Where do you have George Foreman rated all time among heavyweights?

I rank him lower than most at #11, one spot above Frazier. This is probably because:

1) I think people can conflate how high profile a fighter is/was with how great they are/were. Ali was the highest profile HW in history. Many lists have 40% of their top 10 HWs (Ali and 3 he beat), from the c. 14-decade history of the sport, as roughly prime within a decade of each other. Hell, even I have 33% of my top 12. Coincidence or are we conflating high profile with greatness?

2) To limit the impact of this, I value dominance in a fighters own era more highly than most, and make less allowances than most for entire eras being weaker than others.

E.g., my 7, 8, 9 & 10 are Wlad, Jeffries, Liston and Tyson, all of whom appear below George on most lists. Whilst I've no problem with that and can see credible arguments for George being ahead, all 4 established themselves as the dominant HW for longer and more unequivocally than Foreman ever did, imo.

 

I stopped assigning ratings a while ago. But if I still had a top ten I’m sure I’d have him there

 

1. Ali
2. Louis
3. Holmes
4. Holyfield
5. Lewis
6. Foreman
7. Marciano
8. Frazier
9. Tyson
10. Wlad
11. Liston
12. Dempsey
13. Johnson
14. Vitali
15. Bowe
16. Fury

I used to reverse Lewis and Foreman's places regularly, but after years of watching Lewis I have to place him higher than George.

George is high because of his wiping out the undefeated Frazier, whom at one time handed an under 30 Ali his first defeat and dominated 68 to 72. His demolition of Norton was insanely impressive as well imo, the same Ken whom soundly defeated just-over 30 Ali and would later give top 3 ATG Holmes his greatest fight.

George's winning the title well past 40, against a well decorated fighter in Moorer cannot be underestimated either. Yeah, he didn't look so great after, but that doesn't change the fact that he became undisputed Champ again 20 years after the first time. That might never happen again, folks.

 

Number 5.

 

Top 5

 

Good list, sounds about right. I have Lewis higher than Holyfield but can't argue with the rest.

 

Somewhere between 8-10 give or take. Might change depending on how the current generation of heavyweights end.

 

#4. I can see him anywhere in the top 15. I prefer him higher because he has good head-to-head potential, he had two full careers and both were awesome to watch and has great wins and great names on his resume (unparalleled), and he is just cool.

 

I have him at number 3 both H2H and on an ATG list, second to Liston and Louis respectively and Ali on both counts.

 

Great list. As much as I love Evander I’m not sure I’d have him as high as 4 but still awesome

 

I prefer to do tiers and I have him in the 2nd one. The first tier has Joe Louis and Muhammad Ali.

 

I like George , respect his story, his power, his strength, etc but I honestly don't know where to rate him ... he never defeated one first class boxer in his career in the Ali/Holmes/Young mold ... another post recent asked how he'd have done against Pinklon Thomas and I don't know .. Thomas had an insane chin, man excellent jab, had stamina and could box ... who can say w fact based confidence Foreman beats him, ? I rate him against sluggers and swarmers and plodders and he is very high ..