I wasn't around when Foreman fought Ali and from watching videos of the build-up and interviews, Foreman was seen as unstoppable. If the fight played out differently and Foreman won by stoppage, how much does that change both men's legacies? That would be the only change, Ali wouldn't retire, he'd still go on to beat Frazier again and Foreman would still return at 42 to re-capture the title. I welcome all comments but especially those from folks who were around at the time and had a real sense of what was going on and how dramatic Ali's win was. How would Foreman and Ali be viewed in a heavyweight ATG sense?
Well i was a teen at time of Rumble in the Jungle, and frankly like majority could not see Ali beating Foreman. Foreman had destroyed Frazier and Norton in double quick time, wheras each of those held wins over Ali. History repeated itself as Ali KO'd the beast that was Foreman, same as he had done 10 yrs previously with Liston. Would history have held Ali any different in its esteem for him if he had lost, a little i guess, but Big George was viewed in same way Tyson was in the 80s, so losing to such a phenon would not impinge on Alis past exploits, wheras Foreman winning the Zaire fight would have raised his status as he would have beaten the best of the era. Foreman was as his reaction to his loss showed a insecure guy inside, so getting Alis scalp might well have banished to a degree these insecure feelings. Ali humbled Foreman bigtime, took his bombs, nullified and belittled his attacks then KO'd him which amazed everyone, and cemented Alis place in the ATG list. As a side note, Out of Ali, Foreman, Frazier and Norton, it is definitely Foreman who is the winner healthwise in the long run. Ali, Foreman, Frazier and Norton thanks for a great era of Heavyweight boxing.
The one thing I'd say that would be different for sure is that Joe Louis would comfortably top 99% of heavyweight lists as the greatest in the divisions history.
