Best technical display by 70s Foreman?

I went back and looked at the last round and saw George hooking off the jab really well again in that round, so he had definitely been doing some technique work. This is probably one of the better versions of Foreman pre-hiatus.

I definitely envy you being able to see Big George live in his ‘first career.’ It was kind of a nothing fight early in his comeback but I saw him fight I think it was Carlos Hernandez in AC live a couple days before Tyson-Spinks.

 

While he may have improved technically post-Ali, they didn't necessarily make him a better fighter. In fact, I'd venture, it made him worse. His attempt to fight more technical altered his body mechanics , and imo reduced his power dramatically.

 

Agreed. The Foreman of 73-74 would’ve caught up with Young, IMO.

 

I agree. He certainly wouldn't have let him off the hook in the 7th.

But mainly I was referring to his newfound technical style not being natural at all.

His feet were way to close together thanks to Clancy, and the idea was to shorten his punches, and make them more "correct" but it unintentionally negated Foreman's gait, and ability to put weight on those punches.

And yes, this was very noticeable in that 7th round against Young.

His jab also LOOKED good visually but Foreman really wasn't putting much weight behind them, nor walking behind it like he did against Norton and Frazier. It was more or less just there.

Also, Frazier (ESPECIALLY THAT version of Frazier) had no business making it anywhere near the 5th against Foreman. I don't even think this version would've made it out of the first against '73 Foreman truth be told.

 

I must admit I’ve been a bit bemused to see the Frazier rematch listed here repeatedly as a desirable performance. Frazier looked abysmal. I could’ve beaten him that night.

 

Honestly I really liked how he looked against Boone Kirkman. George was very mobile in that fight

 

Now that's something I'd pay to see!
But I'd rather not, so I'll ref the match.

 

Yes, the LeDoux fight is another one I personally like also.

 

Just imo, no Frazier wasn’t at his best in the Foreman rematch but I wouldn’t say that he was terrible.

ATGs are often best showcased against opposition that isn’t necessarily great (for two examples, see Louis vs Max Baer or Ali vs aged, past prime and post gun shot wound Williams).

Foreman was tracking well on the fundamentals as early as the Chuvalo fight in 1970 - when he was just 21 yo? The destruction of the Canadian Iron Man was clinical, perfectly paced and comprehensive.

When he rocked Chuvalo, after already have given him a measured shellacking over the previous 2 rounds, Foreman duly and wisely stepped up his offence and secured the stoppage.

Against Chuvalo, Foreman basically made all the right moves. The jab was already being compared to that of Joe Louis.

Chuvalo gave Ali a tough 12 rounder some 2 years later - Chuvalo was no patsy and an extremely young Foreman destroyed him. Both Frazier and Ali had to be (or should’ve been) taking notice of Foreman at that time.

Sometime between then and Zaire, George’s sheer power took priority and quick KOs were sought and mostly always achieved.

So much so, the amount of rounds per fight Foreman had leading into Zaire was ridiculously low - somewhat similar to Liston leading into his first fight with Ali - the last thing either man needed before engaging a fighter like Muhammad.

I wouldn’t say that Foreman’s post Zaire efforts that were accented more on technique were necessarily against George’s grain and or that they reduced his effectiveness.

Rather, I see those performances as a string to Foreman’s bow - more technical applications of himself to be employed as and when appropriate, given the opponent in front of him.

An ideal extrapolation of that type of boxing IQ and varied, as and when application, would’ve landed Foreman somewhere in the vicinity of the quality of a fighter like Sonny Liston.

Had Liston not intelligently and patiently applied himself as he did the Eddie Machen fight might’ve been Sonny’s own Waterloo - as the Young fight was for Foreman.

Liston knew very well how and when to KO guys - but he also knew when to pull it back and box if the KO wasn’t necessarily on offer or practical to pursue.

Post Zaire, if George punched for all he was worth as he did in Jamaica, Foreman could’ve likely KO’d Frazier in about 2 rounds again in the rematch - but that fight was as much about drilling Foreman in the finer points (for potential need) as it was about George simply winning the fight in question.

For his technical applications and having the discipline to remain true to them throughout the fight - it was a very impressive performance.

The ideal condition for Foreman would’ve been knowing when to play it technical and when to step on the metal for a KO that was begging to be had.

Agreed re the Young fight. Playing it too technical and reserved was not the way to go against a slippery customer like Jimmy Young.

Young was not an easy guy to nail clean let alone badly hurt - but Foreman turned the trick with a single left hook in round 7.

Foreman had insane power - and there were definitely times against certain opposition when it was apt to let that power go without inhibition.

 

Just at a tangent - perhaps my imagination or nostalgia (though this fight was before my cognisance of boxing), photographers seem to capture superior fight stills - more artistic.

I always liked this shot of Foreman vs LeDoux - and look at George keeping those hands up! Nice.

https://www.ringtv.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/GettyImages-158471344.jpg

 

Yep. Shouldn’t have messed w what was working. His punching form was awkward but obviously affective. Should have just worked on his stamina and pace. Better defense also could have been implemented.