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

[Benny Leonard]

kostya tszyu seemed slow compared to zab judah , look what happened

Timing and Accuracy

[BKM-]

Some of the HWs today are comparable to Abe Simon...not that great. Wlad and Vitali are the exception. Although, Abe did knockout Jersey Joe Walcott way before Marciano did...but does that just degrade Marciano???


6'4, 250+ Abe Simon

Indeed. Lets not forget Louis was a giant killer.

Like you said Vitali and Wlad are an exception, as well as Lennox Lewis. They used their size as an advantage, and together with skill it all adds up, making them very difficult to beat if you're smaller than them.

[Miburo]

Didn't have videotape to study? Of course they did, that's how Schmeling beat him. Louis would certainly not be as dominant in an era like the 90s, but he would still be a top fighter. He may have been slow, but like Arguello his precision was so high it made up for speed deficiencies.

[Testdead]

Different for fighters. Athletes have continuing better shoes and surfaces to run on they are also timed more.

Louis could fight 15 hard rounds 99% of heavyweights now are done after 12.

[Check]

Way different times. Who is to say with the training now a day that Louis couldn't be a better fighter on his fight. Louis at the time was so powerful so in todays term with what nutrition and knowledge we have Louis would probably be stronger. Louis also had the stanima if needed to go 15. How many heavyweights now could go 15 rounds and do it at a somewhat professional level. You can't compare eras that were so different. It's like comparing the dead ball era to present day ball in baseball.

[potatoes]

its true but it doesn't need to be said. it's kind of disrespectful to Louis' legacy especially for what he went through. but after one of Holyfield's interviews where he mentions god like 30 times in 2mins, I know he isn't the brightest bulb so I'm not surprised at what he said.

Holyfield has had God on his side for years, or so he claims. Do you remember he claimed God wanted him to beat Lennox Lewis? Lewis then called him a hypocrite. I have often wondered why God has a strong preference for Bible thumping drunkards and whoremongers?

[ztrac79]

Hollyfield would tear up Joe. You couldn't even tear up John Ruiz.

[TheGreatA]

[Dynamite Kid]

Hollyfield would tear up Joe. You couldn't even tear up John Ruiz.

I meant prime Holyfield.

[nathan_nall]

disrespectful, but its true.

I agree... Joe Louis is an american hero. The ability to brawl has been around for a century, but technical skill has only grown by leaps and bounds over the last 25 years. Thats what made Ali so great, is technically he was WAY ahead of his time. Jerry Quarry, George Chuvallo, Oscar Bonavena... they all faught the same way... come forward, take a punch to land a punch and turn this into a war of attrition.

As far as technical skill, Louis was also ahead of his time, so I think that he would hold his own versus the top level Light Heavies and Cruiserweights, but not the Heavyweights. A BIG heavyweight in Louis' time was 215-220.

But if Jack Johnson were born 65 years later than he was... the only Jack Johnson history would speak of is the singer-surfer-songwriter.