Foreman vs. Bonavena: 1970

George Foreman in 1970 just stopped veteran George Chuvalo, but could not knock him off of his feet like many others before. A very durable Oscar Ringo Bonavena faces the very same fate as Chuvalo did. Ringo has a very bullish brawling unorthodox style, but Foreman tags him with a very wicked right hand coming in that wobbles Oscar in round 4, then throws his whirlwind smothering punches which deposits Oscar on his backside, he barely makes the count. He tries to tie up George, who pushes him off and again tags him with the right hand that spells, lights out in round 4.

 

Oscar MD.

 

I feel if it goes to a decision, George is going to be at the short end of the stick.

 

Big George wasn’t refined — nor was Ringo, of course — but he knew how to use that telephone-pole jab and was also a beast in close quarters.

Oscar was what Pierce Egan would have called an ‘insatiable glutton’ and would have absorbed all of Foreman’s bombs, but he wouldn’t have landed enough of his own.

George wins by a fairly wide margin.

 

Foreman by tko. Does not matter the experience here. George is too powerful for ringo

 

Foreman and Bonavena were pencilled in to fight in March 1975. Then Foreman pulled out and went the Toronto Five route the following month. Norton stepped in. It was going to be Norton-Bonavena, but then Bonavena pulled out and Jimmy Young stepped in. So we were going to have Norton-Young 2 1/2 years before we actually did. For some reason Young pulled out and Jerry Quarry stepped in. The rest is history.

Bonavena's a rugged guy, but Foreman stops him in 1970. And 1975.

 

I think they smother each other's best power punches and they are unable to land their best shots. George would have a hard time connecting a jab on the bullish awkward Bonavena and would find that he would not be able to easily outmaneuver or push him back. I don't see any knockdowns unless someone is gassed as they are both incredibly durable and won't go down from 1 shot.

Considering that neither guy likes backing up, it would get very ugly with lots of sloppy arm punches. I think George's uppercuts would eventually become a factor toward the end and he might clip Oscar with a big one that puts him down and gives him the edge on the scorecards.

Over 12, George wins a very close split decision. Over 15, I think Oscar wins a close decision as his experience, stamina, and relentless pressure would overcome the young inexperienced George's reliance on size and power.

 

I just found this in my notes. Looks like they were trying to put George and Oscar together in 1972, also.

July 7, 1972 - NEWS - The Oklahoma Boxing Commission has stripped its version of the heavyweight title from Joe Frazier and plans to recognize as champion the winner of a proposed late-September or early-October bout between George Foreman and Oscar Bonavena. (AP)

 

This. I don’t see Big George stopping Oscar. He’d struggle with Oscar just like he did with Peralta.

 

Just can,t see Ringo bullying and pushing backwards either Foreman ( 70S or 90s ) particularly the Foreman of the Frazier/Norton/Roman fights. Nothing George liked better than shoving back smaller fighters, time and time again ( Oscar would have been smaller ) then when they amble back in range, are met with very powerful uppercuts, or round house rights of equal concussive power, not sure Oscar would have even got close to Foreman to then land his own shots, for me very few heavyweights particularly the smaller ones stand much of a chance against Big George. Took a fighter like Ali who was unafraid of Foreman to topple him, on that that subject, were it not for Ali both Liston and Foreman would have A/ reigned for years B/ been in the top 5 of all time. For me that puts Ali as No 1.

 

If I remember correctly Bonavena pulled out of the fight due to a hand injury.

 

Peralta was not even similar to Bonavena