Is Ali's win over Foreman a tad over rated?

In a way it's overrated. Foreman got a bit overrated at the time, just like monstrous punchers tend to get. He had already shown signs of having trouble with boxers who could keep their cool (Peralta) and would do so later on as well (Young).

On the other hand, the conditions on the night make it more impressive. For a boxer with aging legs facing a seek-and-destroy monster, few things will be worse news than heat, humidity and a small ring with a slow canvas. But Ali made it work to his advantage instead -and that what makes it so truly impressive.

 

at the time it wasn't because of what he did to frazier and norton. what he did to frazier was unhead of - undefeated and obliterated.

 

I think the person who was the most accurate in the prediction of the fight was maybe Ali himself, when he got interviewed ringside after, i think, the Foreman-Norton fight. It certainly panned out pretty close to what he said, even the 'retiring George Foreman' part.

My old man got him at 7's. Maybe a case of different bookies different prices?

 

More revisionism. First only a handful of sportswriters picked Ali to beat Foreman. George WAS thought to be unbeatable at that time. I lived through that time period and to in any way imply Alis win was not considered an all time upset could not be further from the truth. Foremans destruction of Frazier and Norton, two men who beat Ali, were strong indications of what was expected to happen to Ali.

 

I dont think it was over rated. Perhaps people did not see the flaws in Foreman's style at the time, and Ali(And I hate to used the word) expose the flaws. Foreman would show the same flaws vs Young later on, or vs the 5 after the defeat. but at the time Foreman was view almost unbeating. Foreman is deadly in the first 5 or 6 rounds, but if you are as great as Ali, you can by pass that and take Foreman late. Frazier tried the tactic in the rematch, but I didnt think Frazier had the chin to pull it off.

 

Foreman was not even in his prime yet, he was still a kid. So yes the win is over rated, but still a good win. It's a shame Ali ducked Foreman for a rematch.

 

True, my comments mentioned 'over here'. I think the balance was more in favour of Foreman in the US than over here, we take longer to be convinced of such things. Still, more writers picked Ali than given credit for- this was no Liston I, when something like 2 or 3 out of 50 picked Clay.

You're welcome mate, i like to see posts/comments taken from contemporary sources, so always willing to help on that front.

 

Ok. So which was prime Foreman? The one who came a hair from losing to Lyle or the one that lost to Young?:yep

 

in retrospect it is easy to overrated any win. But at the time Foreman was wiping out everyone. It was a great win. Just the way Foreman beat Frazier. He destroyed a solid champion. Style helped but still he knocked him out easily and Ali needed a real strategy to beat Foreman. A fighter who can fight with that sort of gameplan is great.

 

I don't recall many people at the time picking Ali,some feared for his safety such was the reputation Foreman had forged.
I certainly don't think it's overrated

 

Foreman was certainly in his prime when he fought Ali. He was the true worlds champion, koed brutally an undefeated champion who was thought to be unbeatable, koed brutally the no 1 challenger and was a few months shy of his 26 birthday. To say Foreman was anything less than prime is just plain stupid. Ali was indeed past his prime. He lost much of his physical ability during his layoff/ban from the sport. However he was still great enough to ko this powerhouse and go on to hold the championship the next four or so years.

 

it's ali's best win imo and it's one of the greatest wins in boxing history. not even close to being overrated.

 

Before the fight in 1974...all the experts were writing Ali's epitaph. He was going to be hurt
...why take the fight with Foreman? George would have destroyed Dempsey...Louis...Marciano...Liston...said the experts. Ali stayed on the ropes...found that he could take Foreman's shots...knew that George had stamina issues...hoped he would punch himself out...and he stopped an exhausted Foreman. It was big news...George was supposed to be unbeatable...instead he fought one of the dumbest fights any fighter has ever fought...and was KO'd by a past his prime Ali...

 

Actually....its a myth that Ali "stayed on the ropes". He came out punching in round 1. Did stay on the ropes for round 2. From then on, more so as the fight progressed Ali fought from the near the ropes but was constantly out punching Foreman especially/mostly with his right. if you watch rounds 6 and 8 especially Ali was hitting Foreman at will. He was doing so at the beginning of round 7 until he caught a thumb and ended up covering and recovering for most of the round.