Joe Louis vs Muhammad Ali

[Master]

Early in Ali's career he was put down, but once he became champion and before the exile, that would be the best Ali we saw, and that fighter would beat Louis. We may never have seen the best of Ali, which is a scary/sad thought.

[generalbulldog]

Early in Ali's career he was put down, but once he became champion and before the exile, that would be the best Ali we saw, and that fighter would beat Louis. We may never have seen the best of Ali, which is a scary/sad thought.

Agreed. The best version of Ali was 64-67, before the exile. The green and still physically maturing Ali got put down quite a bit, but not the prime one. And even the 70s version where he was past his prime physically still could take a punch. As someone mentioned, if Ali could take the punching power of Foreman, Shavers, Liston, Norton and those dangerous punchers, I have no doubt he could take Louis power.

Ali takes it for a mid round tko. Too much speed of hand and foot combined with elusiveness.

[Beanflicker]

I gotta agree that this is a nightmare fight for Joe Louis. I don't see how he wins this against a prime Ali. Ali would outbox him with his superior speed, but unlike Conn, Ali will be able to hurt Louis. I see Ali stopped Louis in the later rounds.

I would be more interested in seeing Louis vs Foreman, Frazier, or Marciano (a PRIME Louis, not the old shell of Louis that fought the Rock)

[jdonaher1]

One of the great boxing debates is what would Ali have accomplished if he never went to jail. He lost three prime years of his career. Maybe he fight Frazier in 68 or 69 and dominates him and Joe never gets respect as being a top 10 Heavyweight. What happen to Ali if he easily beats Frazier and Foreman in the early 70's? I just can't imagine Ali loses to anybody 67-70 at all unless something really unexpected happens. Maybe Ali goes undefeated and beats Joe's all time title defense record against the best heavy weight era in history. If so this wouldn't even be a discussion, Ali is undisputed best heavy of all time.

[generalbulldog]

One of the great boxing debates is what would Ali have accomplished if he never went to jail. He lost three prime years of his career. Maybe he fight Frazier in 68 or 69 and dominates him and Joe never gets respect as being a top 10 Heavyweight. What happen to Ali if he easily beats Frazier and Foreman in the early 70's? I just can't imagine Ali loses to anybody 67-70 at all unless something really unexpected happens. Maybe Ali goes undefeated and beats Joe's all time title defense record against the best heavy weight era in history. If so this wouldn't even be a discussion, Ali is undisputed best heavy of all time.

I think you're confusing Ali with Tyson.

[El Kabong]

One of the great boxing debates is what would Ali have accomplished if he never went to jail. He lost three prime years of his career. Maybe he fight Frazier in 68 or 69 and dominates him and Joe never gets respect as being a top 10 Heavyweight. What happen to Ali if he easily beats Frazier and Foreman in the early 70's? I just can't imagine Ali loses to anybody 67-70 at all unless something really unexpected happens. Maybe Ali goes undefeated and beats Joe's all time title defense record against the best heavy weight era in history. If so this wouldn't even be a discussion, Ali is undisputed best heavy of all time.

I think you're confusing Ali with Tyson.

I think people forget that Joe Louis also lost time in his career due to World War II

[jdonaher1]

One of the great boxing debates is what would Ali have accomplished if he never went to jail. He lost three prime years of his career. Maybe he fight Frazier in 68 or 69 and dominates him and Joe never gets respect as being a top 10 Heavyweight. What happen to Ali if he easily beats Frazier and Foreman in the early 70's? I just can't imagine Ali loses to anybody 67-70 at all unless something really unexpected happens. Maybe Ali goes undefeated and beats Joe's all time title defense record against the best heavy weight era in history. If so this wouldn't even be a discussion, Ali is undisputed best heavy of all time.

I think you're confusing Ali with Tyson.

Ali was convicted and sentenced to 5 years in jail but never went while his case was being appealed. I should have said his “exile” from boxing to be more accurate. My bad.

[DaxxKahn]

One of the great boxing debates is what would Ali have accomplished if he never went to jail. He lost three prime years of his career. Maybe he fight Frazier in 68 or 69 and dominates him and Joe never gets respect as being a top 10 Heavyweight. What happen to Ali if he easily beats Frazier and Foreman in the early 70's? I just can't imagine Ali loses to anybody 67-70 at all unless something really unexpected happens. Maybe Ali goes undefeated and beats Joe's all time title defense record against the best heavy weight era in history. If so this wouldn't even be a discussion, Ali is undisputed best heavy of all time.

Ali was exiled and had no license to fight he did not actually spend time in jail

[Galaxy]

I'd have to go Ali, Louis' footwork was terrible, He could punch like a mule but as we've seen Ali had a great chin & found ways to beat you

[rjj tszyu]

This has to be the most debated hypothetical match in history and for good reason. Both were great, but one is the Greatest HW of all time and would be champion in any era and that is Muhammad Ali. Taking nothing from Louis and I respect that he was a great puncher but so were Foreman, Frazier and Shavers but Ali could take all their shots.

Another thing that Ali had was a great boxing brain, he fought the fight he needed to, to defeat each opponent. I mean No one and I mean no one gave him a cat in hells chance vs Foreman but he told us all how he'd beat him and then followed his plan to perfection, yes he took his bumps in doing so (he was pissing blood for 2 weeks after the fight) but he came out on top.

He was also around in a better era for HW's than Louis so he got to prove himself against better opposition which is no fault of Louis' but it has to go against him when you you look at how each fared against genuine quality opposition.