In George Foreman's comeback, did he ever fight a boxer who hit harder than he did?

Stewart, Morrison, Briggs and Cooney were the hardest punchers George fought in his comeback, but did any of those fighters have more power than George did back then?

 

No, he never fought Shavers.

 

Shavers was even older than Foreman so would be close to 50 when Foreman was winning his title back in the 1990s Don’t think 50 year old Shavers would have hit harder than 45 year Foreman. In fact I think Foreman was always a harder hitter than Shavers even in their primes.

 

No, but some were comparable.

 

I agree about comeback George, I made a mistake and thought this was about his prime, sorry.

To me the trinity of punchers are Shavers, Wilder, and Foreman.

 

I think George at that point said Cooney hit the hardest but that could have been before he fought the others. You also forgot Bert Cooper

 

Briggs was definitely a harder power puncher than George in 97, which is why he staggered George a few times but not vice versa.

George's jab was harder than Briggs's. He was arm punching and couldn't get proper weight behind his power shots though.

 

You should try watching the fight sometime.

 

I watched it a few months ago and did a thread.

 

YDSAB

 

You should try watching the fight sober some time.

 

Remember that time when George went the distance with Crawford Gtimsley?

I’ll always remember that as George’s first true win in a fight that went 12.

Crawford went less than a round with Jimmy Thunder in his next fight.

 

Punching power is not some linear measurement. There are so many variables...timing, hiding your power punches (which George was great at), contact time (otherwise known as heavy handness) and punch selection...

I really don't know how many guys punched harder than George until the very end of his comeback. Anecdotally, I know from opponents and sparring partners that Cooper and Stewart punched damn hard. Throw Tommy into that group, too.

 

Are you sure you're talking about the right fight?

 

Yes to the first part, although he was just saying Shavers hit harder in their primes, shich was not the question.
But while not as good a boxer, it seems pretty clear that Shavers hit harder.
Virtually everyone who fought Shavers said he hit the hardest.

That he could have such an extreme & early KO record with relatively limited skills, endurance & chin is a testament to this.
If he could land combinations as accurately & effectively & was a great finisher he would have had even more effectiveness.