Could anyone out slug young Foreman?

Honestly, very few could go toe-to-toe and win a pure slugfest with young George Foreman, especially the version from the early '70s. The man was a physical monster: 6'3", 220+ lbs of solid muscle, freakish strength, raw power in both hands and a completely fearless approach. When he was young, he wasn’t trying to outbox anyone, he was coming to break you down, physically and mentally and most simply couldn’t handle that kind of pressure or firepower.

The way he demolished Frazier in 1973 is a good example. Frazier was known for being incredibly tough, relentless and durable, but Foreman rag-dolled him like he didn’t belong in the same ring. It wasn’t even competitive. He knocked him down six times in two rounds and Frazier was a top-tier heavyweight, not some fringe contender. Same story with Norton, another solid fighter completely destroyed in two rounds.

Liston is probably the only guy from the earlier generation who could have had a chance in a slugging contest. He had similar physicality, a stiff jab, brute strength and a mean streak to match Foreman's aggression. But even then, Liston was smaller, slower and probably not quite as durable. It's not a guaranteed win either way, but if anyone had the tools and mentality to try, it’s him.

People might bring up guys like Tyson, but realistically, Tyson’s game was based more on speed, timing, head movement and explosive combinations, not just standing and trading. If Tyson tried to slug with Foreman and didn’t use his movement, he’d be in deep trouble. Foreman’s uppercuts and clubbing shots inside were made to punish guys who didn’t move their heads or tried to fight in the pocket too long. Tyson could potentially win a fight with Foreman, but not by outslugging him. That’s suicide.

Other names like Lennox Lewis, Riddick Bowe, or Vitali Klitschko had the size and some power, but none of them had the style to slug with young Foreman and come out on top. Their strengths were more in measured boxing, controlling range and exploiting openings, not standing in the centre and exchanging bombs.

 

It’s cope that's my position, looked like the same fighter to me he might’ve made some tactical blunders and had some hard fights but he didn’t start a “second career” like I hear after 74 he was not rusty either lol he wasn’t even out of the ring for a year. George had a camp for Lyle and was good to go, it was the first time GF had ever fought someone who could match him is all so he looked less then fans hope… Frazier cleaned out the 60s had multiple tough fights against ranked guys, got hit constantly (Qawi was insulted to be compared to him) he was very small, was dragged through 15 rounds against Ali teeing off on him and he was an alcoholic since the start that’s the difference… GF had nothing but easy fights… very few rounds including as an amateur and then he fell over in the 7th round after spending himself against Ali who was just pot shotting him with right hands and death clinching the big“dope” into submission

 

Why would you want to?

 

That's an interesting name, and brought up a lot to build a case for someone being able to purely out slug prime George Foreman. One problem with that is Ron Lyle did not win the fight. George Foreman did.

 

Ah yes GF won the only slugging match of his career by skin of his teeth?… So none better than Lyle exist to go further and win? Suppose not right? no disrespect intended Shay but’s it’s a silly thing we hear all about with no evidence… in fact we have only counter evidence “you can’t go right at GF!” …. Expect Lyle did and he wasn’t very good yet he almost won… dozens upon dozens of guys are better then Ronnie so it can’t be that impossible right?

EDIT: Is the answer 5ft10 or whatever shot Joe Frazier who was about 210lbs at his best? That’s the argument for GF winning alley way style brawls with say Vitali? A Ruiz? Whyte? Chisora? RIGHT that’s pretty much the stance Classic always takes and it’s a giant logic fail.

 

Because a guy who wasn’t that good named Ron Lyle did it and almost won?

 

My GOAT Sam Peter outslugs him and i'm standing on that hill no matter what.

 

Considering Ron Lyle ain’t any higher on the totem pole then SP and Peter’s has a better chin, power IMO, stamina and 30lbs+ on “Big” George why not? GF’s reputation is based on beating a suspect chinned Norton who couldn’t fight more then one way and a shot Joe Frazier who he dwarfed… I don’t see how the evidence suggests this is an easy fight, again back to the elephant in the room named Lyle who was the only physical equal GF ever faced lol it’s possible SP just hulks out and man handles him to a stoppage.

 

There is no rule against out boxing him you know.

 

I'm almost thinking Jimmy Young might do it

 

Bowe lacked the chin.

 

I think Lennox Lewis would have flattened him early as a stand top guy like George was made for him ... George was on his way to being the best he could be after Lyle ... he looked amazing in the Frazier rematch adding to his game poise and straight punching but was still mentally under developed and it showed vs Young.

 

I don’t mean pure outslugging. But since we have been listing some odd ball people that could beat George…I think David Haye wins maybe 4 out of 10 fights with him.

He’s more athletic and elusive than Young and has legit power.

 

Boring points decision.