Ali-Foreman II: Who would've won?

George would have knocked him out. He wouldn't have fallen for the rope-a-dope twice. Ali was didn't have the lateral speed anymore at this stage and would get caught.

 

foreman was very bad mentally post zaire. in 1976 ali would have a chance to win by ud, in 1977 foreman would tko ali. well now some guys will say "jimmy young did beat foreman in 1977" jimmy young in 1977 was better than ali77 by a mile, young was stolen in 1976 against ali. ali was a complete joke in 1977, ali should have been retired in 1975.

 

I'd like to hear other members about this, but I'm interested to know why it never came off... There would have been serious money involved for the rematch, and I'm inclined to think this is an exceptionally rare case of Ali ducking someone. I could be wrong, and would be interested to hear the scoop on this.

 

It would have been more difficult Ali, but I think that he could have pulled out a good fight on the outside to win a decision. He wasn't as fleet-footed as he had been in the past obviously, but he was getting off first fairly consistently in the middle of the ring during the first few rounds of the first fight before going to the ropes. He would have tired and have had to take some punishment, but I think his fundamentals and durability would have served him to get the victory again.

 

This one always makes for good discussion. As I've said previously,Foreman did indeed deserve a rematch,especially after beating Ron Lyle,and Joe Frazier in a rematch. George did n't help his case,though,after going AWOL during 1975,except for that pointless 'Foreman versus five' exhibition in Toronto. He,more or less,put himself behind in the queue. After Muhammad fought his third ones with Joe Frazier and Ken Norton,he started to be a bit more cautious when it came to selecting opponents. Nothing that most champions before or after him had n't have done,of course. Who would have won a second fight ? If it had taken place before or instead of Frazier 3,in 1975,Ali would have won again,imo,no matter what tactics Foreman employed. After Manila things get a lot less clear cut. In 1976 or '77 Ali had gone back sufficiently,in order for Foreman to have been able to win,but Muhammad had messed with George's head so much,that an Ali victory,whenever,would not have been out of the question.

 

Good post.

 

It depends how long Ali manages to put it off for.

If he fobs Foreman off for long enough, then even a Foreman suffering a crisis of confidence will be too much for him.

 

no fighter in the history had the mental power that ali had. but the mental power is not all. ali was finished post 76.

 

True,but he was still as strong as an ox,and had that cast iron chin against Earnie Shavers though.

 

Foreman on Decision

or

Foreman on late stoppage after Ali refuses to answer the bell


or


Another magical night where Ali somehow knocks him out.


I will have to go with my 2nd choice if I had to place money. Then again Foreman wasnt the same after the Ali fight.


Combates, is it the same Foreman who fights Lyle? If thats the case, it makes it harder to pick.

 

Two words for you:

Jimmy Young.

I think mentally Foreman was probably the guy with the chip on the shoulder with something to prove and over analyzed his flaws. His team thwarted him tactically as he as being held back from a style that made him so effective by fighting at a measured pace. I seriously doubt that Foreman in Zaire loses to Young (never say never) but he would likely fought Ali in the rematch by trying to pace himself taking away the heavy pressure that would have made him so effective in the first place. He would have likely slowed down just enough that Ali's fading handspeed, footspeed and stamina would not have been tested effectively.

In essence, he would have fought Ali's fight again.

And Lost.

 

say he takes on Ali immediately from wepner or bugner II- Foreman still gets outboxed and has a huge stamina problem still

 

A straight-punching Foreman destroys Ali in 5 Rounds.

Ali is stunned numerous times, as he leans on the ropes.
Foreman employs an intelligent strategy and boxes beautifully.
He doesn't throw any wasteful punches and limits his arsenal to one-shot heavy shots.
No wild punches, just straight down the pike power jabs.

A hurt Ali is forced out by his corner in Round 5, and he takes a frightful beating.
Battered in a neutral corner, Angelo Dundee throws in the towel.