Most boxing fans like me feel that Joe “The Brown Bomber” Louis and Muhammad “The Greatest” Ali were the two greatest heavyweight champions.
Let’s take a look at each one. Their records as professionals are about the only thing close to what each has.
Louis was 63-3 with 52 knockouts from July 1934 to October 1952. He won his first twenty-four fights before former German heavyweight champion Max Schmeling, 48-7-4, knocked him out in twelve rounds at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. New york.
He went on to win his thirty-four fights before losing by decision to former champion Ezzard “The Cincinnati Cobra” Charles, 66-5-1, on the same stack. He won his next eight fights before a career knockout loss to Rocky Marciano, 37-0, at Madison Square Garden, New York. Louis was Marciano’s “hero”, and he cried after signing Louis.
Louis lost time as an active boxer when he enlisted in the Army on January 8, 1942. A day later, in a rematch with Buddy Baer. On March 10, he appeared at Madison Square Garden given by the Navy Relief Society. Two weeks later, he returned to the ring, knocking out Abe Simon in 6 rounds. Most of his winnings from the two fights were donated to the Army Relief Fund. He was released in October 1945.
The IRS taxed Louis for his two attacks at the end of World War II, owing the United States more than $100,000.
Louis had a record defense in the division at twenty-five.
Now let’s take a look at Muhammad Ali in comparison. He won the lightweight title at the 1960 Olympics in Rome, Italy. He turned professional in October 1960 and his last fight was in December 1981.
In March 1967, Ali won his twenty-ninth consecutive fight, defeating Zora Folley at Madison Square Garden, improving to 31-0. For not entering the draft, eventually, the New York Boxing Commission took away his license.
He did not return to the ring until October 1970, when he scored a pair of stoppages before facing Olympic heavyweight champion “Smokin” Joe Frazier, 26-0, losing for the first time at Madison Square Garden by decision . He would go on to win his next ten fights before losing to Ken Norton. He won the rematch and another match before a rematch with former champion Frazier for his NABF title, winning by decision at Madison Square Garden in January 1974.
In Ali’s next fight, he regained the title, stopping “Big” George Foreman, 40-0, in eight rounds in Zaire, Africa. After three defenses, he defeated Frazier, called “the Thrilla in Manila!” After six more wins, he lost to Olympic champion Leon Spinks, 6-0-1, in February 1968. He won the rematch and did not fight for over a year, losing to Larry “The Easton Assassin” Holmes, 35-0, and in his final fight against Trevor Berbick, 19-2-1, in December 1982.
Ali had 19 title defenses to Louis’ 25.
In comparing the two, they wasted time; Louis was in the Army, and Ali was unlicensed. While Louis was serving his country, Ali eventually brought back 15 American hostages from Iraq.
There you have it, boxing fans. Would tough Louis beat Ali, or boxer Ali decide Louis? Let’s hear your opinions.
