George Foreman fighting from 1980-1991

Larry Holmes would of found his ginger Rodgers and maybe Tyson two depending on Foreman`s age, I feel Tony Tucker may have beaten Foreman in the late 80`s though so that makes things a bit more complicated, there would of been a string of big fights, Bruno would have been blown away by George at one stage or another ended all that British bull**** about the super hook that hit Tyson, also assuming Tyson still ditches Rooney and he meets Foreman maybe for a second time then Mike will be blown away, changing the second stage of his career depending who he lost to first after ditching Rooney, it`s a very hard question.

 

Another day, another heavyweight thread that I've seen discussed a literal hundred times before...

 

Maybe there should be a forum where the new guys can do all threads that have already been done a literal dozen times?

 

Holmes is the only one to give him trouble

 

Holmes wins the belt from norton and history isnt too different. Has his super fight with cooney, bears shavers, etc. Meanwhile, prospect foreman feasts on cans until he steps up taking on c and b level guys like scott ledoux, bernardo mercado, etc, making a name for himself in ring magazine. Holmes continues his career as normal and eventually sides with the IBF after deastroting marvis frazier. Foreman demolishes Don Kings stable in snipes, thomas, etc. In 1982 he fights Witherspoon for the WBC belt. He has trouble with a green witherspoon but KOs him in a brutal war in the 7th but not without exposing his lack of stamina and trouble with technical boxers.

In 1983 Holmes and Foreman are talking trash and hype builds up similar to the current wilder/joshua situation. Their managers wisely advise them to take on similar opponents to guage how theyd do. Foreman picks the fleet footed technical greg page while Holmes defends against the large hard hitting bonecrusher smith. Holmes stops smith after an intense battle similar to their first fight in the regular timeline. Foreman loses many rounds to the technically superior page, but for some strange reason page gets complacent and gives away rounds. This allows foreman to rally and land body shots, roughhouse, and slow down page and slowly turn things around. Foreman wins a split decision in an ugly fight after dropping page in the 11th and 15th rounds.

In 1985 holmes and foreman eventually clash. Holmes schools foreman with his brilliant jab, footwork, and uppercuts foreman whenever he bores inside. Foreman doesnt know what to do and its a repeat of the page fight (except larry is focused, wont get tired). Larry has a scary moment getting dropped by a sledgehammer right in the 10th thrown by a desperate, wheezing foreman but its not enough. Larry wins by unanimous decision. Foreman hires eddie futch in 1986 nd secludes himself to figure out how to pace himself and use his brain. Holmes meanwhile, kos leon spinx to stay busy. They have a rematch and a pissed off foreman actually establishes his own powerful jab to let holmes know he isnt gonna just stand there or chase after him. Larry is frustrated, and his footwork wont save as foreman simlly cuts off the ring. Eventually, foreman lands a vicious body shot and pummels larry into submission in round 5. Foreman has the wbc and ibf titles.

Meanwhile, tyson has beaten his first big test in james tillis and steps up against berbick. He destroys berbick then challenges tucker for the wba in 1988. After beating tucker, tyson is challenged by michaek spinx. He koes spinx and confidently challenges foreman. Foreman stops tyson in 6 brutal rounds with both men hitting the canvas. Foreman is undisputed.

Holmes makes a comeback challenging carl williams to find a way to overcome a jab battle. He then fights ruddock for the style matchup to prepare for a 3rd foreman fight. He stops ruddock after 11 rounds. In 1989, former undisputed cruiserweight champ steps up to heavyweight to face contender michael dokes. He beats dokes then challenges tyson in 1990. Holyfield beats tyson and becomes the #1 contender.

Holmes calls out foreman for one last hurrah. In their third, magnificent fight holmes barely manages to win a sd. A devastated foreman retires. Holmes and holyfield fight for all 3 belts in 1991. By now holmes, while still a technically sound master boxer, is past his prime after his wars with norton, foreman, etc. He loses a close decision to a prime holyfield.

Foreman makes a comeback in 2001 and kos lennox lewis to sell the lean mean, fat reducing crockpot machine.

 

Thats...possible. in the actual post i had spinx attempting to grab a belt from tyson and loses like in the main timeline. However with so many big sharks active and fighting for the belt, idk if spinx would be confident to even try.

For example, if walcott, moore, marciano, max baer, schmeling, louis, etc were all born the same year and fought in the 30's all fighting each other for the belt, i doubt billy conn would even try to move up. He wouldnt want any parts of such an intense, competitive era.

Historically, light heavies usually only succeed or move up during weak or transitional eras. Roy jones grabbed an abc belt from a relatively weak john ruiz for example. Chris Byrd fought a way past his prime Holyfield, etc. When the era is full of talented, big strong prime contenders like the 70's, early 90's, etc, few people try to move up from a lower weight class.

Spinx would have to catch foreman while hes still green and learning to beat him. No way would he beat a veteran or even somewhat experienced and confident 30 something and 0 aggressive foreman.

 

It would screw up his career. I don’t think he’d beat Holmes or Tyson.

 

Foreman vs Cooney in 81 would have been explosive. Cooney might even have won given that in this thread scenario, Foreman would have only turned pro a year earlier.

 

Let's take a look at who the tile holders were.

WBA-
1989-82 Weaver
1982-83 Dokes
1983-84 Coetzee
1984-85 Page
1985-86 Tubbs
1986-86 Witherspoon
1986-87 Smith
1987-90 Tyson

WBC-
1978-84 Holmes (Stripped)
1984-84 Witherspoon (Vacant vs. Page)
1984-86 Thomas
1986-86 Berbick
1986-90 Tyson

IBF-
1984-85 Holmes (Declared)
1985-87 M. Spinks (Stripped)
1987-87 Tucker (Vacant vs. Douglas)
1987-90 Tyson

All roads lead to Tyson... but then they lead to Douglas and Holyfield. Holyfield beat Foreman in '91.

WBO-
1989-90 Damiani (Vacant vs. du Plooy)
1990-91 Mercer (Vacated)
1992-93 Moorer (Vacant vs. Cooper, Vacated)

Foreman beat Moorer in '94.

 

I think Foreman would have been great in any era. Young Foreman is more explosive but not as experienced. He may have hit the deck vs. a guy like Cooney, maybe even Bonecrusher... but I doubt it. I think Holmes beats him by decision but I think he stops Tyson, he beats everyone else.

 

I think George Foreman would've beaten everyone who Holmes beat, although he may have a few close calls. I say that Holmes would out box Foreman in a classic fight in which he sends Holmes to the deck. I think Tyson would stop Foreman, but Foreman rocks him with an uppercut, but Tyson's overall speed and chin would make the difference. A short, but memorable fight. Guys like Tucker and Douglas and Thomas, if they are "on" could be serious threats to Foreman. Assuming Foreman fought through this decade, even undefeated, I think by 1990-91, he would be ready to be taken by a prime time Evander Holyfield who stops him via TKO.