Who did Foreman say hit him hardest?

I heard him say Ron Lyle hit him the hardest.

 

Nice insight, duodenum. I don't even want to think about this quote above. Jesus H. Too bad Shavers took so long to learn to pace himself, and never really bloomed into a top rate finisher. You can't teach that kinda power.

 

The implications of Caldwell's quote are so horrifying that I thought I'd better finally post a link to that article rather than merely repeat what he said again, and also provide a link to Leroy's record, so it could be seen who else he came up against to compare Earnie to.

It was written that part of the reason Shavers tired so easily was because "his arms are like a pair of 50 pound clubs." Putting together punches like Louis would have been problematic for him, and maybe establishing a greater degree of muscular endurance would have been impractical for his physical template. However, he also sported an 80 inch reach with long arms for a man of his height, which would have enabled him to cultivate a more serviceable jab. He did jab his way to a decision win over iron chinned 6'3" stylist Henry Clark in their first match, but there appear to have been few other times, if any, where Earnie's jab was the key punch in winning a bout.

Remarkably though, his stamina may have been better than Foreman's during the 1970s. Big George never produced a knockdown beyond round five until his second career, while Earnie knocked out Chuck Leslie, Rochelle Norris and Tiger Williams in ten, then swept round 14 on all three judges cards from Ali. His seventh round knockdown of Holmes was also better than Foreman's seventh round stunning of Young. (Don't forget that Shavers, off the ropes, later blew over Larry with a right to the shoulder.)

Ali was able to recall Kinshasa, Manila and the FOTC in detail immediately after those bouts, but only remembered enough of Shavers to assert with absolute certainty that Earnie was the hardest puncher he ever fought. Muhammad didn't look right in the ring as that decision was being announced, and it's frightening to see how many times he was wobbled in that one. (Significantly, he wasn't interviewed following this concussion inducing event, or we might have had another instance of Mike Quarry after Bob Foster, or Starling after Molinares.)

 

Big George himself said Ronny Lyle hit him with teh hardest haymakers in his life, but Cooney was v.close.

Ronny "Tate And" Lyle was 1 of teh top 10 most powerful huge Punchers in history, he KO'd Shavers, Garcia And Mathis. And Lyle twice dropped teh Pure-Iron-chinned Big George Foreman, who was only dropped by Young, Ali And Lyle in a long career of 81 fights!!

 

Calwell was ko'd in 2 by Foreman but said something different.

 

Lyle is not a top ten puncher for the division, maybe not even top 20. Garcia was KO'd in his two run-up fights to the Lyle bout, and KO'd once before those fights. The Mathis' KO was Mathis' last fight, also.

Regarding Foreman, far too much is made of these KD's. It is obvious that he was fragile mentally. Why else would all of his KD's occur in a 3 year window in the what was really the middle of a 20 year career? Sure, Lyle had pop, but he certainly took advantage of good timing in this regard and still only made it 5. Furthermore, the fact that two relatively powder-puff punchers put Foreman down during the same stretch only underscores this interpretation of events.

 

I have this fight and I don't think I ever saw George get clobbered harder than against Lyle. Ron was throwing shots at George that seemed like he wanted to punch a hole through him.

 

wrong . as a foreman NUTHUGGER i wud think u wud get the facts right m8 .

Cooney hit him the hardest according 2 George. I HAVE THE FULL SHOWTIME BROADCAST ON DVD-REMASTERED-HD . IT INCLUDES AN INTERVIEW WITH GEORGE HE SAYS COONEY HIT HIM THE HARDEST FACT

 

He's also said Lyle has. Foreman will say whatever he feels will please the target audience and further grow his popularity.

 

Good to see that someone had a clue about Holmes in this thread.

 

Ive heard FOreman state more than once ,that no one hit him as hard as COoney.

 

Well easily explained...Cuz Tyson had the skills to follow up and finish what he started.. He was a better combonation puncher and faster than ERnie....Dont mean he hit harder for one shot.

As years went on Holmes always said Shavers hit the hardest...But i distinctively remember him saying after the Tyosn loss. THat SHavers was the harder puncher and Tyson the sharper puncher.. Im guessing that was the most honest answer, he never seemed to like Tyson and always reluctant on giving him his due.

 

Marciano doesnt come close in power compared to Tyson, Lewis, Shavers, so get over yourself Marciano was a cruiserweight and these guys were heavyweights and Holmes once said Butterbean puncher harder than Tyson so he isnt consistent either.

 

I think Ron Lyles power is overrated to a extent like somebody already stated. Foreman was knocked down 4 times in a 6 fight timr period and then not get down the rest if his career

 

Tyson's power is often overrated. Most opponents he fought, if you read Facing Tyson, didn't rate it like one would think.

His speed and finishing ability can actually be underrated by some. This is what really made Tyson lethal- Top 5 heavyweight handspeed, excellent combination driven offense, finishing ability, and the skills to use it all.

If a prime Mike Tyson drops you, he's probably going to finish you when(if) you get up.

Shavers still hit much harder shot for shot. He just wasn't as good a boxer.