Who would win and "in his prime" fight betwixt Joe Louis and Muhammed Ali?

Question

Who would win and "in his prime" fight betwixt Joe Louis and Muhammed Ali?

Answer 1

louis always had trouble with fleet footed boxers, and ali was the best there was as heavyweight...so ali by decision, maybe even suffering a knockdown along the way.

Answer 2

Depends who the judges are. If the Ali mystic is in Ali gets the decision.  If Louis is the aggressor throughout the fight, which he would be, landing some occaisional shots on the retreating Ali then Louis should get the decision.  I don't think either could knock the other out.  I have Louis winning by a split decision.  Toughguy has a very good scenario which probably would have happened.

Answer 3

WOW! Good question!!! After putting all the skills of both fighters I'd have to say Muhammed Ali. Louis was a hard hitter, could take a punch and throw combinations like no other. Ali on the other hand was way too fast with the feet and hands in his prime. I dont think to this day I've ever seen a heavyweight with the hand speed of Ali's. He would've floated around the ring, landing jabs and hooks into Louis, wearing him down like he did to his opponents then gone in for the kill. Louis was a top 10 Heavyweight but didn't have the lighting speed like Ali.

Answer 4

mohammed Ali obviously !!!!!!!! especially at his prime hes unstop able

Answer 5

This is so hard to answer. Louis was one of the most patient heavyweights ever. All you had to do was give him a one-inch opening and he'd nail you. Louis was also far more athletic than given credit, and had great stamina.

On the other hand, Ali was a master strategist as well as being so fast on his feet.

It would probably be Ali in a split decision.

Answer 6

There's a great boxing analogy that is really tried and true:  A great big man beats a great small man every time.

That said, Joe Louis in his best days was 6'1 and about 195 lbs.  Muhammad Ali in his prime was 6'4 and about 220.  Couple that with faster foot and hand speed, superior reach, ring generalship, and a proven chin, that leaves poor Joe with nothing more than a punchers chance.

Muhammad Ali by TKO in 9 lopsided rounds.

Answer 7

They were both great boxers, they both had a superior understanding of the science behind boxing. That being said Ali came later, he watched the fights of Louis, learned from it and improved on it.

The problem Louis would have had would be giving up the size to Ali. Louis may have been a bit faster but not enough to nullify all the tools that Ali had.

Muhammad had a better chin and more power and comparable speed.

Although Ali would not have been able to toy with Louis like he did Patterson, Ali still would have had a fairly easy time with Louis. He could have taken Louis best shots but Louis couldn't have taken his.

Ali was bigger,stronger and improved on what Louis had already done.

Thats the problem the old greats would have against the never generation of fighter. The modern fighter learned from the greats and improved on it. Some did it better then  others and Ali did it perfectly.

Louis always set punches up with the jab. Ali could drop in over hand rights, uppercuts and hooks without throwing the jab first. The only other fighters Ive seen do this are Jones Jr, Robinson and Mayweather.

It would not be too long before Louis was not allowed to come out of his corner.

Muhammad Ali Tko 8.

Answer 8

Great match of two ring legends.  Ali has the size advantage 6'3" 212 lbs to Louis 6'1" 200 and the speed and reach advantage.  Louis has it all over Ali in the power department and was an expert in cutting off the ring and finishing off an opponent once he had them hurt.  Both fighters have good endurance and  ring generalship.  Ali won the title 3 times and Louis was champ for almost 12 years and 25 title defenses.  This fight would have Louis pressing the action with Ali moving around the ring gracefully and poking out his jab.  Louis had a good defense so all of Ali's jabs would not land and Louis would respond with hard jabs of his own.  As fast of a jab as Ali had, Louis had a much harder jab that could stop you in your tracks.  Louis would get Ali in the ropes several times and fire away with hard punches to the head and body.  Some would land but Ali was such a clever and good defensive fighter, he would block many with his gloves and elbows and fire back rapid combinations to Joe's head.  As the fight enters the championship rounds 12-15 Ali would have a slight lead.  The 12th and 13th rounds would be in favor of Louis who is now landing some really hard shots to the head and body.  In round 14 Ali comes back strongly using his speed to his advantage and evening up the fight.  Round 15 is about even when Louis moves inside Ali's jab and counters with a vicious right cross that sends Ali to the canvas.  Ali gets up and hangs on until the bell.  At the end of a great fight, both men embrace each other and talk with admiration of the others skills.  Louis wins by split decision and talks are underway already for a possible rematch.