How Would a Ali - Foreman Trioligy Play Out?

Its hard to say since Rumble in 74 was the last time Ali showed up 100% in tremendous physical shape and 100% motivated.

Ali looked good vs Bugner in rematch, vs journeyman Dunn, vs Frazier in Manilla 3, heck even the Ali who fought Shavers showed flashes of brilliance

But in none of these fights did Ali look 100% like Ziare.

It depends completely on Foreman. Foreman took over a year off after Rumble and his confidence was shaattered.

My guess is that even 90% Ali in 75 beats Foreman if he fights George for second time instead of Frazier. If he fought Foreman after Manilla, he would have been so worn out and mentally exhausted that he might have really struggled.

But lets say he rematches George instead of Manilla. How does it go? Ali goes to the ropes again. Foreman is reluctant now to play into rope a dope so Ali just pot shots him. Foreman paces himself too much and ends up losing a decision.

Foreman was so psychologically scarred from losing to Ali that i don't see George beating Ali if Ali even showed up at 90%. Foreman post Ziare paced himself too much.

The Ziare Foreman beats post Ziare Ali.

The problem is that the Ziare Foreman never showed up post Ziare since he lost confidence. (Only vs Frazier 2 did the real George show up since he knew Frazier had no chance vs him)

So i think even a fading post Ziare Ali beats Foreman though Ali would absorb so many hard shots that he would have had to retire even earlier than 78.
Ali beats him second and third time IMO.

 

It's amazing how much that loss to Ali in Zaire damaged Foreman's psyche. He never regained that aura of menace and invincibility!

 

That's the problem in trying to judge a prospective rematch between them - Ali declined physically, but Foreman declined mentally. Foreman became extremely self conscious of his stamina, which ironically may have hurt him in his fights w/ Lyle & Young by allowing them to linger around longer than they might otherwise have done.

 

Excellent post but I disagree that Foreman was at his best in the Frazier rematch. Jamaica Foreman ends it in the first imo.

Frazier had nothing left.

 

Ali 3-0.

 

Ali wins the immediate rematch he was still good enough with wins over Bugner, Frazier 3. Where as Foreman comeback from a long lay off and looked sloppy vs Lyle almost being knocked out.

In 1977 I might favour Foreman as Ali I think was a bit too far gone by that point. If Shavers can almost beat Ali in 1977 then I think Foreman pacing himself could edge Ali.

Although saying that Ali did a number on Foreman mentally so Ali would still have a big mental edge. Plus Ali is more than likely to get the nod in a close fight so who knows.

Regardless Ali wins the trilogy for sure whether it be 2-1 or 3-0.

 

Ali 3-0

 

If Ali and Foreman fight in September '75 then Ali wins again in an even more one sided contest than in Zaire. Okay,Muhammad may have slipped a tad since the Rumble but Foreman was a psychological mess in 1975. As for the third fight,it is full of imponderables - does Ali meet Joe Frazier again in between Foreman II & III in a draining battle like the 'Manila Thrilla'? If yes then George has a good chance but if not then Muhammad takes it 3 - 0.

 

Depends on how soon the second fight happened. It if it happened within six months to a year Ali would have won again eliminating the need for a third fight. Especially considering that George had pretty much lost his heart for boxing after losing the title.

 

It would depend on how Foreman approached the fight… Foreman looked awesome vs Jimmy Young, stamina, good punch selection, using his jab more and being patient - that guy beats Ali in 77 if he hadn’t quit he’d have chugged on and been a more complete fighter…80s could be rough though, he’d need to pick up how to box.

 

In a realistic timeline… Ali likely goes 2-1, rematch looks the same, worse even - the 3rd bout in 77… “Superman” probably gets KO’d in an ugly way GF was improving Ali declining to a husk, he wasn’t even close to his prime in there actual bout.

 

Interesting how you think that George looked awesome in the Jimmy Young bout. Jimmy was picking him apart at several intervals and let's remember that George lost the fight. Not taking anything away from Jimmy but George's preparation was terrible - not arriving in Puerto Rico until just a few days prior to the fight and was very hesitant throughout.