How would your boxing opinions change if Old Foreman went back and did better than his younger self?

It wouldn't change my opinions about boxing at all. I would expect 40+ year old Foreman to do better with Young and Ali, he might still catch Norton early, if not that one could get interesting. Does he get the same under trained, night club singer Frazier or does he get the one Ellis and Ali got? I think 70s Foreman looked good against Young most of the time, but he was still too tense, 40 year old GF was relaxed, he probably wouldn't get fatigued, but he'd probably be outpointed by the quicker Young. Young would probably go to the body some, and he might mark/swell GF up or cut him but GF probably wouldn't get knocked down.

40 year old GF and Ali in Zaire would be interesting. The older version of GF would be smarter, wouldn't fall into the traps and waste energy and Ali was not known for a left hook (the punch that could exploit the cross arm guard). But, like Young, Ali would be quicker and probably decision him by jabbing and moving with an occasional right hand getting through the guard. The older GF would probably beat Lyle but it wouldn't be an exciting war like the one they had in the 70s with both exchanging knockdowns. He'd probably beat Chuvalo by decision too. The older version could still punch, but he wasn't as reckless and conserved his energy. Old GF was better in some ways, young GF was better in others. The older one probably wouldn't win or lose as spectacularly as the young one.

 

Rademacher Frazier takes his head off though..

 

Your opinions would have to change IF you didn’t project Old Foreman being capable of the laid out performances.

I wouldn’t project for him being able to perform as described and I can’t imagine in all possibility how exactly the older, slower Foreman could pull it off - so that’s a key point - how do I determine what I got wrong and what views I need to change if I can’t imagine or be told exactly how Old Foreman managed to improve certain results.

Btw, weight tolerance is very important. I mean that of the Time Machine. Old Foreman might be too heavy to drag back through time. Maybe he has train and get his weight down anyway before moving back through the corridors of the 4th dimension.

Otherwise, mid time transit, the Time Machine can’t take it anymore and breaks down leaving Big George stuck in limbo where no one can hear you scream…..for food.

 

Functional Demi God

 

I think Old Foreman had some significant advantages that his younger self did not. I think he was a better boxer technically. His jab was miles better and a weapon in its own right. He was much calmer and more stoic. He did not get tired and blow his wad because he'd learned to pick his spots carefully and fight at a steady pace. He was less explosive, true, but he'd picked up a good sense of timing. Old Foreman would never has blown his gaskets against Young and Ali for instance. I think Ali would have legit beaten him by boxing from the outside, but it would have gone the distance and Ali himself would have had some good lumps to show for it. I think the sluggers he fought were too small to defeat Tank-version Foreman by KO and if they won (lyle for example) it would have been by hard fought decision.

Basically my views on boxing would be reinforced: that boxing itself is a technique that lends ability to those who practise it and adhere to its fundamentals. Young Foreman depended a lot on his physicality and explosiveness but if he'd had his old self's boxing nous and stoicism, he'd probably have won all his fights and I include Ali in that.

 

It would mean Tommy Morrison is the GOAT.

 

Foreman in his old age reminds us all that endurance can simply be a state of mind.

 

I would start to question the laws of physics.

 

He probably did do a ton of cardio. Go to any amateur (running) race and you'll see a bunch of people carrying too much fat who nevertheless can run long distance without issue. You'll see soccer moms with fat flappy arms, jiggling butts, and bouncing fupas run 35min 5k's all day.

I'd wager old George regularly ran long distance (6+ mi) at a slow pace. Given that he fought at a slow relaxed pace, it makes sense.

One of his better showings of stamina was his last fight. Was fairly mobile, chasing around Briggs, at age 49 and 275lbs, without really looking tired.

 

Maybe we could work around that by allowing for Multiple Universes. That way Old George wouldn't actually show up in the past, in OUR Universe, but in some other one (perhaps one that never had a George Foreman in it at all, until our hero showed up that is).

 

Look at the “out of shape” Toney out hustle gym addict Jirov for proof. Anxiety and tightness suck you dry.