Why do people still put Joe Louis as the best HW with his outdated and poor mechanics?

[Dr. Z]

174 for his 2nd to last fight. In training recently for a "comeback" that probably won't happen and HOPEFULLY won't happen, he's been weighing 168. So boiled down to the kind of shape fighers used to (often) be in for those long distances and frequent fight road trips more common in the olden days? Ya, the size of Johnson, Dempsey, Louis era contenders or smaller....this Vitali slayer.
Interesting fur shurrrr.

In 2nd to last fight when he was washed up in 2008. He fought Vitali in his prime and weighed ( 1999 ) and weights 210.75 pounds. Huge difference wouldn't you say?

[Willie Pep 229]

How the hell did Chris Byrd cut down to 174 for the George fight in 2008 after fighting between 210 - 215 since 1995.

That's kind of freaky.

[JAB5239]

How the hell did Chris Byrd cut down to 174 for the George fight in 2008 after fighting between 210 - 215 since 1995.

That's kind of freaky.

After fighting so long at heavy it was a ****** move. But he most likely would have stayed at 168 a couple years, outgrown it and went to 175 for another 7 or 8 years and topped out at cruiser to end his career. That he was successful at heavyweight can either be a testament to how good he was....how poor the division was.....or how underrated past fighters that were naturally bigger but just fought around the same weight and were successful. Byrd was a good fighter in my opinion. But if he stayed at a lower weight he would have been even more successful. He wanted that heavyweight money though.

[Ivich]

Yes, I don't mean to disparage all modern day HWs, but a majority of them are flat-footed, fat, and fairly one-dimensional. Jab, straight right hand, an occasional hook, very little body work, clunky footwork, low stamina, poor defense. Louis knew how to cut off the ring, create traps, work the body, slip a jab, counter-punch, close the distance. I don't see a lot or any of that from most modern HWs.

I agree, compared to Louis they possess just a very rudimentary grasp of the
game.

[GhostofDempsey]

How the hell did Chris Byrd cut down to 174 for the George fight in 2008 after fighting between 210 - 215 since 1995.

That's kind of freaky.

He was a middleweight in the amateurs right before he turned pro. He was always a blown up LHW, probably would have been unbeatable at cruiserweight but there was no money there.

[JAB5239]

He was a middleweight in the amateurs right before he turned pro. He was always a blown up LHW, probably would have been unbeatable at cruiserweight but there was no money there.

Amateur at middle is 168, at least that is what it was back then. So je starts there
obviously outgrows it I'm a few years. Lightheavy 175, than cruiser. Byrd was never a heavyweight by today's standards. Bit he was successful . Thats what drives me nuts about the size mongers. I'd Byrd was successful, there should be no doubt guys like Louis and Liston would be more successful. The whole they didn't have movement is BS. They had movement, they just minimized it which is so much smarter in my opinion.

[Willow The Wisp]

Yes, I don't mean to disparage all modern day HWs, but a majority of them are flat-footed, fat, and fairly one-dimensional. Jab, straight right hand, an occasional hook, very little body work, clunky footwork, low stamina, poor defense. Louis knew how to cut off the ring, create traps, work the body, slip a jab, counter-punch, close the distance. I don't see a lot or any of that from most modern HWs.

School was harder back in those times, including the ones that taught the art of boxing. Has anyone here ever heard a legendary trainer EVER say any different?
Louis was painstakingly taught these things day and night until he had them instinctively down. Blackburn's methods (predominant in those days) were to first assess a fighter's physical and mental makeup, and essentially develop a fighting style, or "martial art" within the rules of the sport, AROUND those unique characteristics. This was how Blackburn himself learned the craft in Terre Haute, Altoona, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia at the turn of the last century.
Not only did Louis exhibit superb ability to cut off the ring, create traps, work the body, slip a jab, counter-punch, close the distance, etc., but so did John Henry Lewis, Billy Conn, Max Schmeling, Jim Braddock, Patsy Perroni, Bob Pastor, Nathan Mann, Roy Lazer, Charley Retzlaff, Al McCoy, Johnny Paycheck, Lee Ramage, Jack Sharkey, Al Ettore, Harry Thomas, Lou Nova, Tami Maureallo, etc.
...For real.

[Ivich]

School was harder back in those times, including the ones that taught the art of boxing. Has anyone here ever heard a legendary trainer EVER say any different?
Louis was painstakingly taught these things day and night until he had them instinctively down. Blackburn's methods (predominant in those days) were to first assess a fighter's physical and mental makeup, and essentially develop a fighting style, or "martial art" within the rules of the sport, AROUND those unique characteristics. This was how Blackburn himself learned the craft in Terre Haute, Altoona, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia at the turn of the last century.
Not only did Louis exhibit superb ability to cut off the ring, create traps, work the body, slip a jab, counter-punch, close the distance, etc., but so did John Henry Lewis, Billy Conn, Max Schmeling, Jim Braddock, Patsy Perroni, Bob Pastor, Nathan Mann, Roy Lazer, Charley Retzlaff, Al McCoy, Johnny Paycheck, Lee Ramage, Jack Sharkey, Al Ettore, Harry Thomas, Lou Nova, Tami Maureallo, etc.
...For real.

Blackburn was a huge exponent of the jab.
Speaking of trainers Eddie Futch named .in no order Louis,Johnson, and Ali as his three greatest heavyweights

[mrbig1]

Oh lord not another Louis is overrated. 68-3 54 KOs. 25 title defenses over 12 years. Sounds overrated to me.

[Bundana]

School was harder back in those times, including the ones that taught the art of boxing. Has anyone here ever heard a legendary trainer EVER say any different?
Louis was painstakingly taught these things day and night until he had them instinctively down. Blackburn's methods (predominant in those days) were to first assess a fighter's physical and mental makeup, and essentially develop a fighting style, or "martial art" within the rules of the sport, AROUND those unique characteristics. This was how Blackburn himself learned the craft in Terre Haute, Altoona, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia at the turn of the last century.
Not only did Louis exhibit superb ability to cut off the ring, create traps, work the body, slip a jab, counter-punch, close the distance, etc., but so did John Henry Lewis, Billy Conn, Max Schmeling, Jim Braddock, Patsy Perroni, Bob Pastor, Nathan Mann, Roy Lazer, Charley Retzlaff, Al McCoy, Johnny Paycheck, Lee Ramage, Jack Sharkey, Al Ettore, Harry Thomas, Lou Nova, Tami Maureallo, etc.
...For real.

In my search for video clips of early Louis opponents, I've obviously not found everything that is out there! It would be much appreciated, if you can direct me to a link(s), where I can watch guys like Roy Lazer and Patsy Perroni.