Foreman overrated or underrated?

Foreman certainly belongs in the top 10. Where in the top ten is debatable. Head to head I think he rates high....Legacy wise he rates lower, although not a lot lower. How many past champions could take a 10 year layoff, come back in thier late 30's early 40's and win the championship from a good solid heavyweight. How many past champions could take on the likes of a prime Holyfield in thier 40's and put up a good showing all the while absorbing hundreds of hard fast combinations clean on the jaw like Evander planted on Foreman. That was admirable and incredible. Ali couldn't do it. He was pretty much done after Manilla. Louis did not age well. Marciano was smart enough to call it quits after Moore. He was no dope. Dempsey willingly took 3 years off and had nothing left against Tunney. The only other heavyweight I saw who was still effective in his 40's was Holmes. He gave Holyfield fits and defeated a very dangerous Ray Mercer. That version of Holmes would've beaten Spinks too I think. From what I've read Johnson was still a pain in the ass into his 40's as well. That makes 3 champions who could still "Bring it" so to speak at a rather advanced age. that's nothing to sneeze at.

 

Go post Sugarsean, The only people i would pick to beat a prime Foreman is Ali. Jack Johnson is to small, so are Dempsey, Marciano, and Tunney. If Lennox Lewis couldnt keep Rahman and McCall from icing him then Foreman would too. Larry Holmes is no Ali and Ali couldnt keep Foreman off him so why would Holmes ( Not to mention Larry Holmes avoided Foreman in their primes) Liston's best wins came against Floyd Patterson a blown up super middleweight. Ali has stated over and over again that Foreman was a much harder puncher than Liston, was stronger and was better on his feet.

 

It was Foreman who avoided Holmes. Ali has also stated that Shavers was a harder puncher than Foreman.

 

George Foreman is a ATG,he ended Joe Fraziers undefeated streak,Knocked out Frazier in just 2 rounds and then in the rematch Foreman knocked him out once again,and hes the oldest man in the history of boxing to win a heavyweight title

 

Good post. Ad the destructive wins over Frazier, Norton, Lyle, and several young prospects, and I think his legacy is fairly solid.

 

He also knocked out Norton who is in the hall of fame, George Chuvalo who in the hall of fame, Ron Lyle who should be in the hall of fame, Gregoria Peralta who should be in the hall of fame. Knocked out Chuck Wepner much quicker and easier than Sonny Liston of Ali did. Even as a old man his power was feared so much normally brave fighters like Morrison and Briggs ran from him.

 

I disagree with the terms " pure crap. "

 

Sugarbean it is a fact that Holmes avoided Foreman when they were younger. I think during the Foreman vs Scott Deloux fight Jerry Quarry mentioned that Holmes trainers said there was no way they were letting Larry Holmes get in the ring with their fighter.

Ali was never hit by Foremans best questions so he doenst know who is the harder puncher, he just knows Shavers hit him harder. Ali also never mentions Fraziers power even though frazier Floored him. Holmes has stated that Butterbean hit harder than Tyson. So you cant believe everything you hear

 

Chuvalo isn't in the hall of fame, and why should Ron lyle and Gregoria Peralta be in it? The IBHOF should only have great fighters in it.

 

So Larry's trainers turned down a fight in 1976, when Larry had a broken hand. There is nothing wrong with that. Apparently Ali never took Foreman's best when he was laying on the ropes? Foreman even said he hit him with his best.

 

Because Foreman says something then it must be true? Foreman said he was afraid of Jerry Quarry too so does that make it true? Foreman never landed his best punches to Ali's head period.

Larry Holmes had a broken hand, so i guess that is Foreman's fault? The point is Foreman wanted to fight him and Holmes peoples declinded.

Why shouldn't Ron Lyle be in the hall of fame? Their are tons of guys their who Lyle is better than who are in the hall of fame. Gregoria Peralta's record is 98-9 fighting in a great era of boxing. He sholud be in the hall of fame if not people should still respect his skill and consider him a hall of fame fighter.

Anyway Foreman fought top guys to he was 48 and beat them. No other heavyweight cane make the same claim

 

And Bill if the hall of fame should have great fighters in it then why is that bum Rocky Marciano in it? Because he fought washed up has beens and other 3rd tier fighters like Ted Lowry and still lost to him? Yeah that is hall of fame business fight there.

 

:roll:

 

Rocky Marciano is the definition of trash but we could all say that about MuchMoore which is why he is ignored

 

Rocky Marciano is in it because he defined an era and was one of the greatest champions of all time. He fought everyone who was around, and he beat them. He not only beat them, he beat the up and knocked them out.