Expert opinions on Holmes vs Foreman

Fight Advantages:
Hand speed- Holmes, Boxing Ability- Holmes, KO Power- Foreman, Chin- Foreman, Size- Foreman, Defense- Holmes, Endurance- Holmes, Adaptability- Holmes, Foot Speed- Holmes, Strength- Foreman, Jab- Holmes, Cuts- No advantage, Reach-Foreman 82-80:
Total: Holmes 7-5-1

What the Experts Say:
Most experts believe that Foreman would come out fast and furious as usual and might even score an early knockdown. Holmes should survive the early attack and take control in the middle rounds with his jab and hand speed and legs. Holmes in a 12 round decision.(of seventeen experts, Foreman led 10-7)

Moontan Rating:
{Looks at fighters' longevity, competition and ability}
Holmes 129.6, Foreman 136.6

Results:
Both fighters were true champions that fought with unbelievable heart. Holmes should be able to move and avoid Foreman early in the fight and force Foremen to tire in the later rounds. Holmes had just the style to give Foreman fits. If Foreman imposes his will on Holmes early in the fight it will be over quick. The question and deciding factor would be if Holmes is smart enough to avoid Big George in the early going. I see Foreman fading in the later rounds losing by decision.

Counter Point: Foreman competed in a much more competitive era than Holmes. Foreman defeated one of the all-time greats in Joe Frazier and lost to Ali, who was probably the greatest heavyweights of all-time. Holmes on the other hand was hurt during his best years by Norton, Weaver, and Shavers. Foreman at his peak was bigger, stronger, and more aggressive and hit harder than any of these fighters. Holmes was on the canvas four times during his career while Foreman was down three times against Ali, Jimmy Young and Ron Lyle.

by Jim Carney
(Notice these fights are at 15 rounds. Shortening them would help George when
they were younger and Larry when they were older)

This is a tough one, whether they were in their prime or when they were older.
Whichever one I back I feel uncomfortable with.

Both in their primes
Foreman tears into Holmes over the first seven or eight rounds, flooring him
twice and staggering him several times. Holmes had trouble with the assaults of Ken Norton, Mike Weaver, Gerry ****ey and Ernie Shavers. Even Renaldo Snipes knocked him down. Some of these guys might hit as hard as George and some might even approach Foreman in sheer strength. But none possess the combination of
punch, strength, ferocity and durability that Foreman brings to the table. Holmes is strong and durable - like Muhammad Ali - unusually so for a boxer type. He isn’t defensively as good as Ali and may not have quite as great a chin. But he is more constantly active and does not dance around for its own sake like
Ali. This last point could have significant one for Larry against Ali, but not against Foreman.

Big George runs out of gas in the seventh or eighth round. Holmes’ early trouble keeps it close for the next four. But then the Easton Assassin takes over with a vengeance, spearing the exhausted Foreman and maybe even scoring a knockdown, but George scores a close decision.

Both late in their careers
Also very close. George has improved in skill and stamina but is now slow beyond beyond. Larry is slower too. Foreman is still a potent puncher but though his power is basically strength-based, a small loss in what hand speed he had appears to have slightly diminished his punch, except perhaps against a relatively stationary target.

Both men still have their durability and Holmes is also probably smarter than ever. Unlike the first fight, Larry’s speed advantage gets him to an early lead as George is really in glue for eight or nine rounds though the fight is still close as George gets the harder shots in. Larry then goes flat-footed and things are about even over the last half, except George staggers Larry a number of times, nearly flooring him once. Again close, but his time it’s Larry who holds onto the early lead and wins.

by Frank Lotierzo EAST SIDE BOXING

Obviously this is very subjective. Most times when great fighters face each other and it's a close call, styles usually play a big role in who wins. I happen to place great importance on the actual head-to-head confrontation. When I evaluate fighters in trying to decide who would win, I take them from what I thought was their very best and try to picture how a fight between them would turn out. Picking the winner in a prime Foreman vs prime Holmes match-up basically comes down to, whether Holmes can make it to the 7th round. If Holmes can extend Foreman to the 7th round and beyond his chances for victory improve significantly because of his better boxing skills and stamina. The very best Foreman was the version we saw in between his fights with Frazier and Ali. The Foreman who fought after Ali during the '70s was a different fighter. After the Ali fight he fought more measured, trying not to go out like a sprinter, he worried about his endurance, thus rendering himself less effective. The Foreman pre-Ali never would have lost to Jimmy Young, he would have tore after Young like he did Ali (some look at the Young fight as to why Holmes would do well with Foreman). The difference is that Young couldn't have endured the same assault as Ali, and I question whether Holmes would've been capable either. The best Holmes was the one who fought between Norton and Ali. Seeing how Norton, Weaver, and Shavers were able to get to Holmes and hurt him, leads me to believe the pre-Ali Foreman, who was bigger, stronger, more aggressive and a much better puncher, would have been able to get to Holmes and hurt him enough to corner him and stop him inside of four or five rounds.

Experts Predicted Outcome: Foreman the Winner 2-1

Moontan - Holmes by Decision
Carney - Foreman by Decision
Lotierzo - Foreman by knockout

 

Fair enough, but I wouldn't favor Tyson and especially Norton over a peak Holmes.

 

Yes, I agree here. This would be a tough fight for both.

 

He's a boxing expert. I can't find his first name.