Foreman of the Lyle fight vs Mercer of the Lewis fight

Disagree. Lewis had KO power but he never took people out with short arm punches, even the fringe contenders. Any big guys that were around Foreman destroyed them. Visually speaking even compared to small opponents Foremans attack looks more punishing on the opponent. Formeans knockouts were usually more violent is the point

Exactly, Foreman TKOs Mercer on his feet. Notice how nothing about the size of the ring vs Lewis or Foreman having much quicker feet than Mercer was never addressed. Foreman will also be hunting that body slowing Mercer down the stretch. Frazier had a hard left hook Foreman acknowledges this, it was his body mechanics that increased its power compared to any of his other punches but it's also a false equivalence imo, Chuvalo was hurt by a hook right on the chin but Frazier barely landed any succession before the fight was stopped. Early stoppage and it would've probably been a standing 8 count if that was around then. Mercer with a full gas tank got dropped by Holyfield, just lyk

 

I didn’t address those things yet because I wanted to do it slowly, point by point otherwise it kinda gets lost in two walls of text slamming into one another ya know?

 

Holyfield categorically states Foreman hit him harder than anyone ever but nah, that can't be true despite decades of opponent accolades.

For the love of god

 

Foreman's answers are actually very telling. Despite fighting some multiple super heavyweights (some ATG) he nominates Foreman in chin, power and strength. Foreman would go great guns against the big boys. Comfortably more strength than the likes of giants such as Bowe and Lewis, more power than one of the biggest punching giants in Lennox Lewis and a better chin than anyone Holyfield fought. What a beast.

BEST CHIN
George Foreman: I would say George Foreman. I hit him and I hit him a lot of times, a lot of times (Laughs.) … 17 punches one time! Lennox Lewis had a great chin. I went back and watched the fights and the people who knocked him out [did so] because he had a different mindset for them. He didn’t fight smart with them ‘cause he felt he could beat them. Everybody he pursued and thought that he could beat, they ended up knocking him out – that’s Oliver McCall and Hasim Rahman. I came to respect him ‘cause I know in the last fight I buckled him a few times but he didn’t go. Mike Tyson had a good one, too; he didn’t fall when I hit him.

STRONGEST
Foreman: Out of all the people, I would say George Foreman was the strongest. And behind him Lennox Lewis and Rid**** Bowe. I could push anybody back, it wasn’t a problem. I couldn’t push George back. (Laughs.) You had to go around him.

BEST PUNCHER
Foreman: George Foreman hit the hardest.

 

I literally acknowledged GF hit him with the hardest single shot, that’s a different situation. Holyfield was unsure of whether he hit harder than Tyson - it’s all right there on film lol he actually says “I wouldn’t say he’s a harder puncher then Mike Tyson”

 

Here watch the clip @JohnThomas1 ”I wouldn’t say he’s a harder puncher then Mike Tyson” he acknowledges he hit him with the hardest single punch and that can be a different situation a good punch is a good punch sometimes that’s it. To make it simple if Lyle lands a better punch on you then Foreman you’ll remember him more etc.

 

It's right there in print too lol

You're bitterness and negativity toward Foreman is approaching redrooster levels at this point. It's obscene

 

I've seen multiple filmed interviews, and read multiple comments in print. I've also seen all the fights and what they did and didn't land on Holyfield.

I'm good.

 

I pointed out why I think Lewis shared a tier with Foreman in power? I don’t think that’s a crazy opinion JT this seems to have become personal with you and I don’t think I’m gonna have it.
I linked a clip demonstrating that Holyfield hadn’t made up his mind on who hit him hardest, Tyson didn’t get to Holyfield as much, he’s talked about this and said outright he isn’t sure if Foreman hit harder it’s right there ON FILM. All I said was that Lewis likely wasn’t mentioned because he fought in a way that wouldn’t leave the best impression with his power - Where as Tucker who fought Tyson said Lewis hit the hardest… The point isn’t “Oh George doesn’t hit hard” I said he does LOL it’s that GF probably doesn’t hit much or if at all harder then Lennox Lewis FFS are you going to get this pedantic everytime I post? Do you like echo chambers? Put me on ignore you giant baby.

 

Somewhat fair to question first incarnation Foreman’s stamina but not at all fair to question his chin.

Another case of some people wanting to have their cake and eat it too.

The only times 1st career Foreman seriously faltered were when he was clearly exhausted and/or rusty.

For one thing, fighting via a modified, more restrained style vs Frazier in the rematch - George took a few flush, whistling hooks from Frazier without blinking.

Landing on anyone else, those hooks would yielded serious damage and hurtful reaction. In the face of same, Foreman himself was immovable.

 

There he is. You're in every thread trying to impose negativity on Foreman, Ali, Liston, anything 70's and heavyweight. You've been called out on it by multiple fine posters multiple times as people just get sick of the open disingenuity. There's a difference between not being on board with the consensus and exploring genuine avenues, to simply running around like a headless chook bashing into anything and everything.

You quoted me princess. If you can't handle your fantasies getting shattered don't step into the kitchen. Of course it's never ever you, it's everybody else!!!!

 

Oh ow good one JT

“Holyfield categorically states Foreman hit him harder than anyone ever but nah, that can't be true despite decades of opponent accolades.

For the love of god “

Yeah I started this, this is clearly not directed towards me? My mistake???

 

It isn't. Putting Lewis and Foreman in the same tier of power isn't unusual even on this Classic forum.

It's weird how all-or-nothing some people are about this. That Foreman has to be the hardest puncher ever, or else he sucks. Young Foreman -- the guy this thread is about -- wasn't even the hardest puncher of his own era. But he didn't need to be. He hit hard enough to win the lineal championship and outslug Lyle. That was hard enough.

 

It’s almost like it’s about who’s saying it not what’s being said eh? That some people might take this fictional boxing stuff a bit too personally.

 

Here's a great little Holyfield interview. He thought he was going to have an easy time with Foreman because he saw him as slow. He didn't expect Foreman to be able to put much on him. He then explains as to why he was wrong. Tho he could look crude Foreman had such "timing" that he was able to catch you with follow up punches as he'd he knew where his first punch was going to herd you to. You could see this and more at play in the 70's. Foreman would even use certain punches (roundhouse right to the body for example) to keep you from escaping corners. He'd herd you back in. Footwork was only one part of his ring cutting skills. Holyfield talks about how Foreman would "mould" him in the corners and he couldn't get out. Imagine fighting a guy who, with one punch, made you think you'd had all your teeth punched out

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