Anyone else think Ali's knockout of Foreman was an early stoppage?

George didn’t seem to think so.

He was done.

 

One could argue his rise perhaps nipped the count but none of it matters because the fat lady was well and truly into the final encore. In the big scheme of things it simply doesn't matter as Foreman was never ever coming back and there's simply no other valid argument. George didn't protest at all.

 

Yeah, done. So much so, when George got back to the corner, I saw a peckish Archie Moore stick a fork in Foreman’s back.

As Michael Caine would say “Not many people know that!” <insert Michael Caine emoji - not currently available>.

 

Take a look at George's face after he got back up. He was ready to be knocked straight back down again and HE knew that he was finished for the night. He did n't protest at all about the stoppage.

 

I see what you mean about the artistic way George fell. You could have played 'Swan Lake' to it.

 

Well, the fight did end at about 4 am Zaire time - so you perhaps could technically say that Ali’s knockout of Foreman was an early stoppage.

 

Just an add on - Foreman’s face lumped up real good during and after that fight - certainly not caused by fatigue.

Ali’s flat footed power punching display was sensational. One counter right off the ropes in round 7? almost spun George’s head a full 180 degrees.

 

That would’ve been perfect musical accompaniment Stevie - without the visual of George in a tutu of course. .

 

Rather too early than too late. Actually sparring as well as seeing how fighters get in bad condition after their careers, I find it shameful that so many "fans" can b so callous to that. More need to b grateful fighters r literally ruining many of their lives just for our entertainment.

 

No he doesnt. He got up at 10 seconds. The count you are referring to was the announcer not the timekeeper. Watch the video on youtube and not the time when Foreman goes down and when he actually gets up and as on two feet without the support of his hands. Ten seconds has gone by. I know thats a hard truth for you to accept but its an irrefutable fact.

This is an article after the fight that addresses the same confusion you are experiencing:

[url]https://flic.kr/p/2p2o56W[/url]

You will note that it specifically states that the closed circuit announcer's count fell TWO seconds behind the referees causing some confusion for viewers such as yourself.

To further illustrate here are stills showing the clock on a youtube stream of the fight showing the exact moment Foreman is down and the exact moment he is up. Note that 11 seconds have elapsed:

[url]https://flic.kr/p/2p2hxcF[/url]

[url]https://flic.kr/p/2p2mxwY[/url]

What does that have to do with anything. He was knocked out. Should the ref have just said "well, hes knocked out but the round is almost over so lets let him go recover. Dont be ignorant.

Not once he got knocked out he wasnt.

Why should we "think outside the box" in a sport structured by a rigid rule system. Those rules are in place for a reason. What you think is irrelevent. And frankly your fanboyism for Foreman here is exactly why nobody is ever going to ask you what you think in regards to the rules of the sport.

By the announcer, not the referee

No he didnt, and anyone can time this for themselves and see it.

So much success the announcers for both the closed circuit and ABC were talking about how exhausted he was, how sloppy he was, and how he had nothing left. He missed 90 percent of punches in the final rounds and repeatedly fell into the ropes.

So your point is that because he was champion he should have been allowed to fight by a different set of rules??

Which means **** all.

And guess whose side history is on. Mine. Im not the one here living in a fantasy land where the rules of physics and the sport dont apply because "he was the champion..."

 

No Foreman was beat mentally and physically.

 

Good observations,Pugguy. I agree with both of them.

 

Lets be honest. In a way george quit.
He openly admits that he stayed down because his corner told him to wait before he got up, he also didnt complain when the fight was stopped.
Its a quitjob, however he was never going to win the fight even if he got up earlier and he more than redeemed himself later.