Emanuel Steward talks about Heavyweight History

Good post.

 

Off topic, really, but did Holyfield really adapt that well during a fight? Wasn't he really more like Luis; a fighter who could carry out a game plan very well, but who had hard time with swapping a losing formula during a fight? Off the cuff, that's how I'd call it, I think.

 

Me too. Evander boxed beautifully against Bowe the second time around, but only after using a completely idiotic strategy the first time around.

Same with Louis, couldn't adapt against Schmeling during their first fight but we all know what happened in the rematch.

 

I know why he fought like that, but going toe to toe with guys like Bowe who have such considerable physical advantages is crazy. He adjusted accordingly in the rematch, as you noted :good

Holy always made for good fights, though. One of my favorites.

 

I'm sorry you don't study context like I do. Just look at his fights. He's not all there. 2 years previous he would have brutalized Lyle and fought much better against young.

On Ali defeating him, "I lost the championship, I was devastated. I tried convincing myself I was still the baddest man by beating 5 men in 1 night... but even I couldn't convince myself.

Before he thought know one could take his power, afterward he didn't know who he was anymore.

If you think that makes Foreman a girl than maybe you should tell him that. You're entitled to that opinion.

 

Beyond untrue, especially the Holyfield part. Lewis is possibly the smartest ring general HW champ ever. So if Foreman doesn't meet that standards when he was a youngish 24... who does? Ali, Jack Johnson? Not many.

Basically what you're saying is Foreman is limited, not dumb. In fact, his smarts are probably underrated due to him having to deal with his such limited-ness. A guy with all the tools in the world like Louis couldn't avoid Schemling's right hand and adapt after jabbing and getting countered with one shot every time.

Ali just took a ridiculous amount of body punishment. Most fighters watching that Foreman would break him down... at first.

 

You make a lot of excuses for him, but it's really simple: Under no circumstance should you fight several rounds at a pace that is too high for your body to sustain. Especially when your opponent is fighting at a low pace. No questions asked.

 

Very true and well put.


EDIT: By the way, does this simple but accurate maxim (no pun intended) say anything about Ray Robinson's ring smarts in the only fight he couldn't last the distance?

 

Foreman wasn't thinking clearly going into his fight with Ali. He had destroyed fighters that had beat Ali at THAT TIME frazier/norton. Foreman believed the hype that Ali was finished as the great fighter and he would destroy him too, 100% he would KO old Ali in 3 or 4 rounds at most. His trainers thought it too. Now in the fight his trainers should have realized Ali's rope-a-dope strategy sooner and instructed Foreman to pick/save his shots and to try and get Ali of the ropes and not waste his punches. The very experienced boxer trainers Sadler/Moore should take blame aswell.

I can understand at the start when Foreman and his trainers saw Ali going back to the ropes so early on in the fight (only time he did this was when he was hurt/tired in FOTC) they thought Foreman must be hurting Ali with his punches - Foreman hurt everyone else with his punches so why not Ali. They didn't realize this became Ali's fight strategy - no one did not even Dundee (Ali conned them all). After 4 rounds they shoulda realized it was Ali's strategy to tire Foreman out and take him out in the later rounds. Foreman and his trainers were conned big time and should take a lot of blame not to figure out Ali's ultimate game plan. Look at how many big punches Foreman wasted in round 5 when Ali was against the ropes. no wonder he tired out - unbelievable!
Lastly, Muchmoore, go Fuk yourself!