How Would a Ali - Foreman Trioligy Play Out?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Fergy, Sep 29, 2025 at 5:13 AM.


  1. Journeyman92

    Journeyman92 Mauling Mormon’s Full Member

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    Well I think that Foreman improved after Ali (after finding his footing again) GF was very strong, very powerful but all evidence suggests a very green talent during his most successful heights, at least for my 0.2$… @Pat M , @cross_trainer credible smarter guys then I, all share the opinion Clancy’s Gf looked better - GF for a short period was more measured, not so sloppy, he used his jab and was overall less tense and that’s very important. GF paced himself in that fight, managed to hurt and almost finish a notoriously durable opponent in a round that almost killed him last time, made it to the final bell too… old timers say a lost decision is better then a 1st round KO win, that mentality is why this bout wouldn’t have been such a big deal in the old days but times were changing by the 70s-ish… take a look at D1ck Tigers record for example, losses happen, GF might’ve had a similar record with his activity levels a very dangerous guy if you didn’t have good legs… I’ll add GF was hardly butchered and he didn’t shame himself in his effort at all… we’d all agree Foreman wasn’t undertrained in Zaire he was a champion boxer who’d be training for years… sucking wind was a side effect of his stress or anxiety in the ring I didn’t see that vs Young he was maturing as a fighter but Young was just better at the time, who knows how a rematch looks.
     
    Last edited: Sep 30, 2025 at 2:00 AM
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  2. NewChallenger

    NewChallenger Member Full Member

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    I honestly pick Foreman to win 2-1.

    But the problem is, Ali has done the impossible before
     
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  3. NewChallenger

    NewChallenger Member Full Member

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    George did not improve after Ali. His Slugger style at that point of his career was far more effective than whatever happened after. Watch him fight Lyle. Lile is laying on the ropes and George is like "Duuuurr, What am I supposed to do". He only managed to knock out Lyle when he went back to his old style because he nearly got knocked out trying to box smart
     
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  4. Journeyman92

    Journeyman92 Mauling Mormon’s Full Member

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    I did specify he had to find his footing.
     
  5. Journeyman92

    Journeyman92 Mauling Mormon’s Full Member

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    Oh I could’ve been holding a jerrycan when I said that, this is a honest version of my thoughts on the bout, I am not consistent with what I say about GF and it’s obvious why. I’m strictly on a no starting petty arguments order atm though… with a looney toons style anvil above my head attached to a rope lol.
     
  6. Reinhardt

    Reinhardt Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    The Ali that lost to Spinks was a shell . Ali Foreman in 1977 could see Ali Ko'ed
     
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  7. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist

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    Foreman probably would’ve gone for the trilogy if Ali had managed to beat Berbick.
     
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  8. swagdelfadeel

    swagdelfadeel Obsessed with Boxing

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    Can we please be serious? '77 Ali is getting KTFO.
     
  9. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist

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    Like Jimmy Young?
     
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  10. swagdelfadeel

    swagdelfadeel Obsessed with Boxing

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    Ali was much much worse than Jimmy Young in '77. Young took Norton to a razor close SD, where the referee, the man closest to the action said "If I had had a vote, I would have voted for Young." Ali on the other hand avoided Norton like the plague and would've decisively lost to him by then.
     
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  11. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist

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    Ali in 77 and Young were pretty much the same guy. Foreman would likely collapse in Manila.
     
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  12. swagdelfadeel

    swagdelfadeel Obsessed with Boxing

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    No. They weren't. Young was fighting the top contenders that Ali was avoiding.
    Norton and Foreman were the number one contender when Young fought them.

    Ali was fighting Evangelista who was unranked until negotiations started and he miraculously made his way into the number ten spot despite coming off a loss.

    Shavers was also unranked when the fight was signed, and whaddya know, mysteriously gained the number ten spot the next month.

    Young took Norton to the limit and should've gotten the decision according to the guy closest to the action. Ali was avoiding Norton like the plague and struggling to beat Evangelista. He'd never score a knockdown let alone knock out ever again in his career.

    Young was demonstrably the better fighter that year.
    Good for him? What does that have to do with anything I said?
     
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  13. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist

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    Ali beat Young and Norton in 76. I suppose he must have been a different guy in 77 when beating Shavers and Evangelista and that losing to Norton is somehow better than than this.

    Sounds like a Foremangelical line of reasoning.
     
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  14. MixedMartialLaw

    MixedMartialLaw Combat sports enthusiast Full Member

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    Foreman became too psychologically obsessed with Ali prior to the fight. He mentally convinced himself that he actually wanted to kill Ali, that is not healthy for what is supposed to be a sports contest.

    Losing to the man you thought you were going to literally kill, broke him mentally. If sports psychology existed back then as it does for pros today, maybe he'd have not retired the first time.
     
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  15. Jakub79

    Jakub79 Active Member Full Member

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    Foreman was supposed to win everything against Ali, but under unfavorable circumstances, he could have lost, and that's exactly what happened in Zaire.

    It's hard to say what George's mental state was in the rematch.

    If I had to bet money, it would be 2-1 for Foreman. If Ali had ended up with George in Kingston or Caracas instead of Frazier and Norton, it would be 3-0 for George.
     
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