Thread: Joe Louis vs Lennox Lewis in their primes

Don't recall this dream matchup ever being discussed -- what do you think? It comes down to whether or not we, alive now in these modern times, believe that the current strongmen could standup to the withering assault of the old-time strongmen in punching power, stamina, will to win, and ability to absorb punishment.

I know Lewis would have a bad time trying to tolerate the Brown Bomber's missiles to the point of the chin.

Originally Posted by brocktonblockbust

Don't recall this dream matchup ever being discussed -- what do you think? It comes down to whether or not we, alive now in these modern times, believe that the current strongmen could standup to the withering assault of the old-time strongmen in punching power, stamina, will to win, and ability to absorb punishment.

I know Lewis would have a bad time trying to tolerate the Brown Bomber's missiles to the point of the chin.

Joe Louis was an inside fighter plus alot smaller than Lennox Lewis, unless Lennox Lewis get's sloppy i see him having too much range and size for Joe Louis. And i see him stopping Joe Louis in about 9 or 10 rounds.

Lewis' size alone makes this a mismatch, but it's almost impossible to compare fighters from two completely different eras.

I like Joe Louis alot he was a fine boxer and a better person, however he has no chance at all at beating Lennox Lewis , the size is just to much , yes Joe had power but his chin was not rock solid , Lennox would hit the target early and it is good night.

Lewis KO2

I think with Lennox history of getting caught with one shot knockouts, you gotta give Louis the punchers chance. I think its around a 60/40 odds of Lewis winning. Also are they gonna do 15 rounds? The size is 6'2 215 vs 6'5 245 not insurmountable. 76 reach vs 84 though.

Originally Posted by No Contest

I think with Lennox history of getting caught with one shot knockouts, you gotta give Louis the punchers chance. I think its around a 60/40 odds of Lewis winning. Also are they gonna do 15 rounds? The size is 6'2 215 vs 6'5 245 not insurmountable. 76 reach vs 84 though.

Those one shot losses were both to an out of shape Lewis who underestaimated both McCall and Rahman because he took harder shots then those that stopped him and stood up to them.....Size is the biggest factor here and the fact Lewis knew how to use his range and height would make it hard for Joe to get inside and be effective.....I won't pick a winner though because it is just too subjective and the era difference makes for large style differences

Lewis inside of 5 rounds

Probably a finish similar to Tyson (though 3 rounds earlier of course)

Both top 10 of all time imo. In terms of 'Greatness' I'd have Louis a lot higher than Lews, but head to head I'd pick Lewis!

First of all Lewis would have about 35lbs on Louis who fought in his prime at 200-203lb, having said that, i believe the lumbering Lennox Lewis would find the power of Joe Louis on the inside to much for him. Tyson in his prime would KO Lewis and so would Joe Frazier, i see no reason why Joe Louis wouldn't do the same. Lennox Lewis was a lazy fighter, he got hit often and nailed twice... badly. Lennox Lewis is no Joe Louis!!

Originally Posted by THE THIRD MAN

First of all Lewis would have about 35lbs on Louis who fought in his prime at 200-203lb, having said that, i believe the lumbering Lennox Lewis would find the power of Joe Louis on the inside to much for him. Tyson in his prime would KO Lewis and so would Joe Frazier, i see no reason why Joe Louis wouldn't do the same. Lennox Lewis was a lazy fighter, he got hit often and nailed twice... badly. Lennox Lewis is no Joe Louis!!

Lewis was never outboxed or beaten down by anybody. He got knocked out my 2 punches that would've floored any heavyweight in history imo. Without a doubt NOBODY could've stood up to the Rahman punch. Apart from Mercer and Vitali, nobody ever came close to beating him. I don't think those 2 KOs were as damaging as if he had've been beat down and outclassed for 12 rounds by somebody. All those KOs told us was that Lewis was occasionally lazy, unprepared and poor definsively. I think he absolutely belongs in the same breath as Joe Louis

Originally Posted by BIG H

Originally Posted by THE THIRD MAN

First of all Lewis would have about 35lbs on Louis who fought in his prime at 200-203lb, having said that, i believe the lumbering Lennox Lewis would find the power of Joe Louis on the inside to much for him. Tyson in his prime would KO Lewis and so would Joe Frazier, i see no reason why Joe Louis wouldn't do the same. Lennox Lewis was a lazy fighter, he got hit often and nailed twice... badly. Lennox Lewis is no Joe Louis!!

Lewis was never outboxed or beaten down by anybody. He got knocked out my 2 punches that would've floored any heavyweight in history imo. Without a doubt NOBODY could've stood up to the Rahman punch. Apart from Mercer and Vitali, nobody ever came close to beating him. I don't think those 2 KOs were as damaging as if he had've been beat down and outclassed for 12 rounds by somebody. All those KOs told us was that Lewis was occasionally lazy, unprepared and poor definsively. I think he absolutely belongs in the same breath as Joe Louis

Larry Holmes took a harder punch off Earnie Shavers, and was up at the count of 4. There's plenty of fighters who could of took that shot and got up.

Marion Wilson
Muhammad Ali
Larry Holmes
Oliver McCall
Ray Mercer
Rocky Marciano
Joe Frazier
Mike Tyson

ETC.

You make out like it was most devastating shot in Heavyweight history, Lennox Lewis was also caught plenty by Shannon Briggs, Ray Mercer. I always thought he was lazy in alot of his fights. Its just he invited Hasim Rahman to hit him with his hands down.

Originally Posted by ICB

Originally Posted by BIG H

Originally Posted by THE THIRD MAN

First of all Lewis would have about 35lbs on Louis who fought in his prime at 200-203lb, having said that, i believe the lumbering Lennox Lewis would find the power of Joe Louis on the inside to much for him. Tyson in his prime would KO Lewis and so would Joe Frazier, i see no reason why Joe Louis wouldn't do the same. Lennox Lewis was a lazy fighter, he got hit often and nailed twice... badly. Lennox Lewis is no Joe Louis!!

Lewis was never outboxed or beaten down by anybody. He got knocked out my 2 punches that would've floored any heavyweight in history imo. Without a doubt NOBODY could've stood up to the Rahman punch. Apart from Mercer and Vitali, nobody ever came close to beating him. I don't think those 2 KOs were as damaging as if he had've been beat down and outclassed for 12 rounds by somebody. All those KOs told us was that Lewis was occasionally lazy, unprepared and poor definsively. I think he absolutely belongs in the same breath as Joe Louis

Larry Holmes took a harder punch off Earnie Shavers, and was up at the count of 4. There's plenty of fighters who could of took that shot and got up.

Marion Wilson
Muhammad Ali
Larry Holmes
Oliver McCall
Ray Mercer
Rocky Marciano
Joe Frazier
Mike Tyson

ETC.

You make out like it was most devastating shot in Heavyweight history, Lennox Lewis was also caught plenty by Shannon Briggs, Ray Mercer. I always thought he was lazy in alot of his fights. Its just he invited Hasim Rahman to hit him with his hands down.

That's all subjective mate, nobody can know that.

Yeh he was caught plenty, but didn't go down. I said that I don't think anybody would've 'stood up' to the Rahman punch and I stick by that. Somebody may have got back up from it, but I doubt it.

How Holmes got up and survived against Shavers is beyond me. He can't have been human

Originally Posted by ICB

Originally Posted by BIG H

Originally Posted by THE THIRD MAN

First of all Lewis would have about 35lbs on Louis who fought in his prime at 200-203lb, having said that, i believe the lumbering Lennox Lewis would find the power of Joe Louis on the inside to much for him. Tyson in his prime would KO Lewis and so would Joe Frazier, i see no reason why Joe Louis wouldn't do the same. Lennox Lewis was a lazy fighter, he got hit often and nailed twice... badly. Lennox Lewis is no Joe Louis!!

Lewis was never outboxed or beaten down by anybody. He got knocked out my 2 punches that would've floored any heavyweight in history imo. Without a doubt NOBODY could've stood up to the Rahman punch. Apart from Mercer and Vitali, nobody ever came close to beating him. I don't think those 2 KOs were as damaging as if he had've been beat down and outclassed for 12 rounds by somebody. All those KOs told us was that Lewis was occasionally lazy, unprepared and poor definsively. I think he absolutely belongs in the same breath as Joe Louis

Larry Holmes took a harder punch off Earnie Shavers, and was up at the count of 4. There's plenty of fighters who could of took that shot and got up.

Marion Wilson
Muhammad Ali
Larry Holmes
Oliver McCall
Ray Mercer
Rocky Marciano
Joe Frazier
Mike Tyson

ETC.

You make out like it was most devastating shot in Heavyweight history, Lennox Lewis was also caught plenty by Shannon Briggs, Ray Mercer. I always thought he was lazy in alot of his fights. Its just he invited Hasim Rahman to hit him with his hands down.

Journeymen that become survival experts doesn't mean they have a granite chin. It's silly to add Wilson to that list. Might as well put Johnny Nelson on there.

Of all the fighters you've listed - I would bet only Oliver McCall would not go down from that punch. It not only landed right on the button he also didn't see it coming. The worst punch possible to take.

Joe Loius would be too small for Lennox. I see Lewis Ko'ing him late but Joe having some good moments also

Lennox Lewis would destroy Joe Louis.