POLL: Who would you favor against Foreman?

Even if you just listened to the commentary alone you'd hear the commentators more than once exclaiming their amazement at Ali backing Foreman up (twice). It wasn't for long, however you can see George taking at least a (a completely decisive step) both times, and this scenario is completely leaving out the knockout.

I was there when that fight first aired, it's one of my favorite fights. But I've been a disrespectful twat for too long here, so it's time I simply, respectfully apologize to member offended and agree to completely disagree and move on. I don't care so much about who's right or wrong anymore, you guys can be right if you want, that's perfectly fine. I just see it totally different.

I know one point that no one has debated yet...neither Young nor Ali punched as hard overall as Holmes. Holmes had a heavier jab (because he stepped into it more often than either), and his right hand was at least as powerful as Ali (Young didn't even have much of a right hand and he knocked George down and backed him up...it's all on video).

I must concede, though, Holmes did get hit too much. After the Norton fight Larry mysteriously left behind most of his head movement...so many of his defenses would have ended earlier if he had offered himself as a trickier to hit.

But Larry in his prime always came back, and I refuse to even entertain the idea that Foreman could hit harder than Shavers. No.

 

Leonard didn`t wobble Hagler and didn`t really land many hard shots at all.

 

Foreman cut the ring off better than Shavers, the only fighter Holmes fought that could cut the ring off was Tyson.

 

Foreman is a WAY better finisher than Shavers ever was. Had a way better jab than Shavers, was a much better ring cutter than Shavers. Holmes probably gets stopped IMO.

 

Weaver did a pretty damn good job...Witherspoon did so at times as well. Weaver was yet another example of Holmes getting knocked down, getting up and ultimately ruining the puncher. Not just that, plenty of expert tying up later in that fight...of course, no denying that Larry looked pretty bad through most of it.

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Cool!

 

All good man. Everybody has that guy they have a soft spot for. James Toney can do no wrong for me.

 

GREAT fighter.

 

Foreman lost to the only two top quality boxers he fought in his prime. Period. He pretty much dropped dead from exhaustion both times.He nearly collapsed from exhaustion in the first bout w Peralta. Ali could not miss him with right hands. Lyle could not miss him with right hands. Young could not miss him with right hands. He was Max Baer like wild swinging far too often. This airbrushed revisionism of Foreman is interesting ..

The reason why the second incarnation of Foreman became so beloved is that he excelled in mental strength, the quality he so severly lacked in the first go round .. The first Foreman was an unresolved head case. He did not know who he was as a man and a fighter. Look at how he self destructed in Zaire. How lost do you have to be to robotically round after round launch yourself out like he did ? Then look at his absurd exhibition in Toronto eighteen months later on .. talk about a psychological profile of a mess in real time ..

Putting aside Ali who exposed him, a prime Holmes, with the style that was a nightmare for Foreman and so much mentally stronger would thrash him. Lewis, with his size, reach and power and near equal strength would flatten him. A huge, iron chinned, mentally brilliant technical like Vitali would take him late and beat him up. Liston essentially was the closest thing to a combo of both versions of Foreman and would finish what Lyle started. The Bowe that fought Holyfield was far too skilled for Foreman. There prime Tyson, lighting fast, murderous punching and hard to hit would take him out .. this is how I see it .. again, a small, slow, one eyed, faded Frazier and the tragically flawed Norton where the only dominant , career defining wins of Foreman's first career, overshadowed by the exposing losses to Ali and Young.

 

It's come out that BG avoided Larry in the 90s, and my kinda-educated guess tells me the real reason (besides the fact that BG was set up for life at least as well as Larry at the time) is because Larry's style would have made him look bad. I don't entirely blame George for that, I mean look what he accomplished in that era, incredible (Holmes kicked some unexpected ass too and also more than held his own against the best...which was Holyfield at the time imo).

The thing is, I think George would have made out much better in the 90s against Larry. George's size and knowledge made him a lot harder to back up, much less kayo (check some of those shots EH hit him with)...so I must say I agree with the earlier member's comments about backing George up...in the 90s. Larry would have had trouble.

But again, LH still had a formidable jab during that time...it's hard to call that era with those two fighting imo. Certainly harder than a Frazier Foreman vs Ali Holmes. They were both different in some important ways. But I'd still give Larry the decision, mostly because generally GF didn't do so great after the tenth round, even in that era.

 

Lol Foreman almost dropped dead against Peralta? You must be talking about another George Foreman. Foreman wasn't tired at all against Peralta.

Vitali beat who in his career? A washed up Corrie Sanders? A 38 year old Corrie Sanders almost knocked out Vitali. A 38 year old Lennox Lewis beat him. Larry Holmes couldn't keep weak chin Ken Norton off him and he couldn't really hurt him. Larry Holmes flat out ducked Foreman back in the 70's. Riddick Bowe agreed to fight Foreman and then pulled out. Tyson avoided fighting the old Foreman. Also who did Tyson beat in his career? Old Larry Holmes and small Michael Spinks. But you are a Tyson fan so why would I expect anything intelligent from you.

 

Lol 6'0 170 pound Gene Tunney would beat Foreman? The 190 pound Dempsey, the 190 pound Jack Johnson. Jim Jefferies. Yeah nothing you type can be taken seriously.

 

Larry Holmes never called out Foreman in the 90s. Also Foreman did call out Larry Holmes in the 70's but Larry Holmes claimed his hand was broke so he couldn't fight him. Why are there so many casual fans like you in the classic section of this forum.

 

This has to be the dumbest thing I read on this forum today. Lewis got knocked out by 1 punch by Oliver McCall and Hasim Rahman. Wladimir Klitstchko was knocked out by 37 year old Corrie Sanders, Ross Purrity and Lamon Brewser. So I guess Wlad and Lewis aren't any good either right? Most people think Jimmy Young beat Ali. Most people think Ali to the 180 pound Doug Jones. Ali also got knocked down by 190 pound Henry Cooper. But because Foreman went down against Lyle it means Foreman couldn't take a punch?

Foreman got tired in 1 fight in his prime. So that means he has poor stamina? Wlad gassed out against Ross Purritty. So I guess Wlad has poor stamina too. Foreman was slow? Yeah because we know how fast Anthony Joshua, Wladimir Klistchko were. If Foreman was so slow then why couldn't Ken Norton out box him? The same Ken Norton who beat Ali 3 times. I could give you the link to Ali himself saying he knew he could never beat Norton and Norton beat him all 3 times. Larry Holmes could barely beat the washed up version of Norton. Larry Holmes also got put down by Shavers a glass chin guy with no defense and a glass chin. Larry also got knocked down by Renaldo Snipes who isn't a big puncher. Also who did Larry Holmes beat in his career? What dominant world class heavyweight did Larry Holmes beat?

Name one modern sized world class fighter Joe Louis beat? Guys like Jack Johnson was extremely unskilled by modern standards. He was also a 190 pound guy. Gene Tunney was a 170 pound guy. Rocky Marciano was a 180 pounds. I have been part of forums before but just reading you casual boxing fans try to be experts crack me up. Find some other sport kid to try to follow. Clearly boxing is way too hard for you to understand.

 

Well I found another guy who actually knows his boxing. But I would say Ali would have not beaten Foreman again. Which is why he avoided Foreman in a rematch. But I agree with everything else you typed.