Who was better Clay or Louis?

[Goodnight, Irene]

How about this; Take them each at the same age and think who would win. When they were both 22, 25, 32 etc.

In another words:
1964 Clay (Ali) vs 1936 Louis
1967 Ali vs 1939 Louis
1974 Ali vs 1946 Louis

Very tough to say. I give a slight (very) edge to Louis peak-for-peak (say, your second listed bout), but the other two are difficult to predict. Ali didn't really look all that impressive up until he beat Liston, but he had the swiftness to cause problems. Louis, on the other hand, took the reverse route --- looked great & developed rapidly, until falling unexpectedly to Schmeling. After the first encounters with Liston & Schmeling respectively, I see improvements in both men, myself. I might go for Louis' sharp-shooting to expose Ali in the first fight, as Banks & Cooper found holes in his defense, though if Ali out-pointed him, I'm not one who whould be surprised.

The third fight, well...again, I have trouble deciding. I'll go with my gut on that one, & say Ali frustrates Louis out of it for a somewhat close --- but clear --- UD success.

[Ambling Alp]

Well before he beat Liston, Ali was considered a very hot prospect. He was the Fighter of the Year in 1963. He already had the phenomenal speed, reflexes, combination punching. By 1964 he had gained some good experience and showed what he could do against Liston.

Louis fought very frequently when he first started and had some good wins. however when he was 22, he lost badly to Schmeling. When they were both 22, Ali(Clay) was the better fighter and had the style to beat Louis.

When they were both 25, they were both at their absolute best. Realistically, is Louis going to stop Ali? He was extremely hard to nail with a clean shot to the head at this time. Even if Louis does manage to land his best shot on the button, he isn't going to take him out. Ali took the best from Foreman who was a harder puncher. Foreman never came closer to stopping him. Even Shvers couldn't take out Ali when he was 35.
Ali is going to land cleanly a lot more. Louis is not going to win a decision. Ali wins this something like 10 rounds to 5.

When they were both 32? Ali beat Frazier and Foreman. Louis was coming off a layoff form the Army and was never again be the fighter that he once was. Louis has very little chance here. Ali is going to win this fairly easy. It's doubtful this would go the distance.

I just named 3 ages randomly. I started with 22 because that is when Ali (Clay) first won the title.

There are some years when Louis would have a good chance. When they were both 27; Ali had been off two years and would have been rusty. Whe Ali was 28 and looking rusty against Bonavena, he probably loses to Louis who was about to enter the Army. Hard to say when they were both 20-21 and developing.

[SUGARRAYSMELEE]

His name is Muhammad Ali, why are you calling him Clay?

He changed it a long time ago.

[Giancarlo]

His name is Muhammad Ali, why are you calling him Clay?

He changed it a long time ago.

Speaking of names, I read yours as SUGAR RAY SMELEE.

Is that correct?

[Diamond WEAPON]

Yo dawg, Tommy Morrison wuz da best boxa eva! He would dee-stroy that bum CLAy and Louis! And I dnt call Clay Ali b/c once he became Ali he rolled wit Osama . . . hey yo I juz ceep it reel!!!!!!

*dies laughing*

[SUGARRAYSMELEE]

His name is Muhammad Ali, why are you calling him Clay?

He changed it a long time ago.

Speaking of names, I read yours as SUGAR RAY SMELEE.

Is that correct?

Sugar Ray's Melee

[yancey]

i respect joe louis but come on guys ali would have destroyed him and made him look silly! boxing was different in louis's era, the guys were slow, clumsy, flat footed, with poor stance....ali would have boxed circles around louis!! (watch a documentary called muhammed ali aka cassius clay its brilliant and ali and cus d'amato talk about how they think ali would have fared against other heavyweights)

Slow, clumsy and flat footed isn't the first thing that comes to mind when I think of Jersey joe Walcott & Billy Conn.

Joe Louis could beat anybody, don't kid yourself.

I agree, and so could Ali. This was, is, and forever will be a "pick em" situation. I would favor Ali in a majority of matchups. But when two greater fighters enter the ring to fight but once, the "majority" of fights is irrelevant. It is only about who won that night.

If you separate the "Fight of the Century" from it's two cousins, and think of it as a stand alone fight. You will understand my meaning here.