First off, Louis was a great fighter...for his era!!! The heavyweights of the 40's and 50's did not compare to the heavyweights of the 60's and 70's.
If Louis fought Floyd Patterson, he would have a pretty good chance, but it wouldn't be an easy fight to predict. Louis had trouble with fast punching, and quick moving fighters. Patterson was really the first "fast" heavyweight. Basically it would be a comparable fight to the Louis Conn fight, only Patterson was faster, and hit harder. As long as Patterson could keep from being intimidated by Louis, it would be a very good fight.
Louis vs Sonny Liston would be almost a shut out. LIston had many things that Louis did not. He had a very durable chin (minus Liston - Ali 2), he had an extremely long reach, he was heavier than Louis although roughly the same height, his jab alone would give Joe problems, and for a big guy he had very good footwork. His boxing skills were on par with Louis, and he was very heavy handed. I see this fight ending with a knock out victory for Liston.
Now Louis vs. Fraizer would be a great fight. Fraizer had a will of iron, but had trouble with some fighters that seemed a bit odd for somebody of his level. Such as Bonevena. Anyway, Fraizer relied only on offense, his best block was by using his face. He wore Ali down with his relentless pressure in their first fight, and of course his wrecking ball left hook. Louis, a great combination puncher would have no problem teeing off on Fraizer with more power than Ali, and probably end the fight the way the "Thrilla" ended, with Fraizer on his feet, but his face too swollen to continue probably sooner than Ali TKO'd him. Also, Fraizer was at his best when he was angry and Louis wouldn't have talked enough trash to piss Fraizer off.
Louis vs. Spinks would be a dull fight with Spinks running and Louis cutting the ring off. Easy...Louis by KO or UD.
Louis vs. Foreman would be a shorter version of Louis vs. Liston only with Foreman doing to Louis what he did to Fraizer and Norton, KO by 2.
Louis vs. Norton would probably end in a decision win for Louis, Norton had an awkward fighting style but Louis' tried and true "by the book" method would eventually get him the victory.
And finally Louis vs. Holmes. If Louis could some how manage to get near Holmes i.e. past his jab, then he would have a pretty good chance. Holmes had the more durable chin, but Louis had more power. Holmes had better footwork, but Louis had better fundamentals. It would be an ugly fight but I could see this one going to either Holmes by KO basically wearing Louis down with a bombardment of jabs that would either swell his face, which he was prone too, or just drop him. Or, if Louis could get past the jab, then I could see Louis winning this by late stoppage or UD.
but that's my opinion....
If Louis fought Floyd Patterson, he would have a pretty good chance, but it wouldn't be an easy fight to predict. Louis had trouble with fast punching, and quick moving fighters. Patterson was really the first "fast" heavyweight. Basically it would be a comparable fight to the Louis Conn fight, only Patterson was faster, and hit harder. As long as Patterson could keep from being intimidated by Louis, it would be a very good fight.
Louis vs Sonny Liston would be almost a shut out. LIston had many things that Louis did not. He had a very durable chin (minus Liston - Ali 2), he had an extremely long reach, he was heavier than Louis although roughly the same height, his jab alone would give Joe problems, and for a big guy he had very good footwork. His boxing skills were on par with Louis, and he was very heavy handed. I see this fight ending with a knock out victory for Liston.
Now Louis vs. Fraizer would be a great fight. Fraizer had a will of iron, but had trouble with some fighters that seemed a bit odd for somebody of his level. Such as Bonevena. Anyway, Fraizer relied only on offense, his best block was by using his face. He wore Ali down with his relentless pressure in their first fight, and of course his wrecking ball left hook. Louis, a great combination puncher would have no problem teeing off on Fraizer with more power than Ali, and probably end the fight the way the "Thrilla" ended, with Fraizer on his feet, but his face too swollen to continue probably sooner than Ali TKO'd him. Also, Fraizer was at his best when he was angry and Louis wouldn't have talked enough trash to piss Fraizer off.
Louis vs. Spinks would be a dull fight with Spinks running and Louis cutting the ring off. Easy...Louis by KO or UD.
Louis vs. Foreman would be a shorter version of Louis vs. Liston only with Foreman doing to Louis what he did to Fraizer and Norton, KO by 2.
Louis vs. Norton would probably end in a decision win for Louis, Norton had an awkward fighting style but Louis' tried and true "by the book" method would eventually get him the victory.
And finally Louis vs. Holmes. If Louis could some how manage to get near Holmes i.e. past his jab, then he would have a pretty good chance. Holmes had the more durable chin, but Louis had more power. Holmes had better footwork, but Louis had better fundamentals. It would be an ugly fight but I could see this one going to either Holmes by KO basically wearing Louis down with a bombardment of jabs that would either swell his face, which he was prone too, or just drop him. Or, if Louis could get past the jab, then I could see Louis winning this by late stoppage or UD.
but that's my opinion....
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