Why didn't Foreman get a rematch against Ali?

Foreman calling for a rematch came even earlier than the Sports Illustrated issue posted up top, and here's some quotes from only about a week after the Rumble;

"I went for such a long time not wanting anything, that I had forgotten what it feels like to want something badly. Now I want something and it's that man (Ali). It's gotten so I can't even play a simple game of Ping-Pong without fighting that man again."

"I'm not interested in money. I just want him in the ring again. The promoters can give him more money. I made enough from the last fight. All I want is that man in the ring again."

- both quotes from Foreman in an AP article with a heading stating 'Foreman says he's obsessed about a rematch', and printed in various sources on Nov 8th, 1974 (this take from the St. Petersburg Times on that date)

 

But it never used to be, until I read all the literature. Then I thought "****, he really was shafted there was Foreman". That's all. Ali was the main reason i started collecting magazines by the way, not Foreman.

 

When a guy is clearly beaten, this normally tends to quiet calls for his getting a rematch, regardless of how many Dunns there are out there for his conqueror.

Foreman comes out of retirement to make a fool of himself in Canada, displaying immature lack of self-control before a ranting, ringside Ali, and nothing but diminished skills against his 5 punching bags. How does this bring him closer to credibility?

Even as Foreman was struggling mightily against a less-than-greatly-regarded Lyle, Cosell voiced what the world asked itself: Whatever happened to that invincible George Foreman? A diminished George had to work his way back up, began the process pretty well for a while there, but ultimately failed again in San Juan. Is this Ali's fault?

 

Good stuff Sam. So at the very least this should squash any "he didn't want rematch" comments but it probably won't. I'm always intrigued why the Foreman 'gatecrash' story isn't more well known. Well, anything not to upset Ali of course.

 

I'd have to check to make sure, but I could have sworn that I've read in the past that Lorenzo Zanon was also in serious consideration for a shot at Ali during that timeframe.

 

1976 was when he redeemed himself. Don't you ever take anything in?

Yes, he fought one mandatory in 11 defences as champion. Foreman came through Lyle in exciting, although limited style, he then looked impressive throughout 1976, hence the calls for a rematch- the rules stipulated if anything. It was also the biggest fight out there after, arguably, Frazier.

 

Every man and his dog was, except Foreman. Zanon may have been as well, Righetti was first mentioned before Evangelista, but even the WBA wouldn't allow that. The Evangelista, after a loss to Zanon, was myseriously nudged into the top 10 and granted a fight.

 

It is not very reasonable to expect an aging champion, who regained a title wrested unfairly from him outside the ring, to defeat Samson (Ken Norton) and immediately sign to fight Hercules (George Foreman), is it.

So, Foreman howled for instant satisfaction after his shocking defeat? I'd be amazed if he hadn't. Anyone in his shoes would. He had just lost embarrassingly to a huge, broken-down underdog.

In my book, he needed to calm down, take a page from Ali's Battles, get in line, and, come his chance, come through like a champion. He did anything but. Again, what do you think fueled his amazing comeback if not the realization that he really stunk it up bad the first time around? He was the antithesis of his old self in patience, perseverance, passion, playing to the crowd.

 

Well, if he hadn't fought two of the most undeserving contenders in history then he have fought Norton a good while earlier. This is the heavyweight title, not some early-retirement package. "Ohh Ali deserves it easy now". He doesn't, no one does. Every champ deserves a decent payday after winning the title, yes, but if you avoid a mandatory it has to catch up sometime. Even in 1977 he fudged fighting Young and Norton, then said they should fight and he'll fight the winner. He crapped himself when Norton was given the nod (something he clearly didn't want).

I've read your book, it stinks.

 

Many would inform you that I'm one of the biggest Ali fans that posts in Classic ... but I call a spade a spade. I'm not interested in whom Ali's title reign compares favourably to, or who he beat, cos that's self-evident ... I'm talking about Ali blatantly using his status to defend against guys that had no business fighting for the title ...

Please convince me that a Wepner, Coopman, Dunn, Evangelista, even a Leon Spinks had any business fighting for the title.

If Ali really wanted to fight Foreman again, he would've ... but he didn't and, IMO, used his celebrity to get one or two more 'cheap' defences ... in saying this, I'm not diminishing his record or him as a fighter ... just recognising that if a Lennox Lewis had fought a Coopman or Evangelista for the UNDISPUTED HW CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD, many of us in the Classic Forum would use that as a cheap shot to diminish his title reign.

Whether Ali deserved a few 'soft defences' is for each fan to decide ... Ali's putting a rematch on the backburner and seeking 'less risky' alternatives is as obvious to me as Evan Fields' real moniker.

 

:yep


Ali said himself when he signed to fight Spinks "I gave up being a fighter three years ago, since then i've been a businessman". Obviously one who mostly thrived on low-risk investments. :hey

 

Speaks for itself.

 

I'd prefer for fighters to just retire if the desire to prove yourself against the very best, time and time again had tempered.

No man is bigger than the sport ... not Ali, not Leonard, not RJJ, not Tyson.

 

Poor George Foreman! Victimized by Ali's cowardice and the evil politics of the day!
Not so.

The point is, you can only control your own actions.

Of course Foreman would have to play the waiting game should he lose to Ali in Zaire. As Bokaj originally said, Young's upset in San Juan essentially put Foreman away as regards Ali, but none of this had to do with Ali. Young won, Foreman lost, Foreman retired. Where is Ali in all this? My whole point has been, had Foreman had his head screwed on right, he eventually would have gotten his chance, against Ali or any other man. That's life. Things aren't always served to you on a silver platter. He had the youth and, presumably, the tools to wait and capitalize. Instead he disappeared.

 

Aaah poor Ali getting called for ducking. boo ****ing hoo. . Ali fought one mandatory out of 11. That's the size of it. Foreman as former champ, biggest name out there and mandatory contender deserved his shot. He had to keep on fighting to earn paydays, because he wasn't getting one from Ali. So, in a nutshell:

Biggest fight out there + former champ + Mandatory contender =

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