If Muhammid Ali fought Joe Louis who would win?

Question

Two of the best boxers ever. But who would win head to head?

Answer 1

**John H - the problem with your argument is when Ali fought Frazier, he was coming off a 3 year layoff from boxing, due to his draft situation. He did have 2 tune-up fights, but wasn't nearly as sharp or as quick as he was before the layoff. In fact he never had the speed that he did before the layoff.

I assume the asker was asking this question with the idea that each fighter was at his peak. Frazier never faced a peak Ali. It's a testament to Ali's greatness that he beat Frazier, Foreman, Norton etc. After his quickness (especially foot speed)was gone or diminished.

As it was mentioned here by several others, watch the Conn fight with Louis. Joe did have problems with Conn's speed. Ali was mucher bigger, faster and stronger than Conn.

As far as Frazier, he style was perpetual movement. That confounded a slower Ali. He didn't have the speed or energy to get on his toes for 15 rounds. Frazier didn't overpower Ali. He knocked him down but he was up at a 2 count.

Louis wasn't perpetual movement, he could box with power. But power never beat Ali (Liston, Frazier, Foreman and Shavers)

Ali (pre-layoff) by dec.

Answer 2

Muhammad Ali.

He's faster.

Answer 3

They would Knock each other out cold...

Answer 4

Probably Ali...he would be too quick for the Brown Bomber..but I think Lewis would give him a heck of a time.

Answer 5

Muhammad Ali would win.

Answer 6

Ive done this already but here it goes again.

Both Louis and Ali stand well above the rest of the elite in the division. THEN you have your Top 10.

Ali's advantages: Superior footwork, hand speed, ability to take a punch, ability to change the fight plan or adjust to changes well. He's a master of psychological warfare. Underrated power. Balance.

Weaknesses:Can be vulnerable to the left hook, Not a body puncher.

Louis' advantages: Power and punching ability (2 different things). Having power and knowing how to use it are not always the same. Composure. Ability to finish off a hurt opponent. Very good combination puncher. Quick hands.

Weaknesses: Slow feet. Can be shook with shot to chin. Trouble with mobile boxers.

Ali begins the fight on his toes. He circles Louis and scores points in the early rounds. Louis is unable to cope with Ali's speed. Whenever he comes close Ali ties him up. Louis has never dealt with this before. Ali wins the first 4 rounds with his jab and footwork and an occasional right to the jaw.

In round 5 Louis closes the gap and finally catches Ali with a series of shots. Two body shots followed by a series of shots to the head and Ali is against the ropes. He ties Louis up but Joe breaks free and resumes his attack. A final left hook nearly puts ALi on the canvas. He dances out of harms way at the bell.

Keeping his composure, Ali is careful not to make the same mistake again. He takes rounds 6 and 7 by carefully boxing. He has built a comfortable lead. Joe remains calm and continues to try and set up his shots. Louis' left eye is beginning to swell.

In round 8 Ali shifts direction and Louis catches him with a right that slows him momentarily. A series of shots, first to the body then the head, puts Ali on the canvas. He's up at 4. Louis moves in to finish his opponent but Ali ties him up.

Ali is on his toes again in round 9. He's careful not to allow Louis another chance to land his power shots. Ali is very accurate with the jab and Louis' eye is beginning to shut. Joe takes the 10th on aggression. He is also landing more body shots which are beginning to take a toll. Ali is beginning to slow down a bit.

In round 11 Ali is shook by a left to the body and a right to the head. He's against the ropes and Joe moves in. Ali ties him up, spins off the ropes and opens up with a flurry of punches. Louis answers with another hook to the jaw. Ali begins to realize he can no longer land at will without paying a price.

In round 12 Ali scores with a hard right. Louis is shook but remains upright. Ali pours in the punches as Louis is backed to the ropes. A left catches Ali and stuns him momentarily. Louis moves in but Ali answers with more lefts and rights. For a brief moment the fighters trade at ring center. Best round of the fight.

In round 13 Ali buckles Louis with a straight right to the jaw. Two lefts and another right cause Louis to clinch. Ali shoves him off and lands a few more shots to the head. Louis shakes them off and lands a few of his own. Before the bell sounds its Ali who is on the receiving end of a flurry of punches by Louis.

In round 14 Louis is looking to close in on ALi. Ali circles to his left then right. He catches Louis with a solid right to the jaw then moves out of harms way. Ali closes in to repeat but this time Louis catches him with a right cross. Ali fires back and they trade blows until Louis catches Ali with a solid right that nearly drops him. Ali backs off at the bell.

Believing he needs a KO to win, Louis goes right after Ali. Ali dances out of harms way and lands a few jabs. A lead right lands flush on Joe's face. Joe misses a wild right of his own. Ali lands a 4-punch combination. Louis goes to the body with 4 punches. Ali plants his feet as he lands more punches. Louis answers back and finishes with a solid right at the final bell.

The scores are in and the winner is........................

Ali by unanimous decision in 15

Answer 7

ali too much speed and smarts

Answer 8

Let's assume  they both are at their best....Ali He'd be stinging like a bee.

Answer 9

Louis, especially if they were fighting in the Ali era. With those light of gloves Ali would be knocked out very quickly.

Answer 10

Both in their prime?  Hard to say, but I'm gonna go with Ali just for the sheer speed and brilliance.

Answer 11

Joe Louis would make Ali a big grease-spot on the mat. Get real.

Answer 12

Joe Louis

Answer 13

Ali. He may be brain dead, but Joe Lewis is body dead.

Answer 14

Muhammad Ali was a heavyweight with the agility of a middleweight, forget speed and power, Ali could dodge a punch by a hair, He had the best chin the division or the sport ever seen. He had tremendous heart and fought for a cause that he would be willing to die for wich gave him more heart in all fights then most champions can muster in one.  Ali ran through the best crop of heavyweight champions the sport has ever seen.

Joe Louis was a smaller, more hittable heavyweight who had skills far beyond his time. Which allowed him to look spectacular against limited opposition. Although when compared to Ali would look pretty average.

Boxers like other athletes evolve, they get bigger, smarter, faster, and in boxing especially they learn new techniques.

Ali vs. Louis would be a mismatch; Ali would beat him ugly for being an uncle tom until the corner stepped in and stopped the slaughter.

If you’d like to see a fight that would look similar to an Ali-Louis fight, check out Ali vs. Patterson.

Oh a little info for "Capsull", Jack Johnson was much smaller then Ali he was about 4 inches shorter and in his prime barley weighed over 195 lbs.  Ali or Louis would batter him relentlessly..he may have a chance against Louis whos closer to his size.

Joe Louis didnt even come close, not even close to how hard Frazier could hit.  And when Ali did get flored by Frazier he was leaning back and Frazier through the perfect punch at the perfect time. And Ali bounced right back up like he hadnt been punched at all. It was clear that the 3 yeart layoff had definatly affected Ali's footwork from that day on.

If you want to compare old great fighters against new great fighters, compare their accomplishments and quality of opposition and not weather a 6'2 Joe Louis who in his prime barley broke 200 lbs, against a 6'4 1/2   212 Muhammad Ali who even though was the bigger mas was more agile and quicker.

Heres the thing nobody on this post, even modern experts under the age of 85 wouldnt have even been alive during Joe Louis's prime, you dont know most of his opponants backgrounds or how good they were, all you know is that some old boxing croners and guys over 80 who swear that the man of their time is the best of all time, just as they say their generation was the best one. The heavyweights of 50's and pre 50's were not even real Heavyweights they were lightheavyweights or Cruiser weights at best.

And Muhammad Ali didnt start getting credit and admiration untill well past his prime in which he was ripped off 3 years. Because in his prime America hated him.

To ask who would win between Joe Louis and Ali... come on. Ali embaresses Louis, perhaps Ali would take pitty on the nice guy Louis and allow him to survive 15 rounds, but i dought it.

Answer 15

I think the "sweet science" had evolved to a different thing by the time Ali became dominate.  Watch the old fights of Louis and his feet are on the floor the whole time.  There was no moving around and dancing that defined Ali.  In Louis's time, they just stood there and traded shots till one of them went down.  I think Ali would win because his hand speed was superior to Louis's, but never count out the Brown Bomber!!

Answer 16

Ali

Answer 17

The promoters!

Answer 18

Louis had problems with Billy Conn's speed. Ali was faster and stronger. Joe was more powerful. Ali handled other top punchers(Liston, Frazier, Foreman, and Shavers.)

I think the speed would be the one thing that would be the deciding factor. You can't hurt what you can't hit, and even if Joe hit Ali, none of the other great puncher hurt him.

Ali by dec or late round TKO

Answer 19

Jack Johnson.

In his prime (which lasted some time) he would have mashed either of them.. even a young Louis knew that. Johnson was Bigger that both of them, as fast as Ali and every bit the showman.. just as pretty, too.. and even more powerful than the Brown Bomber.

Joe Louis or Rocky Marciano would have beaten Ali... just as easy as Joe Frazier, George Foreman, etc. had in Ali's prime... Ali was beatable, despite how he all feel about him now, and how popular he was & that Will Smith played him in a movie, etc. etc.

Answer 20

Ali all the way cause no one could touch The Greatest in his prime. Your hands can't catch what your eyes can't see!

Answer 21

ali would finish what conn started and take a decision