Holyfield says Joe Louis couldn't make it in boxing today

[BattlingNelson]

how many rounds did they fight back in joe louis's day ???

15.

[Thread Stealer]

If Joe Louis could pump himself full of HGH and steroids like Evander did, I'm sure he'd do fine in today's HW era. He'd probably make some noise at cruiserweight anyway.

I don't know exactly what Holyfield is talking about saying they didn't have videotape. Sure the footage isn't as good, but there's a bunch of Louis fights on film. Even before Louis, Gene Tunney was known to watch films of opponents and study them.

[MissDeeCole]

nice holding onto the rope with one arm and taking 10 clean headshots without bothering to block with the other defense by schmelling. really top class

[deemo]

i think we should take the dna of all the top fighters from the last 100 years and clone them. raise them to be fighters starting from birth and then let them all fight each other in there primes. then we would know who the greatest was.

[The Noose]

"Jesse Owens couldn't even make the Olympic team today. It's the same with boxing. I always just look at Joe Louis, I say, You know what, he kind of slow. I'd tear him up.

People say, Joe Louis had twenty-five consecutive wins as a champion. That's because they didn't have videotape. You couldn't pick up his style unless you was in there with him."

http://www.esquire.com/features/what...-0109?src=digg

This was a recent interview too (October 29, 2008). Anyone agree?

So Louis couldnt make it today, but people like Sam Peter and John Ruiz can?


Maybe it should be 'Imagine how great Joe Louis could have been if he were around today' .

The technical knowledge about how to fight and prepare is much more advanced than it was. It was more about being tough, now skill beats toughness, and speed and movement beats power.

Only a few of the great trainers back then had the kind of boxing know-how that is general knowledge in any gym today.

[cuzfozzy]

Joe Louis was a real fighter. He would never lose to a Rid**** Bowe
or a Larry Donald ...

[cuzfozzy]

Vitali started the trend to attack retired fighters ...
and now Holyfield is attacking fighters ten foot deep
who can't answer back ? lol

[Arka]

nice holding onto the rope with one arm and taking 10 clean headshots without bothering to block with the other defense by schmelling. really top class

I think the bodyshot to his back did for him.
Still he should have gone down on a knee for the count....

[Dynamite Kid]

Holyfield would of tore Louis up i agree. Holyfield has every conceivable advantage in his prime.

[BKM-]

Always hearsay and you can't ever be for sure with matchups like this. But Louis would have had a chance against anyone. When it comes to size all that matters is height and reach, and I suppose the blubber can wear the smaller guy out if you keep leaning on him. This does NOT win fights.
Then what do we have left? Everything else the older guys are just as good at, and quite frankly even better. They were thougher, in better shape, had better old school fundementals etc.

This is why people only say this about the old Heavyweights, not the fighters of the lower weight classes. Because ff you take size away, what do they have left?

i think we should take the dna of all the top fighters from the last 100 years and clone them. raise them to be fighters starting from birth and then let them all fight each other in there primes. then we would know who the greatest was.

Post of the year.