George Foreman best bareknuckle fighter ever ?

I've had a look at a few of your posts and you seem to get really steamed at people for little to no reason.

Houdini thinks George was powerful and tough?

Well newsflash mate plenty of others do (including the 60+ blokes he KTFO probably). So what if he didn't put Peralta away first time round plenty of other fighters have distance fights on their resume that on paper they should've won by KO too, it doesn't mean they can't punch. And if you bother to avail yourself of the facts you'll see that Peralta had 3 stoppage losses in 116 fights, the guy was obviously durable.

George was about 18 pounds heavier than Peralta also so it's hardly a David vs Goliath clash either considering George was very inexperienced at that point. Both Klit's and Lewis had guys at bigger weight disadvantages than that take them the distance too, does that mean these modern day behomeths couldn't fight or punch too?

So if you're a grown man yourself (you sound like a petulant, know it all punk kid in your posts) why don't you act like one and state your argument/opinion instead of automatically attacking others. We've all flown off the handle at times but it gets tired and annoying quick when you do it all the ****ing time.

 

You need bodypunchers for good bareknuckle fighters.

 

Everything I wrote is accurate. I lived through the 70s and watched all of Foremans bouts during that time. Just because one fighter or 3 or 4 lasts the distance does not change the truth. Foreman was a tremendous physical presense in the ring. At his best he would be a difficult opponent for anyone in any era to beat.

 

Foreman never knocked Peralta down in 20 rounds and it's not like he didn't land either. Foreman had power but there is no reason for it to be mythologized the way it is. The entire myth of Foreman the destroyer is a house of cards, at best. I think Foreman is held up this way largely to prop up Ali's legacy, but that's another matter.

In his prime, Foreman was able to beat two limited though prominent fighters in Frazier and Norton with overwhelming physicality. But the reality is that Foreman could barely box. And whenever he met someone who could box and had a good chin, he was in trouble. I could also mention the little caveat that most of Foreman's stoppages throughout his career were against complete bums. And that many of them were under 200 pounds or otherwise not natural heavyweights.

 

He utterly destroyed Frazier in a way no other opponent was able to do. That in itself is one he'll of a testament to his power. The way he manhandled Norton was crazy scary. He has one of the highest ko rates of any past champion. Listen to What his sparring partners said about being hit by Foreman. Listen to what Frazier and norton said of his power...how about talking with Chuvalo? I had the pleasure of meeting Chuvalo back in the mid 80's and had a great conversation with him. Although he was insistent Ali could not punch he told me the force Foreman generated with his punches was unreal. He said his jab was like being hit with the end of a telephone pole and he cut the ring off like no other fighter he ever was in with. You obviously did not live through that era....I did so I have a perspective you lack. Most fighters down through history fight mostly so so fighters but there legacy is built on major bouts such as his fights with Frazier x 2 and Norton. Could a devastating puncher be outboxed by a slick boxer...of course....since when is that anything new you jackass.

 

This, foreman was very skilled in cutting off the ring.

 

Foreman did three things that pointed to his greatness as a fighter

Won the Olympic gold medal with only 20 amateur bouts.

Beat an undefeated hwt champion who was thought to be unbeatable. Frazier should be rated up there with Mariano but he is not....the reason is the utter destruction Foreman laid on his in 73 and again a few years later.

Rewon the true lineal title 20 years after losing it to Ali. One of the most remarkable feats in sports history.

It's silly to debate the mans power. As mentioned just listen to what everyone at that time said about the punching power of prime Foreman. He would slam a 300 pound heavy bag and shake the rafters of the roof. If you don't believe Frazier, Norton, Chuvalo...all men who actually fought Foreman or his sparring partners listen to great trainers like Damato who stated that anyone Foreman would hit he would ko.

Finally there is no reason to nuthug Ali ....he is rated right now as the greatest of all heavyweight champions...been that way since the late 70's. I was his worst critic back in the day and I am first to admit that I was wrong. He proved he was not just a fancy Dan boxing...he was as tough and determined to win as any past hwt chamion. It's that combination of attributes that make him the best ever.

 

This content is protected

This content is protected

 

He would probably break both fists in his first fight.

 

Vitali would be better. He has a much more complete package for bareknuckles--chin, stamina, height, quick feet, and, most importantly, arm punching.

 

You raise some valid points. Foreman, while being a very strong and powerful hitter, I think gets a little too much credit for his supposed SUPERNATURAL punching power. I mean, a lot of people make it seem like all George had to do was tap you lightly on the arm and your arm would fall off!
Most of his destroyer persona was based on his knockouts over guys who probably didn't have the best of chins in Norton and Frazier. No disrespect to those two guys (Frazier in particular), but they didn't have Tex Cobb-like chins.
And yeah, Foreman knocked Joe down 6 times, but Frazier kept getting up; he was up after the last knockdown albeit severely dazed.
Then during Foreman's comeback he knocked out a lot of bums, out-of-shape, inactive heavyweights and blown-up light heavyweights. And a lot of those guys were simply stopped and not knocked out.
And of course Moorer was never known for the sturdiness of his chin.
So, I agree that Foreman was a big, strong, hard-punching fighter, but I do believe he gets too much credit for his SUPERMAN punching power.

I'm sure there have been countless fighters over the years who have hit just as hard as Foreman; they just didn't make it to the world class level where their power would have become well known.

 

you know....another things you guys have to understand is london prize rules had a bit of mma too it...guys could do some heavy duty clinching to the point of being standing grappling..and various throws and trips where allowed..basically Judo throws and some other types of throws...good old John L. would get Foreman in the clinch and hip toss his ass onto his back and knock the wind out of him...eventually put him on his shoulder and dislocate his shoulder...done and done.

 

Hence...why Jeremy "Half Man Half Amazing" Williams would be the GREATEST