Muhammad Ali vs Joe Louis
Which boxer? Pick one and see how the world splits.
- Muhammad Ali United States · 1942–2016 59% · #1 in the world
- Joe Louis United States · 1914–1981 41% · #3 in the world
What the votes say
The world picks Muhammad Ali over Joe Louis, 59% to 41%. Muhammad Ali is #1 of the 110 boxers in the world ranking and Joe Louis #3; among the 59 from the United States, they are #1 and #2.
The case for each
Muhammad Ali: Three-time heavyweight champion who shook up the world against Sonny Liston in 1964, refused the Vietnam draft and won the Rumble in the Jungle and the Thrilla in Manila. 'Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.'
Joe Louis: The Brown Bomber, heavyweight champion from 1937 to 1949 with 25 title defenses, still the record. The 1938 first-round knockout of Max Schmeling made Joe Louis a hero for all of America.
Side by side
| Muhammad Ali | Joe Louis | |
|---|---|---|
| World rank | #1 | #3 |
| Country | United States | United States |
| Born | 1942 | 1914 |