would joe louis have beat Ezzard charles and rocky marciano in his prime.

**bengidaro** · 05-29-2007, 02:50 PM

I think he would have beat them both. Towards the end he was fighting to be a champ or a great boxer again he was looking for a pay day. In his prime Joe Louis could have beat a lot of people. They both would have been very tough fights because they were both excellent fighters but Louis was out of this world in ability. My vote goes to yes on Louis beating Charles and Marciano.

**SquareCircle** · 05-29-2007, 02:55 PM

I'd pick Louis over Charles but wouldn't bet on it, especially looking in retrospect at what Schmeling was able to accomplish and he was half the fighter Charles was. Ezzard Charles was an extremely well-tooled offensive machine, bad idea to bet against him vs a guy like Louis who was KO'd by a far lesser fighter than Charles.

**porlie** · 05-29-2007, 02:57 PM

I'd still pick Rock Marciano to beat him. No one ever beat Rocky Marciano so theres nothing to say anyone could beat him.

**SquareCircle** · 05-29-2007, 03:02 PM

not only that but again, rock was a better fighter than schmeling who was able to get louis out of there. then again schmeling's trainer died the night of that fight in the dressing room, something o'rourke was his name.

**drvooh** · 05-29-2007, 03:03 PM

Louis though Rocky may beat him even in Primetime, but Rocky said just the opposite...Give them both a break, they were the top two of their times.
Loius was amazed at how hard Rocky hit...I'm sure rocky thought Joe was a tough cookie.

**bengidaro** · 05-29-2007, 03:05 PM

I love Rocky Marciano but Joe Louis was such a fundamentally sound fighter. I do agree that Marciano was better than Schmelling but Louis did beat Schmelling the second time around which also needs to be taken into account.

**Hydro** · 05-29-2007, 03:18 PM

Probably.

Charles wasn't at his peak at heavyweight. In fact, he wasn't ever quite the same after killing a guy in the ring which was years earlier. He was such a great fighter that he's considered #1 (or at least top 3) at 175 and also had a reign as HW champ.

**THE REAL NINJA** · 05-29-2007, 03:22 PM

Originally posted by porlie

I'd still pick Rock Marciano to beat him. No one ever beat Rocky Marciano so theres nothing to say anyone could beat him.

So even Ali couldn't beat Marciano because he never lost a fight ?

**danny stash** · 05-29-2007, 03:25 PM

Originally posted by THE REAL NINJA

So even Ali couldn't beat Marciano because he never lost a fight ?

i dont think that was his point but....

would joe louis have beat Ezzard charles and rocky marciano in his prime.