How Would A Young Foreman Have Done In The 1990s?

Young Foreman could be dominant in the 90s.

 

Not “the man” ever but in the top mix but about the number 4-5 guy (he’d be 3-4 once Tyson is not Tyson) probably, honestly he’d be an opponent type if he didn’t have good management he could resemble a 35-7 type record if he cracks and is forced to contend the whole decade. Holyfield TKO’s him in his title defence, Lennox, and a good version of Tyson do it too (But Tyson would fade fast) GF would have a good shot of losing with quite a few guys in there. I don’t think he has overly high odds (but should be the favourite to dead even odds with these guys) of beating Riddick Bowe, Ray Mercer, Rockman Rahman, Tony Tucker, Razor Ruddock, Old Holmes, Oliver McCall, Chris Byrd, David Tua, Vitali Klitschko and Ike Ibeabuchi so he’d have to try and stick to his guns, go after the money fights against smaller guys like Holyfield and Tyson like he did in the real world, don’t fight long, durable boxers or guys his physical superior his style is too aggressive with not a good enough defence (he might have a career resemble Bowe actually) weird things would happen we saw Lyle drag him to the brink so if he fought Tua, Tyson, Ruddock Ibeabuchi and Mercer I’d say there is good shot for that to being a 2-3 record just as a law of odds. We don’t really know how he looks across a decade as he only fought about 7 years the first time and the third act of that career still has people trying to make sense of it. I don’t know if he has the mental strength to pick up multiple losses like he would in the 90s without fizzling out and becoming a Johnny paycheck type fighter in this scenario. Hypothetically Byrd might outslick him, he’d see Jesus but in 3 months he’d be fighting Vitali after a tune up lol ya know? If he lost in front of millions against Holyfield (in a good fight) then he got run over by Tyson right afterwards how would he do for the rest of the 90s? Lennox would turn him inside out once he showed up next and there is guys in between all of them… but yeah unless he pulls off a Rahman he’d always lose to Lennox a few years after his first title shot loss and subsequent fallout for the remaining years of the 90s. Lennox knew better with guys like Ruddock, Grant, and Golota he came out and gave them both barrels I think he’d do the same to GF he’d get crunched like Razor did and I think it’d break his spirit and George “Paycheck” Foreman would emerge for the final 3 or so years.

 

The Frazier I version of Foreman would be the favorite over any fighter with the exception of Ali (prime up to obviously 32 years old), prime Joe Louis, and perhaps FOTC version of Frazier.

 

What do you think of his chances with Chris Byrd?

 

It's always possible Young George hits the lottery against one of the Big Four at a weak moment. An unfocused Holyfield having a heart attack, a bored Lennox after filming Ocean's 11, Bowe on the downslide, etc. Although with the OP's timeline, he'll have a hard time hitting those marks.

Your scenario is unfortunately the most likely one, if we assume the "Foreman was mentally shot after his first loss" narrative. But I think Young George may have been made of sterner stuff than his fans do, so perhaps he soldiers on until he gets his break like Rahman did. I hope so.

If we were just having fun, I'd add the following:

If he wants to avoid the path you lay out, he'd better meet Old George and learn his tricks ASAP, like his own personal Ghost of Christmas Future. Fortunately, Old George lives in the 90s, and the OP didn't explicitly exclude him.

 

Pretty much ay? Old George might be one to avoid too lol. Well he’s fighting Prime Holyfield straight away the version that fought Frazier, it’s one Norton away from imploding according to popular lore by forumites. I assume he’s got a similar fodder resume built and he’s been put in the shark tank like he was with Frazier… After he losses to Holyfield in probably a good fight well who does he go to next do you think? On the way down from a title shot you usually get an offer by someone on the way up Ruddock or Tyson? - let’s map out a career if you want lol, I assume you agree Holy beats Foreman.

 

Maybe you'd match a recovering Foreman with guys who fit the broad Norton/Chuvalo/Wepner/Frazier/LeDoux mold: a guy who's not much bigger than Foreman, won't run away very well, and hits significantly less hard? Not as many of those guys in the 90s, but I'm sure there were some in 1991/1992.

Ironically, Coetzer may still be a good pick for this, as long as you're sure he can't turn it around if Young Foreman gasses. He was the guy Bowe fought in the eliminator to get Holyfield, though, so I dunno how that factors into the decision so soon after Foreman loses to Holyfield the first time. Or how the promoters sort it out.

Young Foreman could always replace Bruno on Coetzer's itinerary if he wants it right after the Bowe/Coetzer fight.

Knowing what we know now, you could always target Golota at some point in hopes that he fouls out. Young George has an extra pathway to victory there. Then get Bowe on the downslide and hope for the best.

Could also try to get the Moorer fight eventually. Different strategy, since this George doesn't have much stamina on this run, but Moorer isn't too far off from an elite 70s heavyweight George could beat. Then try to wait until you get the Lennox fight and cash out; the Lennox who fought Briggs probably runs through Foreman, but ah well.

Tyson might not be the worst option if you catch him after Holyfield II, given the high financial upside and prestige despite the risk.

 

In 91 George coming off a loss to Holyfield in October means we’d never see Tyson vs Foreman till the mid 90s, they’d need to fight before or earlier 91 but that ain’t in the OP’s guidelines unless stated otherwise @Fergy does George’s fictional career start with Holyfield or in 1990?

 

Rademacher Foreman. The omens demand it.

 

A young Foreman in the '90s, with the advances in weight training and nutritional supplements, would probably fight at a ripped 235–245 lbs. He'd have no need to come in as light as possible like his trainers wanted him to in the '70s.

 

Oh I get it! You're making a reference to Pete Rademacher who started his pro career by getting a title shot at Patterson. Clever you are!

 

Expect that’s not the question and it’s guess work.

 

It's an astute inference.