Foreman v Holmes

It is very possible that Foreman could stop Holmes. I think there is no doubt he would do some damage in the early rounds its just I see Larry's greatness carrying him through those rounds and being able to survive long enough to take over the fight. I feel Holmes character would be the big difference, young Foreman's biggest flaw was that he lacked character and composure thats how Young and especially Ali managed to defeat him and I think it would be the same factor which would allow Holmes to get the upper hand.

 

George was fried after Zaire. What if they'de fought in the Astrodome and George put Ali in a puddle? Not a given but something to ponder. If George had 'held serve' against anyone else 75-77, then we'de have probably seen a late 77 early 78 Foreman/Holmes for the title. Maybe Larry had the moxie, skills, and chin to end Foreman's reign. I don't know.
A better scenerio would be a 74 Foreman vs. a 79 Holmes.
Screw the late eighties, aging 40'ish matchup, who in their right mind gives a crap.

 

Holmes copied Ali in his footwork while circling with his jab and had a speed adv, but it would be interesting to see how'd Holmes keep Foreman off of him and handle his body shots, where Holmes would get drained and eventually forced to fight. Holmes would get his licks in, but I can't see him stopping Foreman. I don't see Holmes having the patience to box or outsmart Foreman. Especially if there might of been bad blood leading up to the fight, a motivated Foreman and a Holmes who had just finished
semi-retiring Foreman's conqueror I wouldn't be surprised if Holmes underestimated a Foreman that was on the slide. Foreman would of been hungry again and see this as a Rumble in the Jungle part 2, with Holmes taking the place of Ali. Holmes was also known to be a great boxer, but easily lured into toe to toe exchanges, ala Terrible Morales.

 

This would be a great fight.

George Foreman was a terror especially early in the fight. Holmes would have to move some but also sit down on his shots enough to sting Foreman. Holmes could stand tall and throw straight shots down the pipe while avoiding that big uppercut of Foreman`s.

I think George was just too strong early for Holmes to totally avoid. I think Larry gets battered to the ground in the first 5 rounds maybe more than once. I believe Larry Holmes had the heart and recovery ability to survive those moments.

Eventually Holmes starts to pepper a tiring Foreman and gets the time and room he needs to establish that supreme left jab. The right cross soon follows and Foreman would be looking for a place to go down.

Larry Holmes by stoppage in 9 rounds thanks to his heart and uncommon recovery ability.

 

There's no doubt that George looked unusually,for him,hesitant during the Young fight. He seemed unsure about whether to pace himself or go for broke half the time.

 

At any point in their careers where a Foreman Holmes fight was a possibility; I'd pick Larry Holmes.

 

Holmes..much better fighter.

 

greetings mark! With all due respect what does a 40 yr. old Foreman vs. a 40 yr. old Holmes have to due with their legacy??
There seems to be a plethera of fighters now fighting into their 40's. IMO big deal! Are they challenging for any legit title? How many titles now? 5? or 6?
This is why the UFC crap is more popular than boxing now, sadly.
I think the only argument in this thread is a 74 Foreman vs. a 79 Holmes OR...a Foreman victory over Ali with a protracted reign by George until a match with Larry in 77-78.
My $0.02

 

Id go for holmes hes more sound boxer but if foreman lands could be diffrent story. Forman was very clever in the ring people forget that. It showed more when he made his comeback

 

Agree. 73 Foreman KOs Holmes within 6. As great, gritty, and
determined as Holmes was I believe his fundamental flaw in regards
to his jab would be his undoing. Holmes almost payed for it against
Shavers in the second fight, Foreman wouldn't let Holmes off the hook.
Foreman had a formidable jab as well. IMO Ali is the only HW that beats
a 40-0 Foreman.During Foreman's comeback career, Ill pick Holmes
UD. So Foreman KO5 or later career Holmes UD.

 

Foreman showed quite a bit of character in the Lyle fight.:tired

 

Ali is in a different league than Holmes. Holmes simply isn't as tough.

 

Stop with the past it Ali. That Ali probably could beat ANYONE in boxing history.
Young was a sparring type survival fighter. Foreman really fought stupid in that fight. He should have calmed down and just won the fight. Young was afraid and ran away.

 

Foreman looked caught between two stools against Young. Ali had taught him that raw aggression wasn't enough, but he didn't really know how to box sensibly for a decision win yet: that was something he only managed as an older man boxing against young men and needing to live with a massive speed disadvantage. And Young was the ultimate pain in the arse for a puncher to face. He fought to make those guys look daft.

Holmes would make that version look even worse than Young managed, I think, by virtue of actually attacking before Foreman was punched out and ****ed, but it wasn't the 'real' George Foreman as these things go. He just wasn't himself there even accounting for the v. taxing conditions. Just imagine those 12 rounds with Holmes's jab bouncing off George's noggin. It could get pretty gruesome.

Personally, I think:

• Prime Vs. Prime, Holmes wins. His movement and jab will present questions that the young beast we know as as Prime Foreman can't answer. No-one taught him to live with an opponent who can go past six rounds and keep hammering back. Ali beat him when he was past prime and compensating with canniness and supreme will. Holmes at his best was tough as old shoe leather and had all the skills you could ask for from a heavyweight. We'd get six or so rounds of Foreman looking the boss and then he'd tire and get ruined for a clear decision unless he landed something big. The puncher's chance isn't what I would bet on; it doesn't come off more often than not.
• Old man Vs. old man goes a lot closer. Foreman was a lot more studied in his approach and Holmes would struggle to keep him away with his much dissipated physical abilities. I think Foreman wins and quite likely by a big KO with his still massive punching power but that is questionable and I'm not unbiased in this.

I suspect that the first answer is more relevant to a question of greatness in rankings and such. George is a personal favourite of mine, but he never really learned to couple his freakish physical abilities with real skill until much of his raw prowess was gone, at least as far as I can tell. Still, the way he won the title as an old man was as close as we'll ever see to a real-life Rocky Balboa.