Foreman-Lyle

I saw the fight on live TV as a schoolboy. I lost $2.00 by betting on Lyle. My reasoning as a kid was that Foreman would be too rusty to hang in there with a bomber like Lyle.

In retrospect, I believe this fight, in some ways, is testimony to Foreman's greatness. After 14 months of inactivity, Foreman stepped into the ring against one of the world's most dangerous punchers and won after pulling himself off the canvas twice. Many other guys would have collapsed under Lyle's blows that night.

Incidentally, I believe this was the fight that ruined Lyle. After this bout, Lyle never seemed to have the same degree of speed and pep as in his earlier days. Lyle's legs were gone after his brawl with Foreman.

 

Agreed.

The one thing you seldom see is any heavyweight that has suffered a bad ko loss going in against a puncher in their next bout. And for good reason. But Clancy had Quarry do very well against Lyle and must've figured George would handle him with ease.

Just look at that level of competition foreman fought for that 4 year window of his and it's really something he came out with just 1 loss; Frazier/prime Norton/Ali/Lyle/Frazier again/few easy type bouts/prime Young. Just how many guys are going thru that competition without a loss?

 

i actually think this fight is overrated the technical skills are atrocious and sloppy, but the last 2 rounds are good but the rest of the fight is bad

 

Clearly, the technical skills weren't there for Foreman in this fight. But the bout is an all-time classic as a brawl. Few fights in history match Foreman-Lyle for excitement, suspense, and intensity of action...especially at heavyweight.

 

I agree with both of your points.

Going into the Foreman fight, Clancy was trying to improve Foreman's technical skills; he emphasized teaching Foreman to dominate opponents with his powerful left jab. Clancy also wanted Foreman to slow down and pace himself more effectively. This approach failed against Lyle, though, and the fight quickly devolved into a brawl.

As for Foreman's level of competition in the '70s, it was extraordinary. His only losses -- to Ali and Young -- were due to stylistic difficulties more than anything else.

 

Who cares about technical skills when you have a fight like this? This fight is devastating.

 

Yeh the brawls good but only the last 2 rounds for me are exellant the rest of the runds are so sloppy

 

It was a fun all out brawl.

 

I can only add the obvious: It was a whale of a fight.

 

Could anyone tell me when the timekeeper rang his bell for round 3?
I think it was around the 2:30 mark.

Foreman had Lyle on the ropes and inflicting heavy punishment,before the bell rang.

 

I 'think' it was the third and it was in this round that the timekeeper in his excitement rang the bell prematurely.

I remember in the 1st round Foreman looking in Gil Clancy's direction for advice,while Lyle was throwing bombs at his head.George really looked out of sorts and it's my belief that,in the aftermath the Ali fight, he suffered a mental breakdown.