Ali's opinion of Louis

[CarlosG815]

Is there a documented opinion of what Ali thought of Joe Louis?

We know his opinion on Dempsey, Frazier, Mike Tyson, and other heavyweights. What does he think about Joe Louis?

[Holtol]

I read a book on Ali once and at one point he met both Louis and Robinson on different ocsasions. Neither of them were very interested in talking to him and I think he held a grudge against both if I remember correctly.

[Barn]

I read a book on Ali once and at one point he met both Louis and Robinson on different ocsasions. Neither of them were very interested in talking to him and I think he held a grudge against both if I remember correctly.

I don't think it was a grudge it was the foundation of him being so fan-friendly.

[Scott9945]

I read a book on Ali once and at one point he met both Louis and Robinson on different ocsasions. Neither of them were very interested in talking to him and I think he held a grudge against both if I remember correctly.

I never heard that about Ray, but I think Louis kept calling him Clay. That always put you on Ali's **** list. Throughout boxing history heavyweight champions have trashed the ones who followed them. Jack Johnson did it to Louis. Now Holmes and Frazier will tell anyone who will listen that the division has been crap since they left.

[Barn]

I never heard that about Ray, but I think Louis kept calling him Clay. That always put you on Ali's **** list. Throughout boxing history heavyweight champions have trashed the ones who followed them. Jack Johnson did it to Louis. Now Holmes and Frazier will tell anyone who will listen that the division has been crap since they left.

Which is true to a certain extent.

Ali was gutted when Ray never accepted Ali's offer of being his trainer though

[NChristo]

I read a book on Ali once and at one point he met both Louis and Robinson on different ocsasions. Neither of them were very interested in talking to him and I think he held a grudge against both if I remember correctly.

I've got quite a few pictures of Ali and Louis together at different periods of time, they're both always smiling when together and seem happy, same with Robinson.

Ali had a lot of respect for him I think, here's a video of him at a event honouring Joe


Here's another where Louis shows respect for Ali and vice versa, start at 3:10 or so.


I don't think Louis actually thought much of Ali though because of the whole war thing and "draft dodging" while Louis himself went.

[young_robbed]

He said Louis was great from the waist up. Which is partially true. Louis wasn't flashy with his feet like Tunney and Ali were

[Holtol]

I never heard that about Ray, but I think Louis kept calling him Clay. That always put you on Ali's **** list. Throughout boxing history heavyweight champions have trashed the ones who followed them. Jack Johnson did it to Louis. Now Holmes and Frazier will tell anyone who will listen that the division has been crap since they left.

I can't remember the details or the name of the book it was over 15 years ago that I read the book. It went exstensivly in to his childhood with many interviews it overall portrayed Ali as a bit of a weird kid who did not fit in that well and was not that smart at normal things like school, it mentioned him passing out cold for some time the first time he kissed a girl which I found funny, I think the book did mention him meeting Robinson when Ali was young and not a name in boxing and if I remember correctly Robinson was not that polite with him. But Ali may have rubbed some people the wrong way.

[GrandpaBernard]

I never heard that about Ray, but I think Louis kept calling him Clay. That always put you on Ali's **** list. Throughout boxing history heavyweight champions have trashed the ones who followed them. Jack Johnson did it to Louis. Now Holmes and Frazier will tell anyone who will listen that the division has been crap since they left.

I see the logic behind that. Johnson was this free spirited Black man who did what he wanted. Joe Louis was restrained.

[GrandpaBernard]

I can't remember the details or the name of the book it was over 15 years ago that I read the book. It went exstensivly in to his childhood with many interviews it overall portrayed Ali as a bit of a weird kid who did not fit in that well and was not that smart at normal things like school, it mentioned him passing out cold for some time the first time he kissed a girl which I found funny, I think the book did mention him meeting Robinson when Ali was young and not a name in boxing and if I remember correctly Robinson was not that polite with him. But Ali may have rubbed some people the wrong way.

What I heard was that Ali requested an autograph from Sugar Ray. The Sugar Man said he was too busy to sign an autograph.