George Foreman doesn't retire in '77

OvidsExile · 11-20-2012, 11:26 AM

What if George Foreman doesn't retire in 1977? He gets Eddie Futch to train him instead. Can Futch fix Foreman's shortcomings as a boxer the way that Emanuel Steward fixed Wladimir Klitschko? Would better management and training have made Foreman as good as Holmes or Ali? You have to remember that Ali's trainer was ATG Angelo Dundee whereas Foreman's was Dick Sadler, so maybe that made a difference in Zaire. I feel that if Foreman had the level of training that Ali or Holmes got he gives a much better showing of himself and the heavyweight scene from 77-87 is very different.

These are the Holmes golden years. Does he even get one if Foreman is still around? Does Holmes fight a war with Foreman, the way he does with Norton and then never give him a rematch? What happens?

Let's add one more wrinkle to this plot. Teofilo Stevenson turns pro and gets Lou Duva for a trainer. This era now has Holmes, Foreman, Norton, and Stevenson. Is it as good as the 90s with Lewis, Holyfield, Tyson, and Bowe or the 70s with Ali, Frazier, Foreman, and Norton? Holmes and Foreman fight them all. How do they do?

Stevie G · 11-20-2012, 12:45 PM

A Holmes v Foreman title fight sees out the golden heavyweight decade. I'll be back with more detail tomorrow.

clark · 11-20-2012, 04:47 PM

Foreman would really need to get his head on straight. He just wasn't consistent after Ali. Sometimes he was old George and other times confused. A very focused Foreman
(like in Frazier-Foreman 2) and things would be interesting. That Foreman would have been dominant.

MAG1965 · 11-20-2012, 05:59 PM

if he doesn't retire in 77 he does not come back in 1987. You can almost add the 8 years onto that and he retires in 1985 and never has a comeback. And Larry Holmes would have been tough for him to beat. Guys like Weaver he would do well again, but a young Dokes? I am not sure.

11-20-2012, 11:26 AM	#1
OvidsExile Journeyman ESB Jr Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 280 vCash: 500	George Foreman doesn't retire in '77 What if George Foreman doesn't retire in 1977? He gets Eddie Futch to train him instead. Can Futch fix Foreman's shortcomings as a boxer the way that Emanuel Steward fixed Wladimir Klitschko? Would better management and training have made Foreman as good as Holmes or Ali? You have to remember that Ali's trainer was ATG Angelo Dundee whereas Foreman's was Dick Sadler, so maybe that made a difference in Zaire. I feel that if Foreman had the level of training that Ali or Holmes got he gives a much better showing of himself and the heavyweight scene from 77-87 is very different. These are the Holmes golden years. Does he even get one if Foreman is still around? Does Holmes fight a war with Foreman, the way he does with Norton and then never give him a rematch? What happens? Let's add one more wrinkle to this plot. Teofilo Stevenson turns pro and gets Lou Duva for a trainer. This era now has Holmes, Foreman, Norton, and Stevenson. Is it as good as the 90s with Lewis, Holyfield, Tyson, and Bowe or the 70s with Ali, Frazier, Foreman, and Norton? Holmes and Foreman fight them all. How do they do?
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11-20-2012, 12:45 PM	#2
Stevie G Undisputed Champion East Side VIP Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: London,England Posts: 10,633 vCash: 1000	Re: George Foreman doesn't retire in '77 A Holmes v Foreman title fight sees out the golden heavyweight decade. I'll be back with more detail tomorrow.
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11-20-2012, 04:47 PM	#3
clark Gatekeeper ESB Full Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 494 vCash: 1000	Re: George Foreman doesn't retire in '77 Foreman would really need to get his head on straight. He just wasn't consistent after Ali. Sometimes he was old George and other times confused. A very focused Foreman (like in Frazier-Foreman 2) and things would be interesting. That Foreman would have been dominant.
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11-20-2012, 05:59 PM	#4
MAG1965 P4P King East Side VIP Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Dallas,Texas. Posts: 18,293 vCash: 1010	Re: George Foreman doesn't retire in '77 if he doesn't retire in 77 he does not come back in 1987. You can almost add the 8 years onto that and he retires in 1985 and never has a comeback. And Larry Holmes would have been tough for him to beat. Guys like Weaver he would do well again, but a young Dokes? I am not sure.
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