Was Gregorio Peralta Ranked when George Foreman beat him the first time ?

Agreed. One thing to note is you don't expose your boxing prospect to the best opposition early in their career. People that complain about record padding seem to forget this, but it's rather obvious so I don't know how it could be overlooked unless you are completely blind to boxing protocol.

Opposition does the same thing to Tyson, saying he never fought anyone of significance and therefore wasn't as good as he is cracked up to be. All lies.

George won a gold medal at the age of 18. I think that speaks volumes about whether it was "skill" or just record padding. George was an incredibly clever boxer and he perfected that art over his decades long career.

George also defeated multiple undefeated fighters including Joe Frazier (who became a human bouncy ball in the ring) and 21 years later, Michael Moore, who was also undefeated and had previously defeated Holyfield.

This is strength.

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Anyone have footage of their second fight? I'd really like to see Foremans 10th round KO. Its nowhere to be found on youtube.

 

Here is the first fight. Pretty good fight overall. Both were game.

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He was number 10 in The Ring's annual rating in 1969. Number 2 light-heavyweight the year before IIRC.

He fought Foreman the first time in February of '70, so I'd say he was game.

 

I think so as well. After the initial bum of the month tour to build up his confidence (extremely short amateur career) he did step up to beat Peralta x2 and Chuvalo. Combine it with the knockout % and it wasn't really half bad.

Sadler knew how to play the game and so did Foreman after his comeback (knockout a dozen of tough looking, young guys and sprinkle it with two more recognizable names like Qawi and Cooney.)

 

That Cooney knockout is my favorite KO ever, in the history of boxing.
IMHO

 

I think he fought him again during Foreman versus five.

 

Peralta must have been a converted southpaw who never developed his right, or his right arm/hand was injured because he didn't use his right hand but a few times. GF jabbed and brought his left back low, a fighter with a good right hand would have been a big problem for GF. Good fight, and GF showed that he could go 10 rounds at that time. Later, maybe he didn't train as hard, because his stamina didn't look as good.

 

I think I know what you are saying. Lyle was easily scoring on foreman with the overhand right and it almost cost him the fight.

 

Peralta was rated #9 by the WBA when he fought Foreman the first time but if you can explain how he got rated you are better than me. He popped into the ratings as a HW in July 1969 without having fought anyone to garner a rating and then stayed there by getting a draw against Bonavena which was a bad decision. So yes, he was rated when he fought Foreman but being an aging light heavyweight who didnt deserve his rating and hadnt earned it makes Foreman taking on a contender in his 16th fight less impressive than its being painted here.

 

Well someone must know why he was ranked #9. Clearly not you or me, but probably some people who are far more educated in the way of rating fighters.

Whole heartedly (but respectfully) disagree with this post. Anyone that can stand in the ring and not go down once when facing the juggernaut of George Forman in his prime is worthy of respect in my book. You are comparing George against opponents when you should be comparing opponents to Foreman. Foreman is the gold standard, in other words. So your entire line of thinking about him is in reverse.

(RE Peralta notable wins)
What's your excuse for his win over Willie Pastrano? (former heavyweight champion of the world, FYI)
Or what's your excuse for his win over Mauro Mina? Widely regarded as the best Peruvian boxer of the 20th Century (FYI)

And separately, what do you make of Foremans Olympic gold medal? I'm sure the Russian he faced was actually a horrible boxer and had no experience with good contenders, right? I take it the next step will be to claim how Pastrano and Mina's records were "padded" and they were talentless fighters as well?