If Foreman had beat Jimmy young?

The problem with George Foreman in the 1970's is that he did not have stamina. This was proven in Zaire in Oct 1974 against 32 year old Muhammad Ali and the Rope A Dope. Post Zaire Foreman lost his confidence, new trainer Gil Clancy tried to convert Foreman into a boxer, this almost proved to be a mistake against Ron Lyle on Jan 24 1976, both took turns knocking the other down. Lyle fell over from sheer exhaustion. Now if Foreman had defeated Young when they fought on March 17 1977, we would not have had the climate excuse, all fighters that lose have an excuse ready just like having a spare tire in case of a flat. Foreman looked good beating Joe Frazier in their rematch in June 1976 because Joe literally was a finished man following The Thrilla In Manila in Sept 1975 against Ali. Also Frazier's style was tailor made for Foreman. Ali by 1977 was running on fumes at this point in his career, he was lucky to have defeated Ken Norton in Sept 1976. If Foreman was to have faced Ali on Sept 29 1977 instead of Ali vs Shavers on that date, Foreman would have to be the favorite, because in early 1978, Ali did not have enough gas in his tank to even beat Leon Spinks.

 

You Welcome Buddy.

 

True, But George Foreman was ego deflated, Zaire and Muhammad Ali took the starch out of him.

 

I believe George would win a rematch, Ali had slipped considerably. And a second chance at Ali would give Foreman a chance to fight a more composed fight instead of that wild go for broke ko you in 2 rounds style he used in Zaire

 

Most likely wins.

 

Seriously?

 

Without the rope a dope in a muggy outdoor arena, it would be very difficult for Ali to win by KO unless he managed to stop him late. The biggest problem is that while the Gill Clancy Foreman was inferior in some ways to pre Zaire, he was working on pacing himself better and was jabbing more. Even if he started to tire late, Foreman could gain enough of a lead earlier on to make it competitive. The other issue for Ali is that he wouldn't be able to use his legs to dance around Foreman (in the late 70's his footspeed had declined a lot and he could only muster up a few sprints for short bursts). This would mean that for much of the fight, Ali would need to engage with Foreman at mid range.

Ali still had quick hands and was the smarter, sharper guy so there's a possibility he outboxes Foreman beating him to the punch with counters and good timing, but without the assistance of the ropes and Zaire Foreman's stupidity, it would be difficult for Ali to consistently evade the incoming bombs. His reflexes had gone down and he was getting nailed by guys like Lyle, Shavers, even Wepner in the 70's. I think Ali puts up a hell of a fight making it a close match up until the 11th or so when Foreman's body shots slow Ali down to a screeching halt and he has to cover up or clinch constantly. Foreman wins either by split decision or late round TKO. Ali was just too old at this point and he knew it.

 

I don't think you can stop Gregorio Peralta in the 10th round if you run out of stamina at the pace Foreman did against Ali and Young. Goyo recorded his last stoppage loss in 1960, not counting being stop on cuts, at light-heavyweight. Oscar Bonavena couldn't do it, Ron Lyle couldn't do it in twenty rounsd (Gregorio being some 38 years of old then.)

Not saying Foreman had top notch gas tank, especially not with his strength-based defense, and knockout orientated tactics, but he was alright, and the two fights in Zaire and San Juan (for years mistakenly called by me San Jose) both happened in a killer climate for a fighter of his style and pace (sudden burst of high intensity knockout attempts; muscles tensing more often because leverage guards, stops, and various control game tactics require it; difference in muscle mass alone would be detrimental in such conditions.) That is tropical, high humidity, high temperature climate which results in hindered, almost disabled temperature regulation through sweat. I reckon Puerto Rico is considered a tropical region with all those checkboxes, and Kinshasha lies in vincity of the Kongo river, in its basin. Ironic, seeing how all those defenses around the world happened because Foreman avoided the USA taxes like a plague.

In both cases he obviously quickened his demise by blindly trying to knock Ali out (he could arguably and according to him go on, but pretty much missed the count, mentally defeated and confused by the granite opposition from the so-called finished fighter in the Greatest) and by suddenly upping the pace when he needed the knockout against Young (story goes Don King asked Foreman to prolong the fight as the quick knockout cost them the ads money, which would align with old George, who typically owned his lossess, mentioning in an interview how he delayed any serious action against Young and letting him go off the hook until it was too late; when judged by an eye test it's quite noticeable that George barely threw anything early on.)

I reckon even if he gets the decision against Young, he still goes on to have a heatstroke after the fight, unless we change the scenario to a quick knockout.