Who was the greatest heavyweight: JOE LOUIS or MUHAMMAD ALI

[Kel]

Joe Louis in my book.Joe held the Heavyweight Championship longer than any other Champion; Louis scored 43 knockdowns in his first 22 Professional bouts; Only Jack Kranz and Hans Birkie were not floored; He fought as an amateur light-heavyweight (175-lb class); His amateur record reportedly was 50-4 with 43 knockouts
Here is a good video of him(you can turn down the music I did)
[youtube=425,350]lnTDtqiYzww[/youtube]

GOD! Nearly all of his opponents in that vid had very poor defence. They just stood there like lumps of Sh!t waiting to be hit.

[Klitsfan]

If you like Ali and think he's the Greatest just because it's everyone else's opinion then you're an idiot....if you are knowledgeable enough to prove in a debate why he's the greatest of all time then I respect your opinion.

And ignorance shows when people say things like "Joe Louis couldn't beat Sonny Liston"....prime for prime Joe Louis would have made Liston look SILLY

Your ignorance is that you can't even acknowledge that Liston was a superior version of Louis... He was way stronger, and just as good of a boxer.

Would you rate Liston above Louis then?Because out of all the top 10 greatest heavyweights in history I have never come across someone who thought that.

Here is another who agrees Louis was the best.

From Coxscorner.tripod.com
Joe Louis is the best technician amongst all heavyweight punchers, the most complete fighter amongst all the heavyweight champions, the best in a combination of boxing skill and punching power. His punching accuracy is the best ever seen by a heavyweight on film. He has speed, power, and explosiveness, some of the best combination punching ever in any weight class of any time. Louis was the complete package. He holds the record for longest consecutive title reign at nearly 12 years and the most title defenses with 25, 21 of those are knockouts, 17 are ten counts, and 5 in the first round.

In 2003, Ring Magazine rated Joe Louis number one on the list of 100 greatest punchers of all time. In 2005, Louis was named the greatest heavyweight champion of all time by the International Boxing Research Organization (IBRO): International Boxing Research Organization (March, 2005).

[Jamoie]

Joe Louis....25 successful title defenses....best ever!

Ali did very well but I have him at 3rd....I have Rocky Marciano at #2 because he was undefeated...say what you will about who he fought....HE NEVER LOST

He should have lost to La Starza first time around, he got a gift in that fight

Agreed.


Ooh, and why has nobody yet mentioned Jack Johnson. Another arguable "greatest of all time"

[rrbong]

I am voting for TYSON......... Tyson is the best heavyweight fighter.....without considering his atittude....

[Punisher136]

#1 Marciano
#2 Ali
#3 Louis/Tyson

Thats how i have it.

[Jamoie]

#1 Marciano
#2 Ali
#3 Louis/Tyson

Thats how i have it.

Im dying to open up the "but who did Marciano fight" debate....but i think i will refrain.

[ICB]

1 muhammad ali

2 joe louis

3 rocky marciano

4 larry holmes

5 jack johnson

6 george foreman

7 lennox lewis

im struggling bit here now the other 3 would prolly be

mike tyson

evander holyfield

and a suprise entry gene tunney

but i did struggle with last 3 because couldnt really think of any excellent hw champs

[BIG H]

Joe Louis....25 successful title defenses....best ever!

Ali did very well but I have him at 3rd....I have Rocky Marciano at #2 because he was undefeated...say what you will about who he fought....HE NEVER LOST

Nor did Sven Ottke

...and there are many reports that Marciano did lose and that the fight was stricken from the record (ask BK )

[Punisher136]

#1 Marciano
#2 Ali
#3 Louis/Tyson

Thats how i have it.

Im dying to open up the "but who did Marciano fight" debate....but i think i will refrain.

Walcott, Charles, and Moore.

[Punisher136]

#1 Marciano
#2 Ali
#3 Louis/Tyson

Thats how i have it.

Im dying to open up the "but who did Marciano fight" debate....but i think i will refrain.

Walcott, Charles, and Moore.

And louis but i don't believe he was anywhere near in top form for him to be considered a credible opponent at that point but think what you want.

[BIG H]

#1 Marciano
#2 Ali
#3 Louis/Tyson

Thats how i have it.

Im dying to open up the "but who did Marciano fight" debate....but i think i will refrain.

Walcott, Charles, and Moore.

Yep the 38 year old , 80 fight veteran Walcott that led after 12 rounds

The 90 fight veteran and former Middleweight Ezzard Charles

...and the 40 Year Old 180 fight Light Heavyweight Archie Moore

[Punisher136]

#1 Marciano
#2 Ali
#3 Louis/Tyson

Thats how i have it.

Im dying to open up the "but who did Marciano fight" debate....but i think i will refrain.

Walcott, Charles, and Moore.

Yep the 38 year old , 80 fight veteran Walcott that led after 12 rounds

The 90 fight veteran and former Middleweight Ezzard Charles

...and the 40 Year Old 180 fight Light Heavyweight Archie Moore

They were tougher in their late 30's than 90% of heavyweights are today in their early twenties. Those victories accompanied by the fact that he was never supposed to be able to box in the first place due to a right wrist surgery and that he had pneumonia at age 2 with very early 20th century medical care and he survived with no permenant ill-effects has him ranked #1 in my books. And it doesn't matter who's leading after 12 rounds someone can win all 14 rounds and it wont mean S*** if they can't finish the fight.

[BIG H]

Marciano's record sux plain as - look at the records of his opponents, it is the worst set of opponents any Heavyweight that is discussed as a great has ever faced. Mafia Cash cow

...That doesn't mean he wasn't great, it just means we don't know if he was

[Punisher136]

Marciano's record sux plain as - look at the records of his opponents, it is the worst set of opponents any Heavyweight that is discussed as a great has ever faced. Mafia Cash cow

...That doesn't mean he wasn't great, it just means we don't know if he was

He has the hardest measured punch of any heavyweight and a great jaw to accompany it. He did have a problem with cuts tho so if his career was extended a few fights he may have lost one or two on cuts.

[SweetPea]

Pre-exile Ali would've run circles around Joe Louis. That's not meant as an insult to Louis, but the young Ali had the hand/foot speed of a welterweight and the body of a heavyweight. Louis would've been chasing him all night, getting battered with jabs and quick hooks in the process.
Post-exile Ali couldn't avoid punches the same way, so that fight would be much more a tossup. I still think post-exile Ali beats Louis 7 out of 10, but not 10 out of 10 like the young Ali.