WAS George Foreman Greater than Larry Holmes?

This was my H2H list for a thread earlier this year. Had to look it up again to see if it was as I remembered.

1. Ali
2. Holmes
3. Tyson
4. Lewis
5. Louis
6. Holyfield
7. Foreman
8. Vitali
9. Frazier
10.Bowe
11.Wlad
12.Liston
13.Johnson
14.Marciano
15.Dempsey

 

Absolutely superb post

 

Even if you give him Spinks 2, which is far from a certainty, he was 36.

George was 45.

And Moorer was a better HW scalp than Spinks.

And Frazier is a better win than any on Larry's resume.


And h2h...
Foreman demolished a better version of Norton than the version that Holmes (maybe) beat.

1972 George, IMO, deals with any version of Holmes the way he did with Frazier and Norton.


But, as I said, earlier, you could opt to prefer Larry's 20 defences over all that and rank him above George.

 

No, Foreman is a great fighter. His wins over Frazier and Norton absolutely demonstrates this more than anything else he ever did. And is enough for top ten ATG recognition.

I do acknowledge he became the real linear world champion second time around since I already posted that I was both astonished by it and had rooted for him to beat Moorer. Officially he was legitimately the linear champion, so I accept that -no matter how undeserving of the title shot George was, or that Moorer would have been underdog against any other serious contender that night, he still won fair and square. And it was a great win.

But when comparisons are made with other champions whom had greater claim to actually being the baddest man at their moment as champion, this reign is eclipsed by his earlier one since he was champion in name only that time around. It cannot boost his stock as a fighter, since best for best is where we make comparisons and this was not his best version.

 

Yeah right.

 

Yes right.

Wanting to avoid acknowledging that versionof George whilst technically acknowledging the legitimacy of his title are separate things. Since he was much better in his earlier carnation that’s ok.

He wasn’t better than a number of good contenders during that period. And he did leapfrog over those guys into unearned opportunities.

 

Dear o' dear.

 

So you think George was better than all the other contenders waiting in line who didn’t get to fight Moorer?

 

I don't see that in anyway possible. Why? Beating Michael Moorer after losing to Morrison and Holyfield in the 2nd career... Larry was more consistent and had more facets than George. George was a style fighter. Great if a guy's style left his chin out and bad if the guy could box. I think George was great, I just don't think he was Holmes level who could beat guys of any style not just because of power. George had a good jab, but if a guy had speed he could outbox George. I don't think it is close. People here rank popularity over substance, which is I suppose the human way to do things. A lot of you guys talking about lineal as if that matters. Who really cares, anyone can win that down the road from anybody. The fact Moorer was a factor in that takes away from that fact. George was a great, but he was not a consistent well balanced fighter who could beat them all. That is a fact, and Larry had thing which could offset anyone even a 1970s Ali. His chin was a little shaky at times, but look at the guys who knocked him down. Great jab, underrated right hand. Skills above most guys in the 1980s..

 

There's so much at work here and these guys

I.D.

 

good post.

 

This.

 

Dear Lord , forgive me I have to awake from my slumber to answer this insanity.
Foreman was a serious fighter.
But his is WAY overrated.
Beat an outta shape physically and mentally Frazier to take the title.
Flattened Norton as a dozen other big punching heavies may have done.
Knocked over a lazy small heavyweight, Moorer as many others in history could have done.
AND THAT IS IT !!
Got embarrassed in his prime by Ali
Almost similar with Lyle ( who was no more than a decent heavyweight)
Totally embarrassed in his prime by Jimmy Young ( who ranks none too high on anybody's list ).
Avoided anybody big and black once he beat Moorer.
What the hell is it with this guy ?
Theres no depth to his resume on any level.
Where is his list of great wins ?
How many top 5 fighters did he beat ?
Version 2 deserves kudos for doing it , but those lopsided defeats to Holyfield and Morrison put it into perspective.
Foreman 1 ended up embarrassed into early retirement..
The awe in which he is held is not substantiated by any historical record.