Joe Louis vs Lee Savold

The last knockout of Joe Louis.

[@Dickensian89]

Now, first off, Marciano beat several quality young up-and-coming contenders-- see Rex Layne, Roland LaStarza, and Harry "Kid" Matthews. Second, Marciano's win over Louis was *not* comparable to Holmes' win over Ali-- Ali was coming directly out of retirement and was no longer fighting at even a top 10 level. Louis' abilities had signficantly deteriorated since hsi prime days when he fought Marciano, but he had won eight consecutive fights in the last year and was still an excellent fighter.

[@dylonmc4323]

Yeah Joe Louis still had his skills,punching power and the ability to fight 15 rounds.

[@rossettipaolo]

One final post, and then I'm back to normal life. George Foreman's view: “There’s never been a boxer better than Joe Louis.... Certainly Muhammad Ali was the greatest man ever to fight, but not the greatest boxer.” Joe Frazier's view: “Joe Louis is the greatest heavyweight champion of all time. Rocky Marciano is second only to Louis. Ali's view: “I just give lip service to being the greatest,” he stated. “He [Louis] was the greatest.” That's all, folks. Keep speculating.

[@rossettipaolo]

Even by 1948, when he fought Walcott, Louis was no longer anywhere near his his best: good, but not devastating, by which I mean having the power to knock down fighters who had previously never been off their feet -- Galento, Godoy, & Uzcudun for a start -- and to destroy big hard-punching fighters like Max & Buddy Baer. Over 3 years later he fought Marciano, and even as a "shadow" he lasted 8 rounds. Of couse no one is unbeatable, but at his best, Joe was superior to Rocky.

[@dylonmc4323]

He wasn't superior. Not even close he just used a complete different style. Even when younger he would have probably lost to Rocky simply because he couldn't keep rocky off of him. Rockys style absolutely smothered his opponents reach and jab and that's what made Joe Louis. His jab and right cross. Rocky Marciano could close distance much more effective than Joe Frazier and he had as much if not more power in both hands.

[@JeffPenaify]

@@dylonmc4323 if Rocky could get 15 rounds off Joe, again big if, Joe likely finishes him in a rematch. Rocky at the highest level had a hard time against a pool of fading legends, peak Joe Louis is a tall cup and is devastating boxer puncher at every range

[@jigln202]

though Veteran fighters here, it is plain to see how poised, skilful and controlled these old day fighters really were... well past their best they are still fighters, worthy contenders, and a banner for a bygone past whose dedication and legitimacy of a more honest sport where Top Fighters (for the most part), were still happy and EXPECTED to fight one another... think about that the next time people spew - RJJ, LL, Bhop, PBF, GGG and many, many more who's road(s) to success was a lot less 'Rocky!'

[@pimpompoom93726]

Joe Louis had all the tools of a great Heavyweight-speed, boxing ability and power. This old footage doesn't really capture just how fast his punches were, they were blazing fast. And he had the full repertoire-devastating right cross, stinging jab, powerful hook and fearful uppercuts. His defensive skills were underappreciated, he was rarely hit with damaging punches-the first fight with Schmelling being a rare exception and Joe wasn't at this peak when that happened. Arguably, along with Muhammad Ali, Rocky Marciano and possibly Mike Tyson one of the very best Heavyweight Champions.

[@Dickensian89]

Not bad at all for a 37-year-old ex-champ with as much wear as Joe had.

[@mrphilosophical]

Joe Louis forever !

[@rossettipaolo]

Interesting, from the book “Sugar Ray” “He (Ali) was the fastest heavyweight I’ve ever seen and his speed would have enabled him to conquer most of the slower moving heavyweight champions , Like Rocky Marciano. He would have been too fast and too fancy for Rocky, but his speed would not have helped him against Joe Louis.... Before he was Champion Ali was knocked down by Henry Cooper and Sonny Banks, If they could knock him down Joe Louis would have knocked him out cold”. _ Sugar Ray Robinson

[@dylonmc4323]

WRONG! Rocky was much more effective at closing distance than FRAZIER and had more powerful punches atleast as powerful. Rocky beat 4 all time greats plus 40 plus pro heavyweights up to 250 lbs because he absolutely smothered his opponents reach and jab. Rocky was the only man to call Ali Clay to his face and get away with it because they had huge respect but rocky Also dropped Ali in a sparring match. Ali made it very clear that rocky would have been his greatest match and was better than Frazier. Little 180 lbs Cooper knocked Ali out on his feet according to Angelo Dundee. His corner worked frantically using every trick in the book including the stich trick and smelling salts. Joe Louis and rocky would have both been a serious contender to Ali at any age.

[@Section5_CdnIntelService]

Of course being an American, Lee Savold was not eligible to win the British Empire title. He did win BBBC recognition as heavyweight champion of the world.

[@fredsmith3575]

Lee Savold was the EBU World Heavyweight champion .The EBU did not reconize Charles as Champion .So as far as the EBU was concern Louis was the first 2 time worpd champion .Defended it againest Jimmy Bivins and lost it to Marciano .

[@BruceBlack-q6s]

A pretty good match between 2 old veterans. Maybe Louis wasn't what he once was, but Savold knew his way around the ring...an old pro

[@surrealistidealist]

3:42 He it says Savold's record was 74-30 with 53 ko wins and 6 ko losses. But it was really 98-39-3, with 72 ko wins and 10 ko losses. Louis & Marciano then gave him 2 more losses by ko.

[@Dickensian89]

Louis in his prime was, indeed, about as good as they get, but let us not imagine he was a demi-god, nor was he invulnerable to a fighter of Marciano's variety; for example, Arturo Godoy, who was stylistically similar to Marciano, but was not a puncher, took Louis the full 15 rounds and made it very close the first time, so I hardly think it is reasonable to say that it is "too ridiculous to even contemplate" Marciano competing with a prime Louis.

[@alexwillis7093]

Maybe if this nights fight was with Joe Louis and Rocky Marciano Louis would of beaten him and we wouldn't know about Marciano. Anyone can have a bad night in boxing and maybe Louis's was the night he fought Marciano. Irrespective 1935-1942 Louis would easily beat Rocky Marciano inside a few rounds. Old Savold the same age as Louis didn't get knocked down by Marciano and wasn't a contender during Louis's reign or he would of fought Louis in his prime.

[@dylonmc4323]

WHY? what makes everyone think rocky was just so easy to beat? Rocky had more devestating punching power than most and his style absolutely smothered his opponents reach and jab. Joe had little chance of ever beating Rocky because he couldn't keep rocky off of him and he couldn't take that kind of punching power! Rocky shut peoples lights out for several minutes with just one punch. He put Joe to sleep one hit and knocked out of the ring with the next. He shut Rex lane down like a tank round hit him knocking his mouth piece out full of teeth. That's a tremendous amount of power! Rocky was also a master at closing distance and controling head movement. After studying rocky for a few years I found he is the most underrated heavyweight champion of all times and most of it's just racism coming down the line.

[@rossettipaolo]

@mattman747 Absolutely true. Marciano was great for his own time, a time when there were few good young fighters (he beat a lot of very mediocre fighters and old, ex-champions -- his beating Louis was like Holmes beating Ali), but anyone who believes prime Marciano could have even lasted more than a few rounds with -- let alone beaten -- prime Louis...well, it's too ridiculous to even contemplate. Just watch the clips showing Louis at his best. He was as good as they get.

[@EXPOSEDBYGABRIELPEREZ]

rossettipaolo I guess has to be the moment of the fight I guess Marciano más better than Arturo Godoy that lasted 15 rounds in the first fight and 8 in the second fight

[@dylonmc4323]

WRONG! First you totally underestimate the fighters of Rocky's era! Arcie Moore said at the time he had become good he believed he was UNBEATABLE! Until he fought Rocky. Jersey Joe had just fought his two best fights while Roland lastarza was undeafeated and beat most of the top 5 guys at the time. Rocky just over shadowed him. These men where all in ther 30s or 20s and where fighting 15 rounds of pure NONSTOP boxing without holding, hugging or DANCING AROUND. THEY FOUGHT! Joe Louis still had his skills,his punching power and could fight 15 rounds nonstop. He was on an 8 fight winning streak to take back the title until he fought Rocky. He said THAT KID COULD KNOCK OUT ANYONE. Jack Dempsey said I had to work a man over but rocky makes them wake up in the locker room. Those men where also 100 percent natural and like Rocky they often starved themselves to fight that light. Rocky walked around at around 200 lbs and with today's chemicals, enhancements and ROIDS all of those men would be well over 200 lbs. Rocky Marciano would have beaten prime joe Louis 4 out of 5 times because of his style!!! He absolutely smothered his opponents reach and jab making them obsolete. He took away his opponents best weapons while puting his head in his opponents face driving them back. He could close distance much more effective than Joe Frazier and he had more powerful punches atleast right handed. Burt suger said Rocky's right hand Suzie q was the most deadly weapon ever brought into the square circle. Rockys punches where tested by the US testing company and he had almost 1000 foot lbs of pressure. That's the same velocity as a 44 MAGNUM. Imagine something the size of a softball hitting you with the force of a 44 MAGNUM hundreds of times in the face ,head and body. Rocky actually destroyed parts of peoples body with traumatic power, he never got tired and was extremely tough. Don turner who trained holyfield to beat Tyson and he trained the Klitschkos said rocky was the hardest puncher he ever seen and could beat these fighters of today.

[@Robstailey]

i wonder what fighter has the highest percentage of knockouts on the first knockdown, i'm guessing it's either joe louis, george foreman, or tommy hearns.

[@dylonmc4323]

That's a tough one but vitali Klitschko and wilder are the only ones to beat Rocky Marciano as far as over all knock out percentage.

[@Robstailey]

@ngwrestler he wasn't very good against savold...

[@EXPOSEDBYGABRIELPEREZ]

an old Louis ko Savold. Marciano could not even score a knockdown against Savold winning by tko when savold retired after 6 rounds on his stool

[@MrMike3865]

Marciano had a virus with over 100 degree temperature days before this fight. Savold was beaten so badly that he went to the hospital for observation and treatment. The Pennsylvania boxing commission suspended his license indefinitely and he never fought again.

[@sskspartan]

a knockdown can be a flash one or a balance issue.Getting pummeled so much you can't even continue in the next round is more brutal

[@brocksimmons345]

Marciano knocked out walcott with 1 punch. It took louis dozens of punches to take walcott out

[@EXPOSEDBYGABRIELPEREZ]

Brock Simmons was not dozens of punches was about 5 o 6 punches in the 11th round

[@brocksimmons345]

@@EXPOSEDBYGABRIELPEREZ Still alot more than Marciano

[@yachtsmankaw]

Arguments all around for all the "serious" heavyweights and we can make hypotheticals-what I like about a good champ is this question-how often did he win fights he wasn't suppose to win-for that my list puts Ali ahead (not by much) of Louis and Foreman winning at 45 incredible. Larry won against Norton in a war and fought a lot of YOUNG and Big and high KO% men. Even Demsey who only faced whites faced guys in a better state than what Marciano fought-49 times and not one Young+Big+HighKO%!

[@dylonmc4323]

WRONG AGAIN!!! Jack Dempsey fought any black fighter that would fight him he just couldn't fight them for the title because it became illegal. Jack Dempsey said after watching rocky fight ( I had to work a man over but rocky just makes them wake up in the locker room)! Arcie Moore said at that time he believed he had became unbeatable until he fought Rocky. He said Rocky was wham bam didn't give a dam and hit like a dump truck. He said he felt like he had been pelted with rocks and hurt for over 2 weeks. This is a.man who fought up to 18 times a year and has the record for most knockouts. He also trained and fought Ali years later and he trained George foreman but it was rocky who left the biggest impression. It's also been stated that jack Dempsey beat jack Johnson by knockout in a private fight.

[@marcxopoco]

Joe Louis without his right hand. Compare with the young Joe louis who fought Primo Carnera. At this point Louis still has a jab and left hook. By the time he fought Marciano he had only a jab left. Louis is much trimmer physically here than he was by the time he fought Marciano.

[@MrMike3865]

Louis was 213 1/2 for the Marciano fight and 211 1/4 for the Savold fight. Louis had jab and left hook in the Savold fight but lost his left hook when he fought Marciano 4 months later? How does that happen?

[@yachtsmankaw]

I hadn't thought of it like that but the heavyweight division has been infected with that kind of thinking, but if I was an Italian and wanted a fighter that did my group proud its willie pep-his career is excellent like his talents and he fought everyone-rocky's career is a bit shameful to have 49 chances to fight a guy YOUNG and Big and Powerful as a "heavyweight" and never do it! Willie on the other hand is not just an Italian great-he unlike rocky-is a legitimate all time great in little men

[@MrMike3865]

Marciano defeated those men who were in his path on the way to a heavyweight title fight. His record is not shameful, not at all, it's a record to be recognized as something that no other heavyweight champion has done. That is why he is GREAT.

[@leodavies9383]

btw rocky didnt pick yhe fight the commission pick the fights

[@dylonmc4323]

WTH FCK nonsense are saying? All most all of Rocky's opponents where Younger than he was!!! The 4 all time greats he destroyed where all in there 30s and could fight 15 rounds of none stop pure boxing! Rocky beat the best, cleared out the division and retired because ther wasn't anyone left!!! Floyd Patterson would not fight heavyweight until rocky retired!!!!! Rocky fcking maimed ,damaged and destroyed people and ther careers. Roland lastarza was undeafeated until he fought Rocky and he had beaten most of the top fighters. Rocky just destroyed his legacy like many others!!!