Emanuel Steward talks about Heavyweight History

I've never seen this fight entirely so i can't make sincere judgment on that. However, there are several factors that made Robinson's situation more understandable:

• Robinson was fighting a guy who was several weight classes above his natural weight. The smaller man is always forced to used more energy;

• Robinson, at 31, was past his best physically, especially if you consider he already had 130 (!!!!) pro fights as well as an extensive amateur career. Foreman, on the other hand, was only 25 years old and 80% of his 40 pro fights were against absolute tomato cans whom he didn't need to break a sweat against. He was at his physical peak;

• Robinson collapsed in the 14th round, which is almost twice as far as Foreman got.

 

I agree with this post. Who else could have taken that punishment?

 

As for Zaire, there was especially one round which made the difference, though, and that was the fifth. Going into that round it was clear that Foreman had been surprisingly ineffectual with Ali on the ropes, but he was still reasonably fresh. By that stage he didn't seem to be that tired, just not as effective as one would have thought.

But during the fifth round Ali seemed to be tiring and Foreman let go with everything he had. In hindsight we know that he failed to really hurt Ali, who came back strong and rocked Foreman late in the round, but instead burned himself out. But the feeling around ringside seemed to have been more or less the one Foreman probably had: that Ali was ready to go and wouldn't survive Foreman's onslaught.

While it's true that Foreman got too reckless, it's also true that he was magnificently maneuvered into that spot and that his barrage would have finished off just about any other fighter instead of signalling the beginning of the end for himself.

So, while Foreman obviously didn't fight the optimal fight in Zaire, other factors was very much in play here as well. His options were limited by his lacking skill to start with, and he was also up against possibly the only opponent who could beat him in that particular way.

The trap was sprung in the fifth round. Sure, Foreman walked right into it, but it was one hell of a trap.

 

Ali was in his head. He had him beaten even before they stepped into the ring. Bullies like young Foreman, Liston or Tyson aren´t persons with the highest confidence if you are able to expose that and plant the seed of doubt in their heads you already have won. Ali was a master in that. :good

 

Don´t you think the circumstances of the second fight had as much to do with the quick ending as Louis adepting? I think so.

 

Sure, but the rubber match proves my point as well. We have a lot of proof of Louis improving in rematches, though. Knocking out Jersey Joe in the rematch, dispatching of Conn so easily after struggling in their first bout etc.

 

Everybody has those at certain points in his life that does not make everyone a girl.

 

Yes we have and you are certainly right, I just think Schmeling is a bad example to highlight it.

 

I wasn´t talking about struggling with careers but having these issues. Some have it more some less. Foreman clealry had those, I agree with Pete there.

 

Malignaggi? He had a haircut INSIDE the ring! Plus, Lewis butchers his name whenever he's on HBO. Poor Pauli..:-(