Yes I think so and Harold letterman did too. While Stewart was courageous and badly hurt foreman the two knockdowns was ultimately the deciding factor. I think the horrible sight of foreman’s face is what prompts a lot of people to feel that he should have lost
Close fight, but Foreman edged it. A draw wouldn't be too bad, but I can't see how Stewart should've won. Fights are scored based on punches landed, who controls the pace, ring IQ, technique, etc. They aren't scored based on whose face looks worse. Stewart made it competitive and fought hard, but there weren't many rounds where I thought Stewart was truly in control and clearly the better man. In some cases he was fighting to survive.
No, Prime Foreman would turn Stewart's mid section into mince meat with murderous body shots, then practically decapitates him with an uppercut. Even Old Foreman from the Cooney/Holyfield fights would beat Stewart. The one who fought Stewart was old as dirt, slow as molasses, and had reduced power and timing. He relied heavily on his jab and chin by the end of his career.
I used to think so. I used to hear all the time how this was such a BS verdict and completely indefensible. Then I actually watched the fight.
Poor George Foreman, he looked like the Sta-Puff man from the original 1984 Ghostbusters after the fight with Stewart.
At least to me sometimes in that fight Stewart looked like a scared school kid that was forced to fight the big bully, but fight he did and rearranged Foreman's face. I think Foreman said in his book that after the 2 early knockdowns that he thought the fight would end soon so he took it easy on Stewart. If true, he paid an awful price.
I don't see it going past 1 round but I'd like to be proven wrong, and it turn in to a fight like Foreman -Lyle.
I’ve always wondered about this fight. when did Big George ever swell up like that before or after? Holyfield, Morrison, Briggs and much earlier Lyle and Ali bounced big shots off George’s head to little visible effect. But Alex Stewart (a good puncher but not a great one either) totally rearranged his face after a relatively quick time. I’m not saying Stewart’s gloves were loaded but it was weird and flukey.
Yes, the knockdowns saved Foreman. Without them he would've lost. Hell, if this fight was 12 rounds he would've lost.