Greater victory - Ali/Foreman or Duran/Leonard ?

Ali-Foreman.

 

Duran-Leonard, by the thinnest of margins.

 

Duran, because both fighters were known to be at their peak's, and both were recognised as great talents, and the fight lived up to those qualities. Ali was slightly past his best, and Foreman was exposed as a slugger with no plan B.

 

The Brawl in Montreal for me, Duran was in his prime, and Leonard was close to his, also this was a more competitive fight, which would lead to a trilogy..

In Zaire I was a little to young to remember everything , but Ali was past his best, and Foreman I remember in 1974 was just a moody youngster who didn't have much of a personality, and really didn't have much to offer, he seemed like he wanted to leave Africa, after he got there, and go back to Texas, or wherever he was from, but he did have a cool dog.:yep

To be honest with you the super fight between Leonard, Hearns in 1981 has the edge on Montreal, and Zaire, for me...:deal

 

Ali clearly.

Foreman was 40 & 0 with 37 KOs, just had absolutely destroyed Frazier & Norton easily, both of who Ami had lost to. Foreman was seen by some as invincible. While that is always a fiction about anyone, Foreman was extremely impressive & in his prime vs. Ali, looked very fit.

Ali was past his prime, the biggest difference is he had much less foot speed & ability to dance/move as before his exile.

While the ring ropes likely were at least a little loose, I ALSO read that the ring was small, the referee was surprised Alli agreed to fight Foreman in a "phone booth". And the lack of canvas bounciness also favored Foreman.

In terms of intelligence, psychological & ring strategy, surprise, rope-dope & his infuriating right hand leads...Let alone the combination of both avoiding & absorbing great punishment...Ali was about as great as you can imagine.

No way a peak Jimmy Young is going to win under those conditions & against a peak Foreman. Very few ATGs would win, & perhaps NONE past their prime or at ALi's age then.

 

Ali-Foreman. Muhammad was supposed to be planning his funeral for that fight.

 

Ali-Foreman.

 

I'm totally disregarding the "bigger upset" angle, and going straight for what was the better win regardless ... and it still comes back as Ali-Foreman.

Ali totally bossed Foreman and took him out in 8 rounds.
With all due respect to Duran, and as masterful as he look at times, his win over Leonard was kind of close.

 

I remember very well the pre-fight perceptions and expectations for these fights, Re Duran V Leonard whilst ray was the favourite, Duran had Buzzsawed Palomino impressively enough and many were not sure how Ray would cope with a Ring Demon like Duran on his chest Breathing fire and Brimstone. The Sensible Paper talk said Leonard. but when many saw the Demonic Duran, Juiced up and ready to go.. there was some wavering.. The Smart Money was scratching its Head..

With Ali Vs Foreman, Very few Gave Ali a chance... of Surviving to Half way, and in fact there were very real fears for his health.. Even in his own camp ! very few newspaper reporters in their previews favoured Ali .. Ken Norton did pick Ali in the magazine International Boxing - Jerry Quarry went for Foreman in 4 ! Most Papers ran a "Legend Dies at Dawn " Slant to their Reviews...

The Next Day Ali was Proclaimed (By London Evening Standard )
8th Wonder of the World.

Ali's Victory was undoubtedly the greater reversal of preconceived expectations.

 

In terms of a boxing match I think the Duran - Leonard fight exceeds the Ali - Foreman fight, from a technical standpoint and it was a closer fight.

But in terms of the bigger upset, I would have to say Ali's win was bigger.

Personally, I think Duran's win over Barkley exceeds even Ali's win over Foreman, but that's not the question being asked.

 

Duran. At least it was a clean win. Ali and his cohorts got up to so many dirty tricks in Zaire it almost taints the win.

 

Ali over Foreman is one of the most famous wins of all-time.

Duran over Leonard is one of the very best single wins of all-time.


Heavyweights draw much more attention, but in my humble opinion, Duran and Leonard are both better than Ali and Foreman.

 

Actually, quite a few people gave Ali a chance.
The odds were 4-1. That isn't that much of an upset.