My second question is who would win in a match? Styles make fights so no man could beat them all.
Louis is greater when it comes to accomplishment and legacy. This however has much to do that Larry was choked most times in his career. First he was in the shadow of Ali(nobody took Larry serious, because he was too similar to Ali), then he was beaten two times by Michael Spinks, who was never seen as an all-time great(for me Holmes was robbed his win, because he clearly boxed better than Spinks, but the ring judges still were on Spinks side by SD and UD) and then Tyson destroyed a washed up Holmes in the ring and most people never took Holmes serious again. For me Holmes was always the better fighter than Louis when it comes to skills and technique. Louis was the better puncher, but didn't have had any footwork. Similar to Jersey Joe Walcott, they robbed Holmes his career. He never had any chance to be as great as Ali or Louis when it comes to career legacy or accomplishments. Style make fights is not always correct, but since Louis was nearly the perfect counter-puncher, while Holmes was nearly the perfect out-boxer, Louis would win this match. Counter-punchers trouble out-boxers. I think that Louis would knock Holmes out. Of course Holmes was the greater boxer, but so were Walcott or Billy Conn and Louis still knocked them out. Joe Louis is the greatest puncher ever and would've been able to knock any heavyweight boxer out. The reason why Louis would beat Holmes, but would never beat Ali is that Ali had better footwork than Holmes and was much faster. Holmes would stand in front of Louis and would try to knock him out with his great jab, but Louis would find a way to break trough Holmes jab and defense. Tyson could knock Holmes out, when he was washed up, but when Tyson can beat Holmes out-of-prime, Louis has a chance to knock a prime Holmes out, because Louis is a 100 times better puncher than Tyson. Maybe Holmes could eat Shavers punches and still manage to stand up, but Louis punches would hurt him even more than Shavers, because Louis punches have more accuracy. Louis could knock fighters out with iron chins, like Max Baer(and Louis himself said that knocking Baer out was like knocking a brick out of a wall), but he still could do it(because he has been the best puncher ever!).
Louis by 14th round KO
I have Louis at #2 and Holmes #4. In terms of accomplishment Louis has the edge.
As who would win, I say Holmes would. For one Louis struggled against Walcott and Conn. Holmes poses so much more trouble considering his reach than these two. And it would be extremely hard for Louis to score a hail Mary come from behind KO cause Holmes is bigger and has a great chin by HW standards.
Louis was counterpuncher and a technician from the waist up like Arguello, McCullum or today's Mikey Garcia. Because he wasn't mobile and liked to counter while his feet is set, it would be awfully hard to do that against Larry's long jab. Holmes UD
Joe Louis meant more to boxing than Holmes.. but Holmes fought during a REALLY Great era for HW and his legacy is overshadowed due to other fighters during his career. If the 2 fought.... Id say Holmes.
Both were great classy fighters
but Joe Louis KO round 14
Holmes by UD or a late KO.Holmes would use his size, jab at will, and wear him down. Louis was a beast, I just feel Holmes came from a better era, Tougher competition,bigger, and had more skills.
louis is quicker, and keeps the pressure on holmes, taking a close decision.
My first question is who is greater? This is about accomplishment and legacy.
My second question is who would win in a match? Styles make fights so no man could beat them all.
