Would Any World Class Heavyweight Beat Prime Foreman, By Lasting 15?

Is the question here whether Larry could carry him the full 15 without George being stopped after his gas tank hits empty somewhere by the 10th or 11th?

 

I think the bigger question is whether George Foreman could go 15 rounds himself in his younger career, he often would be in seek a destroy mode and wasn't relaxed as his older self. And at times he would be gassed in the later stages of fights.

He was visibly tired after 10 rounds vs Gregorio Peralta in their 1st fight, exhausted vs Muhammad Ali after 8 rounds. And exhausted and basically got floored in the 12th round vs Jimmy Young due to exhaustion.

 

Foreman would out-jab McCall like Bruno did.

 

One fighter who I believe would have a decent chance of going 15 with Foreman is a contemporary of his, and a man he never met in the ring, Joe Bugner. I'm not saying he would win over George, and I'm certainly not saying that it would be a good fight to watch. In fact, it would most likely be a real stinker. But Bugner was durable and only lost to the best and most of those who beat him did not look good doing so. As boring as a Foreman-Bugner fight may have been, it would have been interesting to see how Foreman would adapt to someone who is still in there with you as the fight progresses. It is the kind of fight a young George should have had early in his career to gain rounds of experience for pacing and tactics. I believe that had Foreman met Bugner in 1973, the same year the latter lost decisions to both Ali and Frazier, the fight over 15 rounds would be a toss-up.

 

Kevin Johnson

 

He never would have beaten Young...Jimmy had Foreman's and Ron Lyle's number...and it was just as hot in San Juan for Jimmy as it was for Foreman, swaggie. What made the difference? Jimmy was smarter and trickier...with better stamina.

 

Part of the reason why Foreman COULDN’T go fifteen rounds in Zaire was because a cut he sustained from training prevented him from spending as much time sparring as he needed to in preparation for the fight. Sparring is a big piece in building and maintaining stamina in the ring as running and jumping rope don’t replace that activity. Under different circumstances he might have lasted longer or even gone all the way. Other factors to consider would be, could these other 15 round heavyweights take a punch like Ali and still hit back while hurt ? Would the ropes be loosened ? Would they be fighting in the hot Zaire climate or in air conditioning ? Lots of things to consider

 

He demonstrated terrible stamina against Young, which is the only time he went 12 in the 70s.

 

Yes I know

 

Foreman had a better jab than Bugner and Bugner didn`t have the offensive tools to score enough v George, he was too negative and didn`t land many counters.

 

Bugner is a good possibility. Big fella himself, extremely durable.

IMO, if it’s 15 rounds and Foreman hasn’t secured the KO by maybe round 8 at the very latest, the fight is 3/4 “won” for Joe.

If Bugner is behind at that point due to signature periods of “passivity” or at least due caution in the face of a more energised early rd Foreman, he certainly had the tools and some decent power to pick it up against the floundering hulk before him.

I’ll boldly go where no man has gone before - If George can’t put Joe out, then it’s Bugner by TKO rd 13 (maybe even a bit sooner).

PS - NO correspondence entered into - this is read ONLY - haha, joking.