Why was George Foreman such a successful slugger?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by InMemoryofJakeLamotta, Jun 23, 2020.

  1. Charlietf

    Charlietf Well-Known Member Full Member

    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2020
    Messages:
    2,935
    Likes Received:
    2,503
    Foreman COULD box
     
  2. ETM

    ETM I thought I did enough to win. Full Member

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2012
    Messages:
    13,325
    Likes Received:
    11,717
    Normally I wouldn't nitpick but you forgot Ben Roethlisberger
     
    Bronze Tiger likes this.
  3. young griffo

    young griffo Boxing Addict Full Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2006
    Messages:
    6,498
    Likes Received:
    7,267
    He was a physical powerhouse who had total faith in his strength and power to destroy anyone (until he met Ali which is why he took so long to recover psychologically from that loss).

    I remember watching an early fight of George’s (against Boone Kirkman I think) and at the beginning of the fight as they walked towards each other he just shoved a big 200lb man halfway across the ring and to the floor like he was nothing. I don’t care how strong you are, with weight and forward momentum coming at you that is very hard to do and George did it again the next round to prove it wasn’t a fluke.

    The guy was uniquely powerful but also tough, mean, determined and brave which made up for any technical shortcomings he may have possessed.
     
  4. Richmondpete

    Richmondpete Real fighters do road work Full Member

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2015
    Messages:
    7,140
    Likes Received:
    5,026
    I don't think he forgot
     
  5. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2020
    Messages:
    7,901
    Likes Received:
    9,152
    psycho. lol
     
    InMemoryofJakeLamotta likes this.
  6. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2020
    Messages:
    7,901
    Likes Received:
    9,152
    When I say someone can box, I mean like Muhammad Ali or something like that. Good jab, tremendous handspeed, good footwork, combinations, very intelligent, etc. While Foreman does check the first and last boxes, he totally misses the middle three. There's no way one can call SRR, Ali, Holmes, and Holyfield good boxers and in the same breath call Foreman a good boxer.
     
    Johnny_B likes this.
  7. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2020
    Messages:
    7,901
    Likes Received:
    9,152
    That says something too considering how big and strong Kirkman was
     
  8. Fergy

    Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2017
    Messages:
    29,730
    Likes Received:
    36,401
    Cos he had power, a smashing Jab, a good solid jaw and the belief that he was invincible. Good ingredients for a powerful, successful slugger.
     
  9. George Crowcroft

    George Crowcroft He Who Saw The Deep Full Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2019
    Messages:
    27,133
    Likes Received:
    44,921
    He was really good, but it'd have been even better if he was president.
     
  10. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2020
    Messages:
    7,901
    Likes Received:
    9,152
    Here's one of George's top qualities hilited in this video:

    This content is protected
     
  11. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2020
    Messages:
    7,901
    Likes Received:
    9,152
    Foreman did have a great jab in the 70s. Watch in fights with Frazier I and Gullick come to mind.
     
    Boxingfan2 likes this.
  12. 70sFan865

    70sFan865 Boxing Junkie Full Member

    Joined:
    May 30, 2019
    Messages:
    8,547
    Likes Received:
    9,575
    This is a myth.
     
  13. Johnny_B

    Johnny_B Well-Known Member banned Full Member

    Joined:
    Feb 8, 2020
    Messages:
    1,891
    Likes Received:
    1,312
    Several reasons:
    - his size for that era, only a few were as big as him.
    - he hit very hard, with either hand, and his punching power wasn't speed dependant;
    - he was very strong;
    - he was lucky he competed in an era where there were just a handful of big skilled HW's (bi big I mean similar size to his)
    - he could cut the ring pretty well.

    But he's not among the top 5 HW's all time, as some have suggested.
     
    Last edited: Jun 24, 2020
  14. Johnny_B

    Johnny_B Well-Known Member banned Full Member

    Joined:
    Feb 8, 2020
    Messages:
    1,891
    Likes Received:
    1,312
    SerbianLoudmouth is in a league of his own. :rolleyes:;)
     
  15. swagdelfadeel

    swagdelfadeel Obsessed with Boxing

    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2014
    Messages:
    19,110
    Likes Received:
    20,620
    :lol: The lowest of the low. He's not only by far the most moronic poster, but he's also a plagiarizer which is understandable because if I had the level of intelligence he did, I'd steal peoples posts to! :lol: