Joe Louis(1938)fast forward to 1970's and 80's,how would he fare?

Question

If Joe Louis weighed 16st and he was fighting in boxings great years of 1970's and in 80's,how would the bomber make out agains the likes of Mohammed Ali,Joe Frazier, Larry Holmes prime mike Tyson Evander Holyfield etc,would Louis's style fare against the modern titans and would he adopt to the sheer power and speed of these fellas as when Joe was fighting the opposition was,to be candid,noy always top class.What d'you think?

Answer 1

I absolutely disagree.  Joe Louis was no doubt a great fighter but in the heavyweight division, more than any other, size DOES matter.  Lennox Lewis would have destroyed him as would a 20-22 year old Mike Tyson.  Some people, many of you, like to think that all the old timers would have beaten the contemporaries for whatever reason forgetting the fact that the fighters of today can be just as talented.  For example, I believe a prime Roy Jones Jr would have whipped a prime Sugar Ray Robinson.  A prime Floyd Mayweather would have whipped Willi Pep at say 130 lbs.  Bernard Hopkins and Marvin Hagler would have held their own against Robinson and LaMotta (I think Hagler beats them all personally).  Joe Louis may be a great for sure, but to think he would beaten a very good boxer with the size of a Klitschko or Lewis borders on absurd.  I think Joe Louis may have done ok against some of those fighters but a 1960s Ali would have whipped him as would Larry Holmes of the 80s and Lennox Lewis of the late 90s.  Joe Frazier would have been a good fight, and Holyfield would have been a pick em fight.  Sorry guys.  I know many of you will disagree with me but I speak my mind and have every right to my opinion.

Answer 2

in his prime, he would beat frazier, foreman, shavers, quarry, ellis,holmes, tyson,..only ali would defeat him.

Answer 3

I could "KNOCK EM BOTH OOOOWWWWWWWWWWWUT"

Answer 4

Thumbs up to maurice, I agree.

Answer 5

I consider him the second best heavyweight of all time. Joe had a problem with Billy Conn's speed. Ali was bigger and faster than Conn. Thats why I have him second.

Joe was knocked down a few times in his career. Two ton Tony Galento comes to mind, which does make me wonder how he would fair against a prime Foreman. I would definately give Louis the edge but it would be interesting.

I don't believe anybody else would be able to beat a prime Louis.