Ali-Foreman rematch in early 1977 - who wins and how?

I go back and forth on this one. But I think a UD for Ali isn't out of the question.

 

Foreman wins by stoppage

 

Foreman.

Foreman was still a killer at this point. Ali had just been thrashed by Norton. There's no way he pulls of another rope a dope. George would have not only won, but would have badly hurt Ali.

 

I've always been of the opinion that Foreman would have won a rematch. The main reason Ali won the first fight, was due to the looseness of the ropes, if that would have been taken away from him, it would have been a much more challenging task.

 

Ali was in Foreman's head. He owned Foreman and Foreman knew it.

 

Ali wins via 15 round decision. Foreman fights via Clancys instruction in a slowed down style. Ali outboxed George from distance, covers when needed and coasts to the win. 10-5 in rounds.

 

I think you need to ask yourself this: what were Ali's options when he fought Foreman if he couldn't have used the ropes to his advantage?

He himself said he couldn't go two steps to Foreman's one without getting exhausted, which is why he employed "the rope a dope" to begin with.

 

Ali's decline was so percipitous I can't help but think George would have caught him. On the other hand Ali took Shavers' best shot and there was Young. I have to give Ali the edge based on Ali magic.

 

This was such a great upset, that people in 2016 still say Foreman would win!

 

putting foreman in the ring with a parkinsonsians patient is insane.

 

The funny thing is that some inocent guys think that ali would win a rematch. Ali gave rematch to all the best fighters he fought when he was still competitve,frazier,norton,liston,patterson,cooper... But never fought a rematch with foreman(i am waiting for some idiot saying the excuse " they never fought because foreman lost to young")foreman deserved a rematch since 1976, ali was facing ****py fighters and gave norton a third fight when foreman was clearly the number 2.

 

In fact i think that if you make a poll you will find idiots picking 1978 ali over foreman or saying close fight.

 

Let's see, Ali beat Young around the same time Young beat Foreman. This wasn't the same Foreman that destroyed Frazier and Norton, far from it. Gil Clancy would be too clever for his own good and tell George to play it cool and be cute, big mistake. Ali would pick him off with lead right hands. If Foreman goes against Clancy and goes into seek and destroy mode he more than likely stops Ali, he was the younger and much much fresher fighter.

 

There was no reason why he could not have used the ropes. The other point is the idea that Ali spent lots of time laying on the ropes in 74 is a myth. Ali's clean shots to the head brought down Foreman. George said himself Ali was a 215 pound hwt and there was just so much he could take.