Why is Foreman regarded as the strongest fighter physically?

Ever see the picture of him with the cow on his shoulders or the vid of him pulling the jeep?
That's pretty damn strong. I'd rate him the strongest HW.

 

I like how you mentioned Liston because Foreman in fact said in an interview that Liston was the only fighter he fought (was in sparring) that was stronger than Foreman himself.

Liston was the only fighter that was able to basically bully and push Foreman back and make him fight on the backfoot.

All the guys you mentioned, they'd be fighting Foreman on the backfoot, trying to outbox him.

 

He is stronger than Joshua and Bowe, idk about the others but Foreman probably punches harder than most if not all of them

 

No other HW in history has annihilated two fellow HOFs essentially back to back in the space of a few rounds. His demolition of Frazier was particularly scary because Frazier was undefeated and had outpointed and dropped Ali over 15 rounds. Norton was slightly chinny but Frazier was made of steel and he looked petrified in there. These guys were having gruelling back-and-forth battles at the top of the division, and Foreman turned up and smashed them to pieces in 2 rounds.

He was 40-0 (37) going into the Ali fight and had taken less than five rounds to obliterate both Norton and Frazier combined, scoring nine knockdowns in the process. No other HW has managed that before or since, which is why Ali's win over him is so remarkable —a truly awe-inspiring HW era we are unlikely ever to see again.

 

I don't doubt that he was a very strong man but his rep is somewhat inflated due to him being a "Big" HW at a time when most HWs were still in the 200-210 lbs range.

 

Hi Buddy.
You make some valid points re : Frazier / Norton, just a slight caveat if I may, not on board with the " petrified " stance, puzzled,bemused, befuddled, are more accurate descriptions as to how he looked to me, not liking petrified and Frazier being in the same sentence, but I share your thoughts that the win from Ali was remarkable, I saw it live at 3am in a cinema, for 3 rounds we feared for Ali, we should have known better, after all he was and remains the Greatest,
stay safe buddy, chat soon.
Mike.

 

I don't think Joe Frazier knew how to be petrified, even when it would only be pretty reasonable.

 

Fear is afraid of Joe Frazier...

 

Foreman was also in his early 20's when he was sparring Liston. Foreman got much stronger as he got older. Foreman never had the definition like Joshua or other more chiseled heavyweights but that man was naturally strong. I see those type of farm strong dude at the gym all the time can crush weight that younger more chiseled dude could press. I've seen clips of his heavyweights bag workouts share he literally dents 100 plus pound heavy bags in a way that you don't see very often.

 

Because in his late 40s he was the HW with the best chin and gas tank. The anti Zhang. Foreman might not have been the best HW when he won the belt theres no question he was the "toughest".

 

Holyfield says George was the strongest and hit the hardest, and Holyfield has been in there with Bowe, Lewis, and Tyson to name a few.

 

100% agree! The word "petrified" should never be used in the same sentence with "Smokin Joe." (One of the toughest fighters to ever step in a ring!!)

 

A picture of him holding a cow, a video of him punching a heavy bag and general cultural 20th century nostalgia wank.

 

Mate,by saying that Joe Frazier ' looked petrified ' you have commited heresy.Joe Frazier was one of the
most courageous men to ever step into a boxing-ring.He was literally the bravest of the brave.Please choose
your words more carefully.