38-42 year old George Foreman vs the following giants

Tbh, even that version of Cooney, I'd favor over those four men. He was very sharp, aggressive, and actually landed some very good shots. Obviously he wasn't as good as he was in his prime, but he looked eons better than the addict who fought Spinks.

 

Agreed. With Gil Clancy in his corner and his head free of drugs and booze, he was certainly better in 1990 than in 1987

 

Holmes right hand had him “staggering like a drunk” in the late rounds after he’d fatigued. Also doesn’t matter how good his right hand is, if he doesn’t have the skills to put it to use.

Mac Foster hit far far harder than Ali. Guess which one was the far more effective puncher, with kos over rated opposition?

 

I agree with you but Holmes actually dropped Cooney in the second round with a right to the temple. Of course Cooney kind of helped him by coming in at the same time that punch landed but still. I’m either case I get what you’re saying

 

Perhaps but regardless it’s clear as day which version was in better shape and more focused

 

I’ll have to rewatch that fight but from memory Cooney wasn’t badly hurt after the KD and certainly wasn’t staggering around like a drunk iirc.

 

Allow me to quote you a sports poem from my home country:

The things of which are long
are the things of which are strong
and of these things that are those things, they are both bound
to get the friction on

Foreman UD7. /thread

 

I watched Foreman v Morrison the other day ,I had forgotten how many big shots from Tommy, George absorbed.He still had a chin.

 

What impressed me about the Cooney fight ,was George's accuracy.

 

Your reasoning essenitaly is "if Louis could do that to him, think of what Foreman would do" so you are actually comparing Louis and Foreman. One was the greatest heavyweight to step into the ring, on his best night, by his own accord, and the other is a 40 year old puncher with zero resemblance when it comes to hand speed and footwork, two of the biggest contributors to Louis shutting down Baer completely.

He took at least 90 power jabs to the face in the first fight and he didn't slow down in the slightest, his chin was great.

You are moving the goal post from Baer never using the crossguard to Baer never using it effectively. He did use the guard against Schmeling but Max used his left jab to peel down Baer's right hand and hit him with a right, the same way he knocked out Louis. Just because pros figured ways to bypass Baer's defense does not mean he had no defense, that is silly.
Foreman himself had to rely on his chin more than his defense, so clowning on Baer for only using the basics for defending himself is nonsensical.
Here are numerous examples of Baer using the crossguard, in picture, undeniable proof:
https://imgur.com/a/crossguard-xnwgipw