Evander Holyfield vs Prime Foreman?

Any great boxer who could take a good punch could beat Foreman most likely. Holyfield being no exception. However, is Holyfield in an energetic, concentrated mode where he can jab, get in with some sneak hooks, and get back out, and duck the haymakers? or is Holy out to prove his mettle against the big hitters and go toe-to-toe, like he did in Bowe 1. Obviously, if Evander opted to got the latter route, it would be a thrilling but brief battle, that would last no more than 5 rounds, only because Holyfield is very courageous.

 

Strangely enough, I think Holyfield would stop a prime Foreman. If Holyfield could take Foreman's best, and that's a big if for anyone, I think he beats Foreman by late stoppage. Foreman going full blown at Holyfield, only for Holy to survive and exploit Foreman's weak ass stamina. Holyfield would need to stay disciplined like he did for the most part in their actual fight, but open up when Foreman tires out. A gassed, young, 225lb Foreman isn't staying up after the 20 punch combinations Holyfield hit him with in the seventh.

 

I don't think it's far out at all. If Holy can stay fast, mobile, and defensive for the first five rounds, he wins. Plus, Ali knocked Foreman out. Late, Holyfield will destroy Foreman.

 

Was thinking the exact same thing, Holyfield was also a level above foreman in all around skill

 

I think Foreman KO’s or stops him late because Holyfield had the tendancy to get drawn into a dog fight and I think Foreman could take Holyfield’s power, but when Foreman lands that is it and he would land in a slug fest because Forman was good in slugfests, I see Holyfield landing more throughout the fight, but Foreman taking them and I think it’s inevitable that Foreman lands a big punch on Holyfield and knocking him out and with the extra speed that young Foreman had, he would certainly catch Holyfield more often therefore more chance of him winning, and let’s not forget, old Foreman had his moments against Holyfield and was able to land on him
You are all imagining Holyfield boxing Foreman, but Holyfield always got drawn into wars when he didn’t need to and it would be the same here, especially with Foreman going at Holyfield

 

Foreman all the way for me by KO in 5 or less. Holyfield can't avoid peak Foreman of up to and including Ali. Foreman would be cutting him off and cornering him from a very early point. Holyfield would realize he has no choice but to fight fire with fire.

 

Agreed

A lot of people are underestimating how well Ali took a body shot. How many of the exceedingly violent body shots that Ali took from Foreman could Holyfield have absorbed? Holyfield was durable, yes, but he didn't take a body shot like Ali. No one did. Holyfield was stopped once by Bowe whereas i cannot imagine Bowe ever stopping any version of Ali pre-Spinks.

Foreman traps him on the ropes and stops him in 5.

 

Foreman and I’d bet the house I don’t think it’s that close, I think it’s stopped in fifth with Foreman battering a game but defenceless Holyfield in the corner.

 

I've said it so many times - barely anyone in history survives the Foreman that Ali beat. He carried immense power in those punches for quite a while that night and Ali soaked them up like a damn sponge. Great point about the body shots he took. They alone would have turned fights against others.

I think it was Jimmy Cannon that said nobody ever took a shot to the body like Ali.

If someone said to me that they beleive it was the greatest ever performance in boxing i would certainly not argue.

 

Great points JT

A lot of people have a misconception that other fighters could take body shots like Ali. Nope. Holmes could not. Holmes's team reportedly refused to fight Foreman in 1976 saying Larry wasn't ready. This was against a Foreman who was mentally up and down after losing to Ali.

I do not think Larry could have taken those body shots Ali took. Neither could Holyfield.

Plus, Ali did other things Holy didn't. Ali threw and landed lots of sharp fast straight right hand leads that snapped Formena's head. Sure, Evander was a terrefic combination puncher with a big left hook but the left hook never bothered Foreman. Ali damaged Foreman with lightning fast straight right hand leads, and i just don't think Holyfield could throw and land this kind of punch vs Ali. Holyfields best offsensive weapon (left hook) is completely neutralised vs Big George, and his combination punching means he will want to trade with the bigger hitting Foreman. Bad idea.

Cannon was right. Ali fought a masterclass. Holyfield was ATG but he didn't have the same strengths as Ali.

 

Fine post. I'm not sure anyone could have taken those body shots. Crazy.

 

Agreed.

Holyfield was too apt to brawl, if the circumstances arose to trigger him and, with Foreman, that trigger would be ever-present, from the outset. Holyfield would be left with little choice, but he cannot win a firefight with Foreman, in my opinion.

 

I'm going to say the same thing I've said so many times about Holyfield.

Holyfield has the skills and the tools to outbox even a guy like Foreman. If he was 100% focused on turning it into a technical fight I think he might pick Foreman apart.

But Holyfield was a brawler and a slugger at heart and liked nothing more than a tear-up. I think he'd do well until he got to a point where his natural exuberence got the better of him and he tried to slug it out with Foreman. There are few people that could slug it out with prime Foreman, and Holyfield is not one of them.

Foreman by KO while behind on the cards.

 

Exactly this^