How much does George Foreman's comeback effect your ATHvywt ranking of him?

Pre comeback I wouldn't rank him that highly because of the lack of longevity.

Post definately elevates him.

 

It's the only reason why he's in my top 10. Minus his 2nd career I suppose he'd rank in my top 25. He has some pretty great wins (Frazier 2X, Norton) but very little depth and a short tenure as champion.

You'd have to be awfully generous and awfully biased to rank him anywhere close to where he is now if you eliminate his entire second career.

 

Jumps from top 20 to top 5.

He'd be like a riddick bowe type without the comeback.

Coming back twenty years after losing to ali is nothing short of amazing. Truly fantastic achievement.

 

I have him at 4. Before his comeback he is no way a top 10 heavyweight and would struggle to get in my 15-20 range. Foreman in his comeback showed the best longevity out of any fighter apart from B-Hop IMO and being the oldest heavyweight champion is one of the greatest achievements of all time.

 

Without the comeback, I would probably rate him a fringe top twenty type, if that high.

With the comeback, I move him up about ten spots to a top fifteen, and perhaps fringe top 10 spot.

I guess the question is do two fair careers add up to one great one? He looked awesome early in his career until he fell apart against Ali and Young.

In his second career, he beat a whole bunch of past it types or second raters while losing to Holyfield and Morrison, until the freak ko of Moorer.

Off the losses to Ali and Holyfield, I don't think Foreman was ever the best heavyweight in the world at any time.

I wouldn't vault him quite as high as some off the truly remarkable feat of being champion twice twenty years apart, but can understand where his supporters are coming from.

 

This

 

I have him about 8 or 9. If he didn't beat Michael Moore to regain the hw title 20 years after losing it Ali, then about 12 all-time. That feat solidified his status as at top10 atg.

 

Yeah, I think his comeback helped him tremendously. Don´t know exactly by how much but IMO the comparison with Bowe is valid.

 

His comeback helped his legacy,no doubt.

I do see his first career,short reign as champion that George had,as contributing 75% to his legacy. If Foreman had never laced the gloves on again after the Jimmy Young fight in '77,I'd rate him top 10 ATG,albeit in the lower reaches. As it is,I rank him in the top 5.

It has to be said that George would have reigned, first time around,a lot longer if he had n't have come up against the 1974 Muhammad Ali. No other heavyweight around in '74 could have beaten Foreman at that point.

 

I think the second career takes Foreman from around the 15 spot give or take a few up to the top 5.

 

A lot. No specific place really, but a lot.

He answered a lot of qustions in his comeback that were begging to be answered in the 70's.

 

when Foreman retired after the Young loss he fell into the category of a poor stamina wide puncher who was the dope in the rope a dope and dropped by Jimmy Young and beaten. Foreman had never really fought a puncher. The older version showed improvement, learned to pace himself and showed a good ability to take a punch and a much more relaxed and patient style. He did not dominate but showed that people can make good adjustments to their style. Foreman added to his resume and overall ratings with his comeback even though a lot of the fights were hand-picked he did fight some young lions

 

Noone would have him top ten without the comeback, unless it's entirely based on h2h and you're into conspiracy theories

 

Foreman shouldn't be top10 anyway, his win to loss ratio against top10 rated ring opponents is WEAK!!!!!!!!!!