There is 100% a window there where you would have to favor Foreman. early 70s when George was doing what he did to get to the Ali fight and Holmes was still developing as a fighter. But then George kind of went into a freefall and larry rose up strongly. Once Holmes became "Larry Holmes" I don't see foreman beating him.
Probably around 1976. Rumour has it that Larry’s manager was offered a Foreman fight but turned it down.
https://www.*******.com/articles/why-we-see-foreman-vs-holmes-1970s The first was that Holmes’ trainer at the time, Richie Giachetti, wanted no part of matching his fighter with Foreman. In August 1976, Foreman stopped Scott LeDoux on CBS in a bout that was called by Jerry Quarry and Tom Brookshier. Quarry passed along to Brookshier that he spoke to Giachetti a couple days before Foreman fought LeDoux and asked him what he thought about shutting up Saddler and matching Holmes with Foreman. According to Brookshier, Quarry said Giachetti told him "There's no way I'm putting Larry in there with that Friggin’ Animal Foreman
Early, yes, after Foreman's aura of invincibility was broken and Holmes hadn't matured. Old campaigning versions? Foreman would lose, period.
Based upon how both Ali and Young, both great boxers, beat prime or very close to prime Foreman handily I don’t see Holmes, certainly on Ali and Young’s level, having any great difficulty. In a 15 round bout Holmes by tenth round TKO.
I heard the same thing that Foreman was looking at Holmes as a possible opponent. But the money wasn't worth it for Larry, and I believe Ritchie Giachetti even said I'm not putting Larry in with that monster! I agree that a 76 Holmes would have still been a bit too green for Foreman despite them being almost the same age.
