what if Foreman did not retire in 1977?

I have it like this:

Chuvalo W
Frazier W
Roman W
Norton W
Ali L
Lyle W
Frazier W
Young L

So that is 6-2 with a much tougher draw than he got in the 90s.

 

So you consider those 3 fights out of 8 "an odd exception" ??

 

We can debate the semantics ad nausea.

My point is that Foreman in his second career probably has a losing record against ranked opposition.

No shame in that given his age, but obviously not the monster of the 70s.

 

It's not really a debate around semantics.
You clearly over-stated your case.
You presented it as straightforward comparison, stressing the opposites :

"Young Foreman dominated every ranked fighter that he came up against, with the odd exception.

Old Foreman lost to every ranked fighter that he faced, with the odd exception."

This is a far milder, and reasonable, position. (Not as eye-catching or hyperbolic as the original).
I agree 100% with this revised version.

 

Foreman was better when he was younger.
He actually did some things better when he was older. He was more relaxed, paced himself better, boxed a bit smarter.
But he was older, slower, heavier.

I think the crucial difference was his viciousness when younger, he fought like he really wanted to kill someone. As an older man it was clear he fought as if he was worried about killing someone.

As for taking a punch, it's possible he took a punch better when he was more relaxed and secure as an older fighter. But he always had a good chin.

 

Agree with this. As I said earlier I can't see a 40 year old Foreman doing to Frazier and Norton what the younger version did, and reversely I can't see the young Foreman going 12 with Evander Holyfield as I think his defense and stamina were poor. The 90's and 70's renditions of George Foreman were two totally different fighters facing two totally different sets of circumstances. Nevertheless, the younger one was more formidable in most match ups or at least ones that wouldn't involve long range endurance.

 

It depends on if he matured mentally. A very big question mark.

 

You should have stopped there.

 

Yes the forum seems to think you are.