Is there any heavyweight in history who has both George Foreman's power + Muhammad Ali's speed?

No one.

Tyson, Luis would be the ones kinda close.

 

Tyson is probably the closest.

 

Patterson had faster hands than Ali, but slower feet, and Tyson was slower than Patterson, but had more power.

 

Harry Greb. See post #4 here: https://www.boxingforum24.com/threa...x-on-wax-off-form-of-blocking-punches.723086/

 

Kind of? - spot on really…

 

Tyson and Louis come closest as plenty have already said.

 

If we're only discussing those two attributes, and nothing else, I'd agree Tyson and Louis are going to be closest. Wlad is not the worst shout. Nor is Patterson. None of them really fit because it would be so flukish we've never really seen it. But non-greats (by most accounts?) might be mentioned as Sanders, Hide and Haye. Perhaps Wilder. It's worth noting that Monte Barret actually rated Haye as having similar punching power to Wlad, and his hands were very, very fast.

 

I think Wlad's best punches were Tyson/Weaver level. I'm not sure he ever landed as bludgeonly weighty a punch as Foreman...in fact, I'm not sure any heavyweight did.

But that's just me, all respect for your view.

To me there are levels.

Super heavy, mac truck running into you punchers: Foreman, Cooney (with Cooney still not on a Foreman level from an overall punching power perspective).

Snappier punchers: Wilder, Tyson, Frazier.

Combination of the above: Shavers (Earnie showcased more snappiness than Foreman...yeah, I understand that isn't saying a whole lot lol. Snappier than Cooney)

Big punchers who can box: Lyle, Lewis, Liston (Liston probably had a bit more power than Frazier and Tyson...he was a bit more like the former as far as actual punch execution and general velocity were concerned).

 

I’ve always found Patterson a frustrating watch. Insane handspeed but was sort of reluctant to really let them go. Particularly in his later career it made for some very debatable results which if he was busier he could’ve clearly won (Quarry and Ellis I’m referring to specifically).

 

prime iron mike is close

 

Tyson and Louis were explosive, fast twitch punchers. Their delivery systems were all about coiling like a spring, then exploding out detonating on their opponents with good hand speed, accuracy, timing, weight transfer, etc. They were totally different from Foreman other than being knockout artists. Totally different methods, same results I guess (although Foreman had more raw power/force behind each blow).

In other words, very different from the flicking, whip-like speed based punching of Ali/Holmes. This was the polar opposite of the clubbing/bludgeoning wrecking ball power of a Foreman who didn't care how the punch landed, just so long as it landed. Foreman relied on his upper body strength and powerful hands to hammer away at guys.

You simply cannot combine the flicking, speed based delivery system with a bludgeoning, crushing delivery system. It's physically impossible. Even if you had a hypothetical big guy with natural clubbing power while also possessing good hand speed and taught him how to fight like Ali, he would only ever be able to switch between the 2 styles and could never combine them. The minute you start bouncing on your toes throwing punches in a whip like motion with the arm loose, you sacrifice your heavy clubbing power and vice versa.

 

Corrie Sanders had exceptional hand speed and enormous power. Both Klitschkos said he was by far the hardest puncher they have ever fought, and considering he hurt Vitali more than anybody else did (in boxing) and that his power had more impact on Wlad than anybody else's (and Wlad fought a lot if big, big punchers), it's true.

However, Sanders' power was very different from Foreman's one. Corrie's was like lightning strike, George's was like big truck's one. None of the fast-handed punchers like Sanders, Tyson or Joe Louis had the same thudding type of power Foreman did. I think the speed had a great deal of making their punches as hard as they were, while Foreman's power was far less speed-dependent.

I think it's likely impossible to have Ali's type of speed and Foreman's type of power simultaneously, but if we are talking about the fighters with quick hands who were big punchers, I think Sanders, Tyson and Louis come at the top. David Haye and Herbie Hide deserve a mention as well

 

He and Louis would be closest to combining great handspeed with knockout power i think. Both had lightning fast hands and could knock you out with not many punches at all.

 

This content is protected