Quote Originally Posted by Lyle View Post
Quote Originally Posted by hitmandonny View Post
Valuev will end up tarnished by his management and gift decisions, just as Primo Carnera was.
Say what you will about how bad Carnera was (he was bad) but he went up against the BEST. Valuev will NEVER fight the best heavyweights because he will get humiliated...Nicolay Valuev, John Ruiz, AND Evander Holyfield have turned the WBA Heavyweight title into a joke. Sure Evander is a great fighter but he's nowhere near Joe Louis' class.

Joe Louis is the greatest heavyweight of all-time he successfully defended his title 25 times, sure he lost to Schmeling but he also avenged that loss in brutal fashion.

As for Joe Louis' "weak competition": Max Baer, Jim Braddock, Joe Walcott, Ezzard Charles, Max Schmeling, Rocky Marciano, Billy Conn, and Jack Sharkey....that's pretty good competition as far as I can tell.
We all know Joe is superman in your eyes Lyle

But if you look into that competition list a little closer it's not that hot.
Max Baer was a killer puncher, but he was a clown and an inconsistent trainer.
Jim Braddock was a mediocre at best fighter, an over achiever and not even a natural heavyweight.
Joe Walcott I'll give you....The Bomber beat him in his prime.
Ezzard Charles was also great, but a light heavy naturally and suffered severe health problems.
Max Schmeling exposed Louis' defensive shortcomings in their first fight.
Rocky fought an old Joe and administered a savage beating.
Billy Conn was a Light Heavy and Jack Sharkey is hardly a Mike Tyson.