George Foreman

Hard to rate in some ways.

He has arguably got the two best wins in the history of the division twenty years apart!

On the flipside of the coin he had a very padded record in both careers, and left a couple of questions unanswered for me.

Hard to argue with the first point though.

 

I'm not really into the ratings thing too much, but he's one of the outstanding heavies of all times, for sure.
I think he needed that second career to make that stick, though. Formidable as he was in his first career, he didn't stick around long enough to cement any kind of claim to greatness imo, despite the awesome victories over Frazier and Norton.

His second career showed us that he could be a very competitive fighter well into his forties, and he improved his game in some key areas. Unprecedented in that respect if you ask me. He also made a major impact on the sport in both his careers, which for me is always a hallmark of a significant and relevant fighter.
I realise that he did keep away from the likes of Bowe, Lewis and Tyson, but still for me, he had a heck of a run the second time around.
So for me, I think if I were to ever seriously consider a top 10 or top 15 list, Big George would be right in the mix.

As for power, well that's his forte' isn't it? He's a legendary hitter and one of the few guys who could hurt a fighter even with poorly timed arm punches. I have no reason to believe he is anything other than an elite class level puncher as far as sheer power is concerned.

 

Nicely put. I have Foreman at numero 8. The more I think about it the more I'm liking his accomplishments in his second career. As I rapidly approach 40 years old it's incredible for someone that age to stay motivated, dedicated to their craft at the highest level. And as many have stated before, without his regaining the title, Foreman doesn't crack the top 10.

At the time I had mixed feelings about a Holmes-Foreman "Geezers at Caesars" campaign. Sure I'd love to have seen it, mainly because it should've happened 15-20 years earlier.

 

H2H, young Foreman is a monster and asides from Ali and maybe Lennox, Foreman by far is the most dangerous fighter. The only guys i see beating Foreman at his best (apart from Ali) is Lennox Lewis, Sonny Liston and Larry Holmes

But i feel (this might be controversial) that the younger version was a lot mentally weaker than people make him out to be.

Ok he was a killing machine up until Ali. But between Ali-Young, Foreman was mentally ****ed.

Just check out his antics when he fought 5 guys in one night.

I feel the whole reason he retired after Young, was because he simply couldnt hack another loss.

However hats off to him for the way he came back.

 

The comeback is what truly elevates him. To come out of a ten year retirement and then win the title 7 years into the comeback is just insane. It's the equivelant of a fighter retiring in 1996 un-retiring in 2006 and winning title in 2013 from Wlad. Simply insane. A singular great achievement. Add to his fearsome first career and he is a. ATG. Even if second career was maneuvered around the fighters that could truly hurt him

 

I rate him top ten,easily. As has been pointed out,his power was freakish. Even a sloppy wild swing would hurt an opponent. If Muhammad Ali had n't have been around in 1974,George would have been champion for a few more years,definitely !

 

IMO a young Foreman would bulldoze Lennox Lewis, no matter what people believe, there's no way in hell that Foreman in his second career was better than the young Foreman, especially with the length of layoff.

 

You don't see Tyson beating Foreman?

 

I wouldn't argue that.

The first was an good to excellent, tho Frazier had certainly seen his best days.

The second was low hanging fruit.

To be applauded for sure, but two best in history?

 

Yeah, that was kinda odd. Two best? In history? :huh...

 

That second run he had gives him a solid argument on why he is better than Muhammad Ali. If he had never made that comeback he would forever be overshadowed by Muhammad Ali, we all know Ali was already suffering from Parkinson's by the 1980's and Foreman is still fighting at a competitive level? The longevity he had in the sport....

Foreman could definitely be considered the best heavyweight of all time because of that.

 

Ummmm....no.

 

Dunno, sometimes i see him beating Foreman, other times i dont

I guess well never know

imagine the Tyson of the Berbick fight vs young Foreman.

somethings got to give!

And yes i believe a pre prison Tyson was stronger mentally than the young Foreman

 

Foreman hardly dominated in his second run.

Alis post exile run was better than Foremans whole career

And remember, every time you give credit to any version of Foreman, you have to give credit to the guy who knocked him out as well.