Which Long Reigning Champ Faced The Harder Competition

[Sadiqkingofko]

A) Joe Louis : Notable Wins

Max Baer
Max Schmeling
James Braddock
Jersey Joe Walcott (X2)

B) Larry Holmes : Notable Wins

Earnie Shavers (X2)
Muhammed Ali
Ken Nortan
George Cooney

C) Wladimir Klitschko : Notable Wins

Alexander Povetktin
David Haye
Kubrat Pulev
Sam Peter (X2)

[BoloShot]

Joe Louis obviously.

[crold1]

Joe Louis obviously.

Relative to era, Louis faced, and beat, more top ten fighters (when he fought them) of his time than Holmes or Wlad by quite a bit.

[famicommander]

What kind of BS list is that for Wlad?

What about his wins over Chagaev, Ibragimov, Botha, Byrd, Brewster, and Rahman?

[BoloShot]

Relative to era, Louis faced, and beat, more top ten fighters (when he fought them) of his time than Holmes or Wlad by quite a bit.

Which top fighter of his era didn't he beat? Carnera, Sharkey, Max and Buddy Baer, Bivins, Savold, Walcott, Conn, Mauriello, Nova, Pastor, Galento, Schmelling, Mann, Braddock, Lewis, Ramage, Uzcudun, Ettore, Farr, Godoy, Dorazio, Simon, Brion, Burman and McCoy. All of those guys were champs or top contenders. Joe Louis has the most insane resumé. He beat legend after legend. He should be remembered as the best HW ever. Just wasn't given the credit for it because he was so dominant.

[crold1]

Which top fighter of his era didn't he beat? Carnera, Sharkey, Max and Buddy Baer, Bivins, Savold, Walcott, Conn, Mauriello, Nova, Pastor, Galento, Schmelling, Mann, Braddock, Lewis, Ramage, Uzcudun, Ettore, Farr, Godoy, Dorazio, Simon, Brion, Burman and McCoy. All of those guys were champs or top contenders. Joe Louis has the most insane resumé. He beat legend after legend. He should be remembered as the best HW ever. Just wasn't given the credit for it because he was so dominant.

Ali is right there with him. In terms of just depth of who he fought, so is Holy but he doesn't have the same W/L factor in his favor (or the same volume).

[BoloShot]

Ali is right there with him. In terms of just depth of who he fought, so is Holy but he doesn't have the same W/L factor in his favor (or the same volume).

Ali was good but I think he got the benefit of the doubt in the cards against Norton in every fight and Frazier. He was quite manufactured. At least in Joe Louis' only controversial decision against Jersey Joe he avenged it in style.

[RJJ-94-02=GOAT]

Louis, Holmes, Wlad in that order.

[Sadiqkingofko]

What kind of BS list is that for Wlad?

What about his wins over Chagaev, Ibragimov, Botha, Byrd, Brewster, and Rahman?

Botha was part of his first reign, Rahman was past prime, and the rest lose to Haye, Povetkin, Pulev

[crold1]

Ali was good but I think he got the benefit of the doubt in the cards against Norton in every fight and Frazier. He was quite manufactured. At least in Joe Louis' only controversial decision against Jersey Joe he avenged it in style.

I thought Ali in Norton II was fine. Hard to manufacture the depth he had otherwise. He legit beat a slew of top ten guys and with Foreman, Frazier, and Liston (even with the screwy rematch)...hard to manufacture.

Incredible to think though: if no WWII, does Louis potentially get to 35-40 defenses?