Did the Rumble In The Jungle decide who the greatest of all time would be?

Not as highly, as hindsight tells us that the Foreman that lost to Ali lost a bit of what made him comparable and, to many, superior to the wrecker that prime Liston was.

I do get it though, and whilst acknowledging that it would go down as a pivotal win, there would always be detractors that said the mallard took advantage of a guy that lost his mental edge. I'm sure there'd be Foremanites that would compare it to beating McCall in the middle of one of his episodes.

 

But, But what about 49-0, 43 KO's Rocky Marciano, or Joe Louis?

 

Had George won the rumble, there probably would not have been a comeback at age 40.

He would not have lost to Young.

He would have made a few defences and retired, probably undefeated.

And he would be in the conversation for GOAT.

 

I agree he wouldn’t have lost to Young but if he beat Ali, retired undefeated, then came back to KO Moorer he’d likely be the undisputed GOAT, especially with Ali out of the way.