George Foreman s Greatness,, With out His Comeback?

No comeback, his final fight being a decision loss to Young.

Where's he ranked as opposed to coming back years later and regaining the lineal title?

 

Probably much lower than where he's rated by most now. What he accomplished after that long layoff was truly amazing. As I've mentioned before, many darn good Heavyweights would rank higher all time with George's second career as their only career.

 

As usual dj, nail on the head!
Yes, if a guy had just gone through Foreman s second life in the ring, then we'd have said "Not bad at all ''.
So adding, beating Smokin Joe Frazier, Kenny Norton, Chuvalo and Lyle!

I can't really imagine Foreman ever been as respected if he'd called it day with Jimmy Young. Not like he is now.
A Liston type guy perhaps, always stuck in that 70 s scowl.

 

As it is, I rate Foreman over Frazier and Tyson in the top 10 ATGs. Had he not come back he would have been out of the top 15.

...hmm, maybe. I'd be debating whether he was above or below Bowe.

 

Intresting answer. That question, above or below Bowe. We'd never dream of it really now, putting the two at the same level etc. But if he stops at Young!?

 

Bowe has one valuable name in his resume (Holyfield), Forman has at least two only in his "first career" (Frazier and Norton).

 

Went from being Max Baer the second to top ten

 

That could be the deciding factor. I'd still have to rate 70s Foreman over Fury for sure.

To be fair, prime and undefeated Holy is a GREAT name.

 

I'd wager a lot of guys would perfer to have a prime Holyfield on there resume then the Frazier, Foreman beat.

 

No man other than Foreman beat Frazier as easily as he did, plus his first career resume is still more impressive than Bowe’s overall. But without the second career he is likely out of top 10 and under Frazier, Liston, and maybe even Patterson.

 

To be fair, undefeated Frazier (the first to defeat Muhammad Ali) is also a big name.

 

I'm completely with you on this. People have grounds to question the prime of Frazier (especially after FOTC), but he was undefeated and under 30 when George knocked the crap out of him.

 

He didn't need his second career to blow Max Baer out of the water.

 

I will def not agree with you there. Max Baer was a great fighter with a great list of wins. Certainly not perfect though.

 

That's not the point I think.