But he doesn’t see Muhammad Ali across the ring from him. Instead...he sees Jim Corbett with fresh legs! What happens next!?
An ever moving, ever punching boxer who is also in perfect physical shape is usually a tough opponent for anyone. By the start of round 8 Foreman was shot. However the bout continues through to the later rounds with Corbett doing better as the rounds go by. The bout goes the distance with Corbett winning the lopsided decision.
Honestly Foreman was so tired that even someone I regard as lowly as Corbett could probably outbox him
Foreman was in bad shape endurance wise starting in the 5th rd. I personally feel it was more of a enraged issue, and Ali's shenanigans made a still very young and green Foreman fight one of the stupidest if not the stupidest fight in history than a real endurance issue. Only Ali could make someone that mad. If Corbett suddenly appeared in the 7th rd. Foreman would slow down, regain his wits and catch his 2nd wind. And still KO someone like Corbett in the later rds.
1974 George Foreman appeared to have stamina issues, especially in the 5th round against Muhammad Ali, as he was missing badly, after being mesmerized by the Rope A Dope. Foreman was badly winded, if James J Corbett took over the fight from there, George falls on his face, for good in round 9. Corbett on his bicycle, would stay away from a stumbling George, who again falls from exhaustion.
Foreman did have endurance issues, but they can be overstated. Many HWs would be exhausted in the heat with Ali frequently clinching & pulling down on his head with all of his weight. But his mad attack absent judgement did not help.
Like I have said before, I would have had George train in that humid ring to get used to the heat and humidity of the actual fight conditions he would be encountering. It's like I have said before in a previous post, when people complain about the climate conditions of a fight or a football game, don't you think it has to be bothering the other guy or team, it has to as well. Prepare for the climate. A trainer should always insure that his fighter is well prepared for every fight. He should have watched Ali's previous fights, when he laid on the ropes, and employ a tactic to counter act this in sparring sessions, to use in the ring in Zaire. Also to avoid having Ali pull his head down. More roadwork, skipping rope.
A couple of rounds later and Big George is absolutely shattered chasing his man. Corbett moves in and attacks. Foreman try s to throw a punch but his arms are like lead weights. At the end of the 8 th, Corbett throws a flurry and George crumple s to the floor. He climbs up at 9 but the ref calls it over!