Opinions on Joe Lewis

[KenJeet]

I was just wondering what most of you think about Joe Lewis, the Full Contact Karate/Kickboxing legend? I got a chance to train with him recently again and I must say that he still continues to be tough as hell. There were a couple of Muay Thai guys who were asking him questions about the effectiveness of the Full Contact Karate/Kickboxing that he competed in compared to modern day Muay Thai. He simply stated that he had been there and done that and nothing that current Muay Thai guys were doing was new to him. From the times that I have met and trained with Joe, I can honestly say that he is extremely confident and some may say even cocky. But, the guy is still in great shape, punches like a rock and backs up every word he says. Anyways, these Muay Thai guys I guess were not convinced that Joe Lewis had truly experienced modern day Muay Thai so they asked Joe Lewis to spar full contact with them for three five minute rounds. Mind you, these guys were in their early twenties and Joe Lewis rocked both of them physically and aerobically. He blocked every Muay Thai kick to the leg they threw, countered them with his own and rocked them with punching combinations combined with snappy roundhouse kicks to the head, side kicks, and spinning back kicks. The guys were gassed and beaten up to the point were by round two they had both had enough and started to inquire about how they can begin training with Joe Lewis. I can honestly say that when you train with him, you almost fear him. The guy literally has hands the size of a bears and has about a half inch of callused skin padding his knuckles from fighting so much. What do you all think of his ability?

[bobby_steeles]

i don't know about his ability, but you're right about him being cocky. i was with a friend of mine when he met joe louis and in that 15-20 seconds (while trying to act friendly i suppose) he came across as a total jackass. he kind of reminded me of the old, stodgy gym teachers when i was in high school.

[Hawk]

While in his prime, Joe Lewis, IMO, was the best tournament Karate fighter and FC Karate fighter that ever lived. In the late 60s and early 70s Joe did intensive training in Muay Thai and even went to Thailand I think. When full contact Karate started in 1974 Joe was actually past his prime. He had dropped weight pursuing a movie career and wasn't training as hard as he had been. Although still one of the best, Joe
never IMO was the fighter he had been prior to 1972.
The losses he had in FC Karate, he'd never have suffered if he'd have been at his best circa 1970.
It doesn't surprise me that he could stay with young Muay Thai fighters. Joe is 5 or 6 years older then me which makes him 57 or 58.
Hawk

[Shimora]

Louis was great in his day.
His greatest fight was his rematch with Max Schmelling, his lowest moment was when Marciano knocked him out.

He was truly a great warrior.

[Stuart S. Igarta]

Shimora, wrong Joe Lewis. Joe Lewis was and is a bad ass.

[PassiveGuy]

Stuart, are you saying Joe Louis wasn't a badass? He was one of the greatest boxers of all dam time, he held the title for 11 years, 8 months and 7 days, longer than anyone ever. He defended his title 25 times!!! He would have destroyed Joe Lewis if a fight where both were in their prime occured.

[Stuart S. Igarta]

Stuart, are you saying Joe Louis wasn't a badass?

Passiveguy, where in my post do you see anywhere where I say Joe Louis the boxer was not a bad ass? The original post was talking about Joe Louis or Lewis the Martial Artist so I made a comment about it. Look before you leap. I also believe Joe Louis the boxer was a great fighter.