Why is Joe Louis Rated so Highly?

[Mr.Fantastic]

He's black, American, fights are in black n white film, wasn't as loud mouthed as Jack Johnson, and beat someone that beat him at a major political fight(USA vs Germany).

He deserves to be top 10 ATG though. He's just not the god status people make him out to be.

[SlySlickSmooth]

Beat Schmeling in a fight surrounded by politics, fight of the decade.
The Bum of the Month club.
Technique supreme.

Had Louis stayed retired after the Walcott KO is his career would of looked perfect as can be. But no shame in losing to an ATG technician like Charles since Louis was well past his prime coming back from retirement.

[Weltschmerz]

Because of nostalgic fans.

There was a reason behind the name Shufflin' Joe, as he was tightly calculated in many senses. He hesitated for very long to truly risk his belt until the Walcott fights. He avoided many fighters (or rather, his promoters did).

His signature was of course his one punch KO power, but technically he actually had slow, mediocre footwork, especially considering his frame and weight. The Billy Conn fight was a good example, go back and find the tape.

Finally, Marciano knocked him the **** out of the ring.

[Weltschmerz]

Beat Schmeling in a fight surrounded by politics, fight of the decade.
The Bum of the Month club.
Technique supreme.

Had Louis stayed retired after the Walcott KO is his career would of looked perfect as can be. But no shame in losing to an ATG technician like Charles since Louis was well past his prime coming back from retirement.

Except for Schmeling knocking him out.

[soul_survivor]

Louis had already retired when he fought Charles and was only in there for the money. He hadn't fought in over two years and was pretty much a shot fighter by then.

Good point about Louis' retirement

He's black, American, fights are in black n white film, wasn't as loud mouthed as Jack Johnson, and beat someone that beat him at a major political fight(USA vs Germany).

He deserves to be top 10 ATG though. He's just not the god status people make him out to be.

If you're not gonna use that term but still label him top 10 p4p...it stickso ut as odd to me.

too good, too slick, too black & white

Watch his fights, he was far from slick

Because of nostalgic fans.

There was a reason behind the name Shufflin' Joe, as he was tightly calculated in many senses. He hesitated for very long to truly risk his belt until the Walcott fights. He avoided many fighters (or rather, his promoters did).

His signature was of course his one punch KO power, but technically he actually had slow, mediocre footwork, especially considering his frame and weight. The Billy Conn fight was a good example, go back and find the tape.

Finally, Marciano knocked him the **** out of the ring.

very good sum up, his power was immense but he wasn't as technically proficient or excellent in any one area outside of punch power. His speed, compared to many other heavies, was quite mediocre and his footwork looked labored at times.

Forget the marciano fight though, he was shot by then.

[daggum]

Because of nostalgic fans.

There was a reason behind the name Shufflin' Joe, as he was tightly calculated in many senses. He hesitated for very long to truly risk his belt until the Walcott fights. He avoided many fighters (or rather, his promoters did).

His signature was of course his one punch KO power, but technically he actually had slow, mediocre footwork, especially considering his frame and weight. The Billy Conn fight was a good example, go back and find the tape.

Finally, Marciano knocked him the **** out of the ring.

yes he didn't take risks for ten years from when he won the belt until he fought walcott. he even joined the army to duck guys. i don't even think floyd would do that!

[jri9d0]

He had 25 successful title defenses even if it was against the bum of the month club. His level of activity and success is still really hard to match in any weight class.

[KingTito]

He did have power and some solid offensive skills, a good jab and a terrific right hand but he wasn't exceptional in any one department like Ali was or Foreman or even Tyson, although Id probably rank Louis higher than Tyson.

His title reign is a major contributor to his greatness yet it was filled with has beens, never beens and fat boys, something even the media at the time recognised. It's difficult to rank such an iconic champion objectively.

Exactly. Hence the whole bum of the month club or whatever it was. Homestly, I think he gets overrated a lot of times.

[Weltschmerz]

He had 25 successful title defenses even if it was against the bum of the month club. His level of activity and success is still really hard to match in any weight class.

Against nobody, so what real value does it have.

[soul_survivor]

Ok, for those of you who think Louis is top 10 p4p atg, what are his ten best wins as champion? Give a lil bit of info on some of those guys and why they were dangerous opponents and good wins, keep opinions limited, tell me facts.