Foreman vs Ali

Because of his primary attribute. His indomitable willpower. That isn't all he used, though; he used his shoulders, head sways, gloves, positioning to dilute Foreman's power.

In my much younger days, I used to think that if there'd been an immediate rematch, Foreman would have won. With older eyes now, I can see that Foreman lost when he signed for the fight to take place. Ali's chin, tolerance for pain, ring generalship and willpower makes him an insurmountable hurdle for Big George.

 

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0o45PCpI-c[/ame]

At 0:50, is imo the finest moment of Ali's chin on display. He is hit by Earnie Shavers -- the hardest puncher the heavyweights have known -- with his best punch, square on the chin, early in the round, while past his prime.

Who could have taken that shot half as well?

 

I believe Ali said possibly in an autobiography, that Foreman had Ali
out on his feet but didnt know it. Ali was a remarkable human being
in an out of the ring, he posessed a diamond chin, and a will that
no man could shake. IMO maybe one other heavy could survive
Foremans seventies onslaught against the ropes. PHENOMENAL
handspeed display by Ali. Imo this was his greatest win, certainly
My personal favorite. GOAT

 

Ali had a great chin, and developed a great ability to take it by allowing sparring partners to pound on him in the gym, particularly to the body. That said, I don't think Ali got hit solidly all that often by Foreman. He either rode the punch by leaning back or rolling away, or he blocked the blows on his gloves, or he eluded them entirely, or he was able to diminish Foreman's power by grabbing and smothering his arms or pull down on his neck. As Foreman's stamina waned from working too hard, his power diminished as well, and his punches got sloppier and slower. Ali sharpshot him up the middle with straight punches throughout the bout. His speed was too much for Foreman's defense. Plus by pulling on his neck, he wore it down and made him more vulnerable to the impact of blows. Talking smack made Foreman work harder than he should have done. Plus George always believed a guy on the ropes was done for, and, believing in his own power, figured he could just wail away and he'd get him out of there. He was wrong.

 

I've no need to add anything. You've said it all for me :good

 

Sometimes in certain fights I've seen fighters do things that I just can barely beleive they were able to do - not just things that seem amazing - THINGS THAT SEEM ACTUALLY NOT POSSIBLE!! That really for me is the mark of true greatness and Ali does it a lot in this fight - my most mind boggling bit is round 5 - when somehow Ali absorbs an inhumanly brutal series of fast and hard smashes to the body one after the other in a sustained outburst from Foreman who literally gritted his teeth and put everything he had into them - I have absolutely no idea how he or anyone could take them with out having his internal organs crushed but somehow he did and then proceeded to look to open up with some wicked shots of his own towards the end of the round where half way through a swaying Foreman came back and landed a head removing swing in the midst of Ali's amazing comeback - but it was like Ali for a moment was overtaken by some higher force and nothing was going to faze him and he still had the focus to make hom miss with the next massive haymaker and force him to almost fall out the ring - did he get lucky - you were kind of fearing for his life - but then no Ali glances to ringside and sticks his tongue right out!!! Just unbeleivable!! Don't ask me to explain how anyone can take that kind of thing and then do that??nut just the mark of greatness - I can't explain it

 

http://www.eastsideboxing.com/forum/showthread.php?t=211663

or in short : loose ropes helped Ali in :
1) stretching backwards 2 avoid punches
2) absorbing punches better (try getting hit with your back 2d wall)
3) getting more leverage on his counters

and :

*) d heat helped Ali 2 exploit d benefits of d loosened ropes and Foreman's aggressiveness and Foreman's being drained (dehydrated) pre fight (because Foreman and his trainers thought it'd b better 4 him that way) even more .


bull**** "fight" (fix) with no relevance whatsoever .
Foreman was a vastly superior fighter 2 Ali in both h2h and p4p aspects .

 

Not many could have,Shake.

 

I wish I could have some of what you're on,Frankie. I've got to go to a boring meeting later on,and it would get me through it :thumbsup

 

i like that you never feel constrained by things like facts or evidence frank :rasta

 

:good

 

Anyone got a RBR scorecard or how they had it at the time of the stoppage? Always been interested to see others views on this.

 

i get sick of the earnie shavers ****. he was a thunderous puncher, but that's where his abilities end.

 

Ali had more champion in him than just about anybody who ever laced 'em up.