¿Who was physically stronger between George Foreman and Jack Johnson?

Louis Monaco, not Rocky Marciano.

The myth of Johnson's super man strength lies largely in the surviving selection of film we have, bouts against two midgets (Ketchell, Burns) and one washed up dried out alchy.

He certainly wasn't stronger than WIllard in that fight. Outside of film, fighting the reasonably stout Jim Johnson, reports state that Jack "lacked the strength to execute his famous moves." ... "The result of the Paris bout is regarded more from the standpoint of Jack's weakness than for (Jim) showing unusual strength."

Turning back the clock to another decent sized opponent, the 6-1 191 lb. Al Kaufman, observations were.. "(Kaufman) appeared to gain strength as the battle progressed while Johnson began to show signs of weakening." Even Johnson commented on Al's strength.

Just food for thought...

 

If they arm wrestled im 100% sure Foreman would win.

 

Was Foreman stronger in his 2nd career?

 

Not very much food for thought to be honest.

The man who shoves the other man around in a boxing match, is not necessarily the stronger man.

He is often the man who is least economical in his approach.

Johnson is exactly the sort of fighter who would have avoided those sort of entanglements, if they were not to his advantage.

As for his strong man exhibitions, people were consistently paying money to see them.

 

Look how he literally rag doll throws the 230 lbs (same weight as 70s Foreman between fights) James Jeffries across the ring.

This content is protected

Sent that boy flying.

 

Why so comrade? one guy strength trained, other one allegedly did push ups and chopped wood… ran a bit, hit the bag. Johnson was 6ft 195lbs-200lbs and in good nick, Foreman was in similar (but a little fatter) condition in his prime at 6ft3 220lbs - it’s not like we have bench numbers or anything eh? - only way I can think of is comparing there strength is… “grappling” as it pertains to boxing and Johnson would maul him worse and worse the more the rules are bent to allow wrestling. I’m a pipsqueak compared to Foreman but I’m positive I’d squat more when my back was good then a guy who just runs miles for boxing.

 

Foreman played football and I think messed around with some Judo and Karate practitioners too, on top of him being an excellent grappler by 70's boxing standards. He has perhaps the highest functional+raw strength of any boxer in history.

The idea any random guy with pedestrian wrestling knowledge would easily out grapple him is comical. Johnson was neither a dedicated full time wrestler, nor a dedicated strongman. His trade was boxing primarily, and the wrestling of his day was nowhere near where it is now. Johnson wasn't some skilled D1 Wrestler.

People are also somehow forgetting Foreman is allowed to punch Johnson in a street fight.

 

Uh, who wants to tell him?

 

Just to put few opinions on Foreman's power:

(Foreman - LeDoux tape)
One of the commentators:
Foreman is very strong, I've worked with him in the gym and his is the strongest man I've ever worked with.

(Foreman - Dennis tape)
Gerry Quarry:
Foreman is the strongest man I have ever been in the ring with, and in my opinion, over the years of HW division he's got to be the most awesome physically speciman that had ever been in the HW division

 

Not to say there isn’t - but is there rock solid evidence of them benching 500 lbs?

 

Just on the question of size, 6’3” Victor McLaglen was huge for his day - actually looking bigger and broader than Jeffries.

In the pic below he almost makes Johnson appear puny by comparison.

Accounts of their exhibition described Johnson as easily handling and shifting McLaglen around in the clinches.

After winning the title, Johnson appeared to build himself up even more over a shorter period of time.

It would be interesting to know exactly what type of strength/muscle building exercises he employed.

In Dec 1908 Johnson was a rock hard 194/196 lbs but by the time of just the Ketchel fight, Jack had increased to 205 lbs and then 208 lbs by July 1910 - still rock solid, sans any fat but showing greater muscle volume.

See my avatar pic for exemplification - I think it was taken circa 1909 but I could be wrong.

PS - McLaglen would’ve kicked John Wayne’s ass in real life.

This content is protected

 

Johnson weighted 192 for Burns. No matter how you position it Foreman was 25 pounds larger and 3” taller. He was a bigger man

 

There's an video evidence Hasim benching 440 lbs which is great and BY FAR the best result of any high-level pro boxer.

That's after Hasim ended his pro career and balooned to 300+ lbs. Still great result by any means.

I highly doubt about him benching 500 lbs though (especially considering him being around 240 lbs at that time). That's an additional 60 lbs to his recorded result which is a huge, huge gap.

We don't have to believe those numbers unless they are on video.

Ike Ibeabuchi once said his best bench is around 300 lbs and he is strong as hell. Now compare this to Shane Mosley's claimed 315 lbs which is clearly fake result (Ike is literally 1.5 times as big as Shane and clearly far stronger physically).

 

So Foreman played football that you can confirm whilst Johnson cross trained with wrestlers… I think I can guess who’d be man handling who? - Foreman has good “grappling” for a boxer what does that mean? He pushes people and extends his gloves? LOL… functional strength depends on your sport, functional strength for football is different to gymnastics… if you’re meaning “grappling strength” or odd object carrying? it’d go to the guy who trained with grapplers, grappling and did Strongman stuff… Yes Foreman will be attempting to hit him in the face…and Johnson will be moving, blocking, parrying and hitting him back? Worse boxers then Johnson wound up in a clinch with Foreman and guess what happens then? Johnson takes him down, chokes him out or rains punches on him till he is beaten into submission… every time he tries to get it up, he’d take his back or his neck and reintroduce him to an environment he is basically clueless in, watch untrained people wrestle guys with even minor training. Did you see the Toronto 5 circus? A guy literally takes Foreman down with ease lol Let’s watch LeDoux - did you see all the times a borderline “bad” LeDoux slipped his punches and grabbed him in the clinches? If that was Johnson… oh man, especially bare handed, one guy knows how to actually box with tiny gloves on and was famously accomplished at “catching” punches like a baseball.

 

Dad bods galore.