George Foreman 73 Vs Lennox Lewis 95

You may not be a Foreman fan but you are certainly a Lewis hater - why else would you post such rubbish?

 

Life and death is what Foreman went with Lyle. I'll never forget Foreman bleeding all over the canvas, prone.

 

I think the Lewis that came in shape in the 2nd fight against Rahman (nowhere near as good I know but Lewis was big, strong, in-shape and focused) would have the best chance to survive against Foreman.

If he can outbox Foreman and take the young man into the later rounds who knows, but let's assume Foreman doesn't get dehydrated (i.e have the fight in a regular boxing venue) Foreman would win a decision or a late stoppage.

 

Prone is what Lewis was after taking a shot from the hardest hitting heavy ever, Hasim Rahman... Flat on his back. Foreman against Lyle, (who was a big hitter) was face first on the canvas . And climbed up off the deck and finished him. Foremans chin and UNQUESTIONABLY his heart are much more than Lewis had. A 45 year old heavy, light years away from his prime, takes a 9 and a half rd pounding from Moorer. And has the heart to hang in and finally find the finisher(oh yeh, forgot , no true one punch power). Its not even rational to say that Foreman has no chance in the first three rds with Lewis...

 

WTF? Since when did Lewis show any lack of heart? He was up against McCall and wanting to continue. George was beaten both mentally and physically vs Ali.


And who said Foreman didn't have a chance in the first few rounds?

 

Lewis, by 8th or 9th round TKO.

 

Because it seems to be getting on your nerves.

 

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I understand what you're saying and realize that you were responding to Waynegrade. But, Foreman did manage to beat Lyle decisively, whereas Lewis barely edged a decision in a match that some felt he lost. Also, Lyle, although 35 years of age, was basically in his prime in 1975. Mercer was hardly peak in 1996, and coming off the worst run of his career. He entered the ring with the recent credentials of a journeyman, if we only look at what he did from about 1992-1996.

 

I beg to differ. First of all, the Mercer's age is deceiving because he peaked very old to begin with. You make it sound like he was 10 years past his best, while in fact he was at most four years past his peak.

Second, on coming off his worst career run: he was always somewhat erratic. Damiani gave him a boxing lesson until that lethal uppercut. Holmes schooled him even worse. Those happened in '91. Despite being 10 pounds lighter than against Lewis, he showed the same stamina problems in '91 as he did in '96.

Third, the loss to Fergusson was in '93, which is closer to his peak (1991) than to the Lewis fight. So i don't see how his recent career run was that bad; especially when one considers he gave Holyfield a really tough fight. He also developed/started using the jab much better from the Holyfield fight on.

Lastly, on Lewis winning a close decision but Foreman decisively beating Lyle, i don't think there's that much between it. Lewis nearly lost a decision, Foreman nearly was KO'd (he saved by the bell in the 4th). The thing to note here is that Lyle was the only puncher who landed on the best version of Foreman, while the same isn't true about Lewis.

 

That's not what I was saying at all. In fact both Lyle and Mercer were 35 years of age when they fought Foreman and Lewis. I do however feel that Mercer had declined, and his resume looked like **** between 1992-1996.

True, but I think he had a bit more snap to his punches in the early 90's than he did in 1996, plus as slow as he always was, may have been a hair quicker and more effective late.

With your incredible attention to detail, If we were to switch places in this, I know for a fact that you would not hesitate to point out that:

A. Ferguson was a shot journeyman who Mercer lost to the first time and barely decisioned in the rematch.

B. His other fights consisted of a majority decision over Mark Wills and a draw with Marion Wilson.

C. His fight with Holyfield was a full year prior to the Lewis match, and Evander was more or less on the comeback trail when Ray was outboxed and even floored by him.

D. Mercer's record within a four year period going into the Lewis fight was 5-3-1-3, and had not beaten a decent opponents in nearly 5 years since his match with Morrison ( who's quality is debatable in hindsite ).

I think most would disagree with you. Foreman rose off the canvas to score a 10 count knockout, and did so early. Lewis was taken to the scorecards, leaving about 35-40% of the spectators uncertain as to who the true victor should have been. I myself felt it was a draw, my friends were divided as to who they felt won. In no way shape or form is this more or even as decisive as knocking out an opponent, regardless of weather or not you were floored along the way. I will also ad that although both Lyle and Mercer were 35 years of age against their respective opponents, Lyle was arguably at a peak stage of his career. I believe he was the ring's number 5 contender or something to that effect. I don't remember what Mercer was at the time, but I seriously doubt that he was even within shouting distance of top 5 in 1996.

True, but McCall was not exactly a knockout artist and he managed to Knock Lewis the **** out, something that didn't happen to Foreman, unless you consider him getting gassed against Ali a chin issue. I personally don't....

 

You ignore the fact that Lewis was gasping for air in the first Rahman fight, which must have had some impact on his loss. Lewis has only himself to blame for that of course. Foreman does have the more solid chin but heart??? A little unfair I would say. When has Lewis ever quit or gave up in a fight? He was trying to continue the fight against McCall when he could barely stand up! Nothing wrong with the boy's heart.

I should also point that Moorer at heavyweight did not exactly possess an iron chin. David Tua, stopped Moorer in the very first round.

 

David Tua was an exceptional puncher who fought Moorer when he was past his prime and on the comeback trail. Foreman KO'd a peak Moorer who had taken direct shots from Evander Holyfield, Bert Cooper and Alex Stewart, not to mention was undefeated in 35 pro fights.

 

Okay.:good

There is no excuse in losing Fergusson, but what i'm saying is that Mercer always has been somewhat susceptible to losing to much lesser opponents. Occasio, a washed up cruiserweight also took him to a split decision, but that was in 1989. Morrison and Damiani were beating him up until he caught them, Holmes never got caught and won a wide decision. Those were in 1992. Then a year after that, he loses to Fergusson, barely wins the rematch and draws with Wilson the year after that. Then he loses to Holyfield and Lewis.

If you want to bring up these fights to show that Mercer could be outboxed, then fair enough.

But my point is that it happened all over his career, in other words, the draw with Wilson or loss to Holyfield wasn't so much because he was old, but more because he always had been susceptible to losing those fights.

For the same reason, his record of 5-3-1 going into the Lewis fight is more a reflection of stepping up in competition and losing during his prime to Fergusson than declining ability.

Mercer was indeed not ranked by Ring magazine going into their fight. Myself i thought it was a clear win by Lewis (who adopted the stupid strategy of trying to knock out someone with an iron chin), even if a very close one.

No, but Young did knock Foreman down and Lyle nearly had him out. This would be forgivable if he proved his chin against other punchers, but he didn't (i'm not including the 90's because he was a completely different fighter there).


As for McCall not being a knockout artist: he wasn't a Tyson, but he surely was a good hitter. In fact, i think he's a better puncher than Lyle. Lyle's only stoppage win against a top opponent came against Shavers (who we all knock has a very weak jaw). McCall has stoppage wins over Akinwande (his only stoppage loss), Seldon, Damiani.

 

It didn't look decisive from where i sat. Foreman was a bee's dick off being ko'ed :huh

What about Jimmy Young then? We're dwelling on bad Lewis outings, so lets talk him.