George Foreman 1974 v Jimmy Young 1977

The Foreman-fan consensus, anyway.



The way i see it, Norton and Frazier were tailor-made for him, style-wise. That doesn't detract anything from the great accomplishment of blowing both out in less than 4 rounds combined. However, the weaknesses that Young capitalized on were always there; very sloppy technique, balance issues, over extending, etc.

Given that the Young fight wasn't even close (Foreman won the 9th big and that's pretty much it), i don't really see how the '74 Foreman would all of a sudden walk over Young.

In fact, even in his most energy-preserving fight plan, Foreman still tired and got knocked down by a featherfisted opponent in the 12th. What happens if the non-energy conserving Foreman of '74 was there instead? Would he have even seen the final bell? It goes both ways...

 

if he had a good trainer in the corner he would. george wasn't the smartest if he didn't take his man out in the first few rounds but then again he took most out quick. wonder what the hell moore and sadler were doing in zaire between rounds? they didn't change nothing for george.

 

That's what the consensus was at that time. Obviously people don't think a 74 Foreman beats Ali seeing as... he didn't!

Foreman blasts out Young I think. He could very well lose a decision. But what cost him was mentally weak-mind, different game plan, and the heat from Puerto Rico.

 

Difficult to say, though Foreman's track record in long distance fights against slick-durable boxers doesn't warrant making much of a case for him. For decades, we have heard the stories about how unfocused and disinterested in boxing George had become after the Ali upset. About how he was having delusions in the locker room and nearly died of heat stroke. While I don't doubt that some of these things may be true, we can only build so much of a case based on shear testimony, and frankly I'm not certain that the key elements ( foreman's trouble against boxers ) would have been any different 3 years earlier. In fact, given that he had even less experience fighting technicians and going many rounds against them, its possible that the outcome may have been even worse.

In either case, Foreman's only chance to win this match, as far as I can see is to score a KO or stoppage, and preferably earlier than later. Jimmy Young fought many big hitters in his rather long career and was only stopped by two of the them. The first came when he had but 11 pro fights against all time hard hitter Shavers. He rematched Earnie a bit later, and arguably won. the next came against another huge hitter in Gerry Cooney. By this time, Young was past his best facing a very large, hard hitting opponent who's style bore little in common with that of Foreman's. The result was a stoppage due to a cut...

I just don't know if I can see it happening for George..

 

foreman's self-confidence was at an all-time high before facing ali after demolishing great fighters like frazier and norton. he was an unbeaten young champ and on top of the world and then he loses it all to ali. that is some drop from the top to the bottom as far as george saw it. that can affect some fighters very badly. he took a big break after ali before he had any confidence to get in the ring again.

 

Foreman by decision......or maybee foreman couldnt go 15 rds back then wouldnt suprice me jimmy young 14 rd tko......

 

Foreman went 10 rounds with Gregoria Peralta so why wouldnt he be able to do the same vs Jimmy Young? Foreman lost to young because he didnt take him serious enough and didnt come to Puert Rico 3 weeks before the fight like Gil Clancy told him. Foreman who was motivated and who took Young serious would blow him out.

 

Foreman changed his style after the Ali disaster to be more patient and "tactical", in a conscious effort to conserve his energy and prevent a repeat of what happened in Zaire. It had an adverse affect, as the Lyle fight had already showed, because he was waiting too long and giving his opponents unnecessary opportunities to score punches and points. One of Foreman's best weapons in his wins over Frazier and Norton was his naked (if somewhat amateurish) fury, and now he'd given that away. Coming out cautiously against someone like Young is a big mistake, and giving him exactly what he wanted/needed. It would've been interesting to see what would've happened if Foreman came out against Young "balls to the walls" like he had against Frazier.

 

If Foreman fought Young like he did Norton, I see George stopping Young within 5.

 

I think George could do the trick in three, if everything was right.

 

No difference in the long run..Young beats Foreman. he outsmarts him, outslicks him and the result would be the same. Remember, it was just as hot for Young as it was for Foreman that night in PR..remember, Young had Foreman's number.

 

Agree with this.

Furthermore, pre-Ali Foreman had an air of invincibility about him, especially after Frazier. This was an often underrated part of his arsenal.

I believe George would have stopped Jimmy. And early.