Foreman (1973) Vs Joshua (2017)?

3 rounds at the most. He is not backing up George & I never liked the way Joshua backs up. Let alone against this guy.

 

...also fair to point out, George would never have met anyone with AJ power, athleticism and size. Do I think Foreman knocks AJ out? Yes, I do. But it could be a Lyle type affair if the Wlad AJ turns up, and I'd not put it past AJ winning one in a trilogy...

There, I've said it...

The AJ we have now is a far cry from the fearless, impetuous young man that first won the title. That AJ was clearly beatable but much more dangerous in victory or defeat.

I think young George is somewhat overrated truth be told...

 

Frankly I lean towards the best AJ beating 70s Foreman. His chin wasn't always crumbly and his reflexes were good. Once upon a time. Foreman is there to be hit because he was the big man facing little 'uns. Getting hit by AJ will suck.

 

I think the young, fearless AJ poses a set of problems young George never had to face, and yes, I give him a chance.

 

Lyle, Cooney, and Morrison all hit at least as hard if not harder than AJ.

of which he doesn’t know how to use. AJ hardly ever moves his feet or head to get out of danger, he’s not a physical fighter like say Tyson fury or foreman himself. He doesn’t clinch, frame, or maul people. He throws combinations from midrange and leaves himself wide open, which is how he lost to Ruiz the first time around.

Lyle had the chin to take multiple big shots from George and keep going. Joshua was out on his feet and Wlad let him off the hook. I guarantee you he’s not surviving if George had him hurt like this.

that’s a lot of credit for going life and death with a 41 year old coming off a terrible loss with a year long layoff.

I think dominating Joe Frazier and knocking him out in two rounds is more impressive than anything AJ has ever done in his career. If that George is overrated, what does that make Anthony?

 

Nobody claims AJ is a Top 5 HW ever. Some people say George was even Top 3.

 

Thanks for this well reasoned answer. For me, old George definitely beats AJ. Much more defensively prudent and able to generate huge power with less distance.

Lyle et al may have similar power; I don't think Lyle and Cooney did, I think AJ KO percentage is much higher but may be wrong, but Lyle and Cooney did not exhibit the same boxing skills as AJ at his best, Cooney was a one trick pony by the time Old George fought him...and if you are going to use Old George as a metric, and I don't think we can, perhaps the most 'like' AJ fighter on your list, Tommy M, an athletic, explosive fighter who could box but rarely did...beat George, didn't he?

AJ had a great jab, a decent inside game, a wonderful uppercut and used to go to war when tagged instead of adopting the deer in a headlight look he favoured after being knocked out.

I make young George a big favourite over AJ, I said so in my post, but I don't think its beyond the bounds of reality that AJ bests him once in a series.

Dominating Frazier is more impressive than anything moat fighters will achieve, yet Frazier was MADE for George. I rate Frazier more highly in my 'list' but George has his number 9 times out of 10. And his win has little relevance to how he'd perform against AJ. Styles make fights. George would have to work for his KO against AJ, a fighter who I think history is already remembering with a malice undeserved by him or his achievements.

Neither AJ nor Foreman make my top ten but Foreman flirts near it, AJ is nowhere near it..for context, I'd not be surprised of George simply walked through AJ and blasted him out within three!!

Thanks for your answer, food for thought!! Px.

 

Foreman used lateral movement and head movement effectively to avoid most punches from Frazier and Ken Norton. He only used the cross-arm defence in his comeback Because his speed and reflexes diminished. He was also always capable of throwing short hooks and uppercuts both before and after his comeback. The wide punches were used to cut off the ring and set up the short punches.

He has better counter punching and combinations, but defensively speaking, he’s no better than them. Which given his chin, makes him a stylistically easier matchup for foreman than Lyle.

we can very much use old foreman’s chin as a metric. There’s no reason a 44 year old who has been through more wars and damage would be more durable than he was in his 20s at his prime. Being fatter doesn’t improve your chin.

decent jab, not great. Dubois easily outjabbed him and I see foreman doing the same. He was great at parrying jabs and had a telephone pole for one himself.

all of that is the reason he got his knockout losses to begin with. He got caught fighting on the inside against Andy Ruiz and got sparked out trying to hit a hurt Dubois with an uppercut that left him wide open. Going to war with foreman will never end well for him. He doesn’t the defence or the durability to pull it off.

Boiling it down to styles make fights doesn’t do it justice, no one else could’ve dominated Frazier like this.

what stylistic advantages does AJ have over foreman that Frazier doesn’t have aside from size? He doesn’t hit any harder, he’s not any less hittable, he certainly doesn’t take a punch as well as Frazier. His only advantage is that he can reach foreman, but foreman won’t have any trouble catching him either.

 

Thanks for this post man. Food for thought. I loved watching old George, efficient aggression personified. Have a wonderful day, Px

 

The guy knocked out by Ali is gonna walk through AJ's punches. Sure.

 

....Foreman dominated Frazier because their styles of fighting heavily favoured Foreman. Styles make fights.

What stylistic advanatage does AJ have? Well, he isnt a crouching, bobbing fighter made for a well timed uppercut for one? I don't adhere to this aged myth that Joe was a one armed fighter, but AJ was more adept with both hands, hellacious hook being the exception, and at his 'peak' he is a well balanced, two handed fighter with 20/20 vision, several inches in height, several inches in reach and a weight advantage of at least a stone.

I say again, I make young George a heavy favourite but can't conceive a world where the very best AJ doesn't have a chance. But hey, that's only my opinion and I ain't trying to change anyone's mind, only defending mine..

Have a wonderful evening, peace and love, Px

 

Good speaking with you Philosopher, have a good one.