BoxRec

That is Louis, in 1935 (when he beat Max Baer, Primo Carnera, Paolino Uzcudun)) vs. Tyson in 1987 (when he beat Pinklon Thomas, Tyrell Biggs, Tony Tucker). Both were KO machines at that age.

What do you think?

Decagon wrote:Louis was not only a better fighter, but he had a better trainer. Tyson fades after the fifth round, and gets kayoed in nine.

My hunch is it would end even earlier. Tyson would get discouraged like Max Baer once he runs into a barrage of sharp, high-precision counterpunches. Louis TKO 3-5.

Kevin Rooney= most over-rated trainer in boxing history.

This is surely the easiest question I've ever seen here...Joe Louis...as a matter of fact, if Joe Louis could face the 20 best heavyweights in history, and you bet on Joe Louis every time, you'd have a small fortune when he was done...and you could bet the house on this one...Joe Louis was everything Tyson (and Tyson's fans) wished Tyson
could have been...

Let us not compare a Ferrari -Louis- with a Neon -Tyson.

Sweet Scientist wrote:This is surely the easiest question I've ever seen here...Joe Louis...as a matter of fact, if Joe Louis could face the 20 best heavyweights in history, and you bet on Joe Louis every time, you'd have a small fortune when he was done...and you could bet the house on this one...Joe Louis was everything Tyson (and Tyson's fans) wished Tyson
could have been...

Well, Tyson was in his absolute prime at age 21, while several here argue that Louis didn't peak before 1938/39, i.e., 3, 4 years later

(I disagree, btw -- I don't think there was a better Louis than the 1935 version).

I think Louis peaked at about 27/28.

As regards Rooney being overrated:

Whatever about Rooney with other fighters, one thing is certain...he was the right man for Tyson. He was the primary reason that Mike was such a devestating force from 86-89. Mike had the passion and confidence with Rooney. Once Kevin went, it was downhill.

walshb wrote:As regards Rooney being overrated:

Whatever about Rooney with other fighters, one thing is certain...he was the right man for Tyson. He was the primary reason that Mike was such a devestating force from 86-89. Mike had the passion and confidence with Rooney. Once Kevin went, it was downhill.

Rooney was good for Tyson beause he was a D'amato disciple who Tyson respected tremendously. Once Tyson started believing his own press clippings he didn't need anybody anymore, including Rooney. What happened was predictable. Boxing is a tough game. It demands tremendous didcipline. Lose that discpline, & it won't be long before you start losing, no matter who you are.

louis hadnt yet reaced his peak by 1935..... and he hadnt fully physically or mentally matured yet. tyson would capitalize on louis rookie flaws and win by early knockout.


1938-42 joe louis knocks out tyson

1935 Louis by early KO

pundit wrote:That is Louis, in 1935 (when he beat Max Baer, Primo Carnera, Paolino Uzcudun)) vs. Tyson in 1987 (when he beat Pinklon Thomas, Tyrell Biggs, Tony Tucker). Both were KO machines at that age.

What do you think?

Good matchup.

I'm going with the Brown Bomber on this one, although I'm not totally discounting Iron Mike.

Tyson was extremely dangerous in 1987 & would have proved formidable opposition for 4-5 rounds certainly.

I think JL would have had the heart to weather an early Tyson onslaught then he would have started slugging back & Tyson would have folded like a newspaper.

Joe Louis TKO 9 Mike Tyson.

Syntax Error wrote:Tyson would have folded like a newspaper.

...pretty much covers it in one sentence...