing something wrong because not only was he easy to hit but easy to drop. Furthermore, the "perfect" heavyweight was getting outboxed by a light heavyweight Billy COnn and would have lost if Conn had not made a mistake and decided to trade with the bigger guy.
Lastly, his competion was far from great. Now to put this into perspective, lets compare his oppositon in equivalent matchups against the opposition of the man I think deserves to be considered the #2 heavyweight... Evander Holyfield. Every great had an opponent linked to them, For Louis that is Schmeling. Holyfield will always be remembered for his bouts with Tyson. They both faced a big not too talented guy to jumpstart their heavyweight career (Carnera,Douglas), they had a skilled competive memorable opponent (Walcott, Bowe). They both face a good skilled fighter alittle past their primes (Charles,Leiws) and they both fought a smaller guy on the way up the heavyweight ranks while they were WAY past their prime (Marciano, Toney). SO...
Joe Louis Evander Holyfield
Max Schmeling vs Mike TYson
Primo Carnera vs BUster Douglas
Joe Walcott vs Riddick Bowe
Ezzard Charles vs Lennox Lewis
Rocky Marcaino vs James Toney
*Bonus
Jim Braddock vs John Ruiz
Buddy Bear vs George FOreman
Billy COnn vs Micheal Moorer
If they were to fight it out, the only guy from Louis era I can see maybe getting a win would be Marciano beating TOney and maybe Billy COnn beating Moorer. Other than that Louis era gets demolished.
The bottom line is that Louis was a good top ten heavyweight, and was the best of HIS era. HOWEVER his biggest wins were lacking compared the other great fighters he would have to be better than to be # 2 and he is no where near the best.
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