If you have genuinely read sensitivity in my previous post, then I would suggest it is a sure sign that your radar is way off. How does the above request relate in any way to your previous post, claiming that I omitted a "key fact" from the history I outlined? How would this "list" you ask for address the matter of why Foreman/Bowe and Foreman/Lewis didn’t happen, or indeed add to any point I’ve made during this thread, so far? Seems you are unable to either challenge or accept the facts and the detailed reasoning they support (which incidentally, exposes your subjective viewpoint and sheer reinvention of history) and want to instead change the subject of the debate. I can see why you might think this would "make it easy" - for you. But I'm not going to make it easy for you. If you cannot challenge the facts, then you should either acknowledge them or simply post no more on the topic.
Its abundantly clear that fighters and promoters generally viewed Foreman as easy opponent. That combined with his popularity puts him in a great position to secure fights. He's an opponent that will make them a lot of money at little perceived risk. That's an excellent position to be in if all you care about is getting big fights. Corrie Sanders is relevant because he's a guy whom I could see not getting big fights simply based on risk reward calculations on the part of his opponents. Some people seem to have a very unrealistic view of who comeback Foreman would be willing to fight. Maybe he would have fought Zhang but I've seen it suggested he would have fought and beat Wladimir Klitschko and in addition to seeing a Foreman beating Klitschko as extremely unlikely I highly doubt he would ever take the fight.
Honestly I dont understand all this exaltation here for a fighter who was sly in closing one eye of an opponent with a poor defence aiming for all fight to it and provoking a TKO. Foreman KO's him like he did with Cooney.
If it is so abundantly clear, then why can you not just answer the question that was asked of you, directly, instead of going around it with sweeping statements, such as the one above? This discussion started when you suggested Foreman might have "simply had no interest in facing Bowe or Lewis". Beyond your assumptions that him being popular and, allegedly, easy to beat is all Foreman needed to make these fights happen, you have completely ignored the timelines and windows of opportunity involved. You could actually research these facts for yourself but you clearly have not and, even after having several key points laid out for you, they seem to be something you are either unwilling or unable to comprehend, let alone respond to with fact-based argument. I really don't know what to say to this.^ Again - another opinion - based on what? Again, I am not sure how to respond to this point. It has little to do with your original suggestion and just adds to the nest of opinions you have already expressed without any facts in support. I see no point in continuing this discussion any further. We're done here.
There was plenty of time and opportunity to make a fight with Lewis. This is in no way debatable. Foreman could have fought Lewis anytime from 1991 to 1997.
My skepticism as to Foremans willingness to take on certain opponents is based on his actual track record. We can look at his actions and words and form reasonable conclusions. I don't think the argument about mandatories make much sense given fighters frequently ignore mandatories and keep their belts. Moreover Lewis and Bowe were not tied up with mandatories the whole time and had some leeway in terms of opponent selection. I find it interesting though that Foreman calling out Tyson is seen as proof he wanted to fight Tyson but him not showing interest in fighting other opponents doesn't constitute evidence he didn't fancy fighting them. By that logic wouldn't him not calling for a fight with Lewis indicate he wasn't interested. Can anyone point to an interview or press conference in which Foreman calls out Bowe or Lewis?
So you have nothing, as I thought .. JT, you're going down hill too .. last word freaks with no meat on the bone , a bore.
You are completely correct .. these guys are Foreman lovers/revisionists and spin , spin , spin .. net/net is that George could have almost had any fight he wanted against any opponent but refused almost everyone because he was very limited and no one knew it more than he did .. he was a brilliant promoter, a very savvy guy and to his credit made a ton ( no pun) ,, that said, he never had any intention of fighting the best big men and said so many times .. he wanted Tyson who he considered made for him as he was and took Holyfield as a blown up cruiserweight .. the rest is bs.
I'm going to let this one slide HG as we've had plenty of firm to hard debates over many many years and mostly always managed to stay on the level. You are a pretty aggressive debater and that's fine by me. That's your one and only free shot tho. Lets just put it down to a bad day.
You failed to adequately address their posts and challenges but they're the ones with nothing and "no meat on the bone"?
George Foreman November 1990 (like, um, live time) after fighting Rodriguez on the same co-promoted card as Tyson - "Lets cut the nonsense, i don't think there should be another double header. Get George Foreman and Mike Tyson together right now, once and for all.This will be the end of the whole thing". Tyson and King - This content is protected
I'd like you to direct me to the universe in which fighting Ruddock twice and then signing up to fight Holyfield was less relevant than signing up to fight the old phony. Bullies love to talk big when they know nothing will happen.
I don't usually discuss a fighter's intentions, but I get the feeling that all the stuff George says about wanting no part of Tyson, Lewis, etc. is pretty much bs. George more than likely believed he could beat anyone out there deep in his heart. The fights he took were smart decisions and were also completely understandable & justifiable at his age. Zhang is so poorly skilled, that George would only have to see him fight once in order to be willing to fight him. Zhang does not move his head & Foreman finds him easily for a mid-rounds KO.
