FOREMAN VS BIG PUNCHERS....why it didnt happen often

What's interesting is that George himself seems to agree with this. Nobody could punch out or physically overpower a prime Jerry early, not an undefeated Mac Foster or Lyle, streaking Shavers (coming off his knockouts of Young and Ellis), or peak Frazier (coming off the fastest start of his career over Ziggy). Styles make fights, and I think George always felt Jerry had his number.

It's one thing for George to say today that he deliberately avoided Jerry, but he's also evasive and hesitant in post fight interviews conducted during the early 1970s whenever the subject comes up. A strong and quick counter puncher who liked drawing his opponents into the ropes and corners was the last thing Foreman wanted to face in the ring, and he was eventually knocked out by a challenger who unexpectedly did just that.

 

Quarry was a good fighter,but I could never see him beating Foreman. In George's 1973/74 pomp it took someone as uniquely talented as Muhammad Ali to do so. Jerry would have kept George off him with some good countering for a few rounds,but it would have only delayed the inevitable. Only the best ever heavyweights could have taken Foreman during this time.

 

Quarry may have beaten Foreman, especially after the first six rounds, he's still standing and George tires out.

 

People tend to massively overrate Quarry, but a Foreman-Quarry fight is an exception:

1) Quarry defeated big punchers on a routine basis; he clobbered Shavers, took Foster's best before KO'ing him, and defeated Lyle.

2) As already mentioned, he had the stamina to outlast Foreman and the mobility to trouble him.

3) Foreman left himself open to counters, and Quarry hit reasonably hard with his counterpunches.


On the other hand:

1) Quarry traded punches a bit too frequently, and Foreman cut off the ring well. A slugfest would not favor Quarry.

2) Foreman's jab may cut Quarry's face to ribbons.

 

I heard Lewis didn't fight any punchers either.

 

I don't think he avoided big punchers at all frankly... I think boxers are more like it...Once he was beaten by Ali and Young, Foreman didn't like facing technical boxers, and in fact probably never would have faced Larry Holmes./

 

Norton barely missed an utterly shot Jerry in 1975, while Spencer had a terrible time trying to connect in 1968. The smart, elusive JQ of the Spencer fight would have been a nightmare for George to try dealing with. George would cut the ring off, only to have it literally backfire in his face. I don't expect Jerry to try outmaneuvering him, or slug it out toe to toe here. He'd either slip and counter, or beat Foreman to the punch repeatedly as George tried moving in. Foreman did not have the hand speed of Frazier, Ali or Norton. Spencer and Bodell came after Jerry, and paid the price, one over the long haul, and the other almost instantly.

I absolutely do not believe Foreman's jab would have inflicted enough facial damage to win him the fight. George was not the type of Arguelloesque puncher who typically carved or busted opponents into a bloody mess, and the size disparity between the two would have minimized incidental damage from elbows and butts. In his prime, Jerry's cut resistance was actually not bad. In 66 fights, he was stopped on cuts three times, once by Ali, and twice by Frazier. (I don't really consider Norton to be a cut stoppage. Kenny was just beating the **** out of him.) JQ was also cut in the draw with Patterson. However, Antuofermo was a bleeder. Wepner was a bleeder. Cooper was a bleeder. I wouldn't stereotype Jerry among that company.

 

spit that mad game yo

 

Esch never faced anybody more agile than himself.

 

Esch was the greatest ring general of all time over a short distance. Likewise Shane Molsey is the greatest offensive sharpshooter over two rounds.

 

You have to be carefull about saying "fighters A, B and C were active during his career so why didn't he fight them?".

Often, when you get on the ground in the era in question, it is obvious why these fights didn't take place.

 

You dont think Frazier is a durable puncher????
The only punchers I give a chance are bigger punchers with better jaws than Foreman and there are very few of them

 

I never would have given a chance to Quarry winning against Foreman, but
you're making a good case for it Duodenum.

 

He fought too many punchers if you ask me.

 

George Foreman is not greater than Lennox Lewis..!!!!!!