If Foreman beat Ali and both men's career went the same way, who would be greater?

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by Webbiano, Jul 5, 2012.


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  1. Webbiano

    Webbiano Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Just saw a nice little quote about Foreman and it got me thinking about the Rumble in the Jungle. Now I must say, although I am a fan of Ali I feel he is treated far to kindly on ESB. So let's reverse the decision of the fight that is arguably the most telling in both of their careers, whilst afterwards both men's careers pan out in the same way. Does this elevate Foreman over Ali and into the no.1/2 (depending where you have Louis) spot or does Ali still have a deep enough resume to keep him above Foreman?
     
    Webbiano, Jul 5, 2012
    Webbiano, Jul 5, 2012
    #1
  2. Webbiano

    Webbiano Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Move to the classic please, my bad.
     
    Webbiano, Jul 5, 2012
    Webbiano, Jul 5, 2012
    #2
  3. Slothrop

    Slothrop Boxing Junkie banned

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    Good question. Would have to say Foreman.
     
    Slothrop, Jul 5, 2012
    Slothrop, Jul 5, 2012
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  4. JIM KELLY

    JIM KELLY Bullshyt Mr Han Man! Full Member

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    share the quote?

    state how he is treated far too nicely on here? As a boxer and his achievements he should be treated as a great Boxer. He showed and proved during his era..

    I would understand your question more if Ali beat foreman on some split decision close fight but Ali won via knock out. What are you getting at friend?
     
    JIM KELLY, Jul 5, 2012
    JIM KELLY, Jul 5, 2012
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  5. Webbiano

    Webbiano Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Re: My top 10 Heavyweights of all time.
    Anyone who doesn't have Foreman in the top 10 is just silly.
    He wasn't a pretty and slick boxer but he was a natural brawler and he was maybe the strongest man to fight in the ring.

    "He won an Olympic Gold Medal after boxing only 1.5 years and with only 20 amateur fights going into the Olympics. That is just unbelievable, in some ways his most notable achievement.

    He destroyed an undefeated heavyweight champion who was considered the best heavyweight in the world at the time, crushed him in only 2 rounds.

    George came back and won the lineal heavyweight title 20 years after losing it. That is just mind boggling. No one and I mean no one else could do that, not Jack Johnson, not Jack Dempsey, not Joe Louis, not Rocky Marciano, and not Muhammad Ali. Nobody."

    Courtesy of PeteThePrince, originally wrote by Monte Conx
     
    Webbiano, Jul 5, 2012
    Webbiano, Jul 5, 2012
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  6. turbotime

    turbotime Hall Of Famer Full Member

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    Damn. That's tough. No idea really.
     
    turbotime, Jul 5, 2012
    turbotime, Jul 5, 2012
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  7. Webbiano

    Webbiano Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Well obviously his achievements are exceptional, no ones denying that, however he's not perfect, which some seem to think he is.

    Whenever someone criticises something Ali has done in the past, they seems to let it slide, when if it was a regular every day fighter they'd be disgusted by it. (Smelling Salts vs Cooper being a prime example) as well as dubious decisions against Norton and Young.

    I personally feel Foreman could easily be put as the 3rd best heavyweight of all time. His win over Frazier is underrated and in my eyes is one of the greatest of all time, as well as winning the heavyweight title at 45 against an undefeated lineal champion. People seem to belittle it because of what Moorer did after Foreman.

    On the point of you not understanding this, I'm not saying Ali didn't deserve to win or that George was cheated, it was simply just a thought that popped into my head really. But I just get the feeling that had it been Ali winning the title at 45, he'd get so much more love on ESB than Foreman does for it.
     
    Webbiano, Jul 5, 2012
    Webbiano, Jul 5, 2012
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  8. Big George

    Big George Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    By the time Ali fought Foreman, Ali was 8 years past his prime... Do your homework!
     
    Big George, Jul 5, 2012
    Big George, Jul 5, 2012
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  9. Nosbor

    Nosbor Boxing Addict banned

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    Probably George.
     
    Nosbor, Jul 5, 2012
    Nosbor, Jul 5, 2012
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  10. JIM KELLY

    JIM KELLY Bullshyt Mr Han Man! Full Member

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    I understand what you mean in that scenario. Leave it as that.

    Big George is top 6 HW of all time.
     
    JIM KELLY, Jul 5, 2012
    JIM KELLY, Jul 5, 2012
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  11. Big George

    Big George Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    You need access to a fight library. Your perception of the HW division is terrible!
     
    Big George, Jul 5, 2012
    Big George, Jul 5, 2012
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  12. gunmike1

    gunmike1 Member Full Member

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    Obviously George would be higher, but I don't think he would have recieved too much credit as Ali was way past his best and was a huge underdog to big George. If George would have won that fight I think his whole first career would have turned out differently as his confidence and ego took a huge blow getting KO'd by Ali. By beating Ali he would have retained his aura of invincability and I'm guessing he would have performed at a higher level than be did before his first retirement.
     
    gunmike1, Jul 5, 2012
    gunmike1, Jul 5, 2012
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  13. Sangria

    Sangria You bleed like Mylee Full Member

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    Interesting proposal. I guess it all depends on who he loses the title to, and I'm assuming it's Young?

    His destruction of Frazier twice and Norton were tremendous but Foreman only enters my top 10 list because of his win over Moorer. He currently sits around #8-9.
     
    Sangria, Jul 5, 2012
    Sangria, Jul 5, 2012
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  14. Ali_

    Ali_ Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Foreman doesn't get the credit he deserves on ESB, he'd would get it if more people recognized that he would kill Marciano. :D
     
    Ali_, Jul 5, 2012
    Ali_, Jul 5, 2012
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  15. JeanPaulValley

    JeanPaulValley Boxing Addict banned

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    If George beat Ali,he would never have been fighting at age 45.
    The Ali loss screwed George up in many ways. Gil Clancy tried to turn him into more of a boxer. George was depressed,feeling like a joke and then retired after Young beat him.

    Either way,George is top 5 ATG.
     
    JeanPaulValley, Jul 5, 2012
    JeanPaulValley, Jul 5, 2012
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