As the champ , Did Big George Foreman not have a rematch clause in the contract for the Zaire fight ? BGF chased a rematch in '76 but just wondered if there was a rematch clause in the original contract?
Very true, Big George Foreman did not have a rematch clause for a rematch with Muhammad Ali. He felt that he would dispense Ali, just as he had done with Joe Frazier and Ken Norton. George engaged into a 4 fight televised exhibitions with obscure heavyweights. then came the knockdown, drag out fight against Ron Lyle, on Jan 24 1976, won by George, KO 5. Then came the unanimous decision loss to slick Jimmy Young, in 12 rounds, on March 17 1977, Foreman was decked in the 12th and final round, in San, Juan, Puerto Rico. He never received another shot at Ali.
The WBA had banned rematch clauses by this time - that's why Ali was stripped of the title for his rematch with Liston back in 1965.
Ali beats him again imo. In a boxing sense, Big George was emotionally f*kked up by the loss in Zaire. Ali would have psyched him second time around.
Ali beats him easier in fight 2. George would lay back to conserve himself more and at distance would be pot shot all night. Also Foreman’s exhibition in Toronto was against 5 opponents not 4. Each scheduled for three rounds each. Watched this live and it was a total farce.
Though George can be utterly confusing in his confessions, one thing seems to be delineated throughout his musings: Ali had his number. Ali punked the hell out of George in the first round. In fact, sometimes I think that's my favorite round of the fight. Ali was LANDING great jabs and right hands, totally without any fear and DISDAINFUL like nobody's business. Ali would have just started messing with Foreman again, telling him he hit like a sissy and doing another great job of acting unaffected. I think Foreman was definitely scared of Ali after that fight. Hard to blame him...Ali made him look like a woefully ineffective amateur. He didn't just disprove the Myth...he humiliated him, possibly for life. Frazier NEVER looked that bad against Ali (though he took some unbelievable punishment).
