George Foreman v Muhammad Ali, round 1

Did he?

I recall hearing him commentate during the fight, so that's without all hindsight knowledge, and he was saying somewhere during round 5 or 6 that Foreman was fighting a stupid fight, wasting energy.

But yeah, for every Frazier who hated Ali, there was a judge who gives Ali rounds in which he doesn't land a single blow, like Young-Ali.


By the way, i think if anything, this round shows how vulnerable Foreman was to a technically correct, straight puncher.

 

Again, just a brilliant analysis.

I see it the same way. I've also always been impressed by how he positions himself for the right-hand lead without giving it away. You're probably right that George gets wise afte a while, though. Actually Foreman has one nice move in this round as well. It's about halfway into the round, when he backs Ali into the corner, feints a right and then catches Ali with a left hook as he ducks from the feint. I think it might be the first shot he lands in the fight.

I've always wondered why Ali slows down in the last minute of that round. Is he having second thoughts already? Probably. Because even if he bewilders George to begin with, Foreman walks right through those right hands and Ali knows that he can't keep up that pace for long under those conditions.

 

Yeah, Louis might very well be the worst possible match-up for George from a stylistical stand point. I think it is an interesting thought what kind of fight plan Moore and Sadler would device for Foreman against Louis. He would probably need to work more from behind his excellent jab and be more patient, but I wonder if young Foreman had that in him.

 

Well, i think Ali slowed down because George ate everything Ali threw while Ali himself felt every punch George landed. That made him think and finally change tactics. And obviously he knew he couldn´t go that pace for the whole fight.

 

The link gave me the pre fight stuff. Let me look deeper and relive it. For life the 20th time. Great fight.

 

This round proves rope-a-dope was winged by Ali.

Like you very elegantly described Ali outboxed Foreman in the first.

I would disagree with conclusion about why Ali changed tact. I think it was because Ali was shattered and knew he could not keep up the hit and move tactics for up to 15 rounds.

I think Ali to a point got lucky; actually that is harsh, Foreman was stupid by following Ali to the ropes. Dundee hated it; you could here him telling Ali between rounds to get off the ropes.

It should also be noted, (the now Sir) David Frost, actully coined rope-a-dope in the post fight interview, not Ali/Dundee...

 

A shining example of Ali's sheer genius in the ring. His adaptability and brilliant ring smarts are on perfect display. Who would have dreamed he would come out looking to land some heavy leather straight away. Ali simply could not be intimidated, but he was quick to test the feared Liston out of the ring and Foreman inside it without hesitation.

 

Apart from his boxing ability, he must be one of the if not the most annoying person to fight that i can think of. Hell, even Liston feared him:

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This was after Liston took a dive/quit, by the way.

 

I'm thinking Liston's fear in fight 2 wasn't so much Ali as external factors, but we will never know of course.

 

simply amazing ..bravo on the observations

 

Ali was brilliant, no question.
I have nothing constructive to add here, but excellent analysis, good points McGrain!

 

Thanks.

Yes, Ali was a master of distance and timing, using his nonpareil movement and reflexes to hit without getting hit, and he used it to good effect in this round.

But Foreman was a juggernaut. And he knew boxing. He was swift on his feet, cut off the ring well and was immediately always on top of his slippery foe. He connected with a perfectly-timed left hook (signed by a knowing smile to Ali's mock, "but-that-actually-hurt", face, after a missing Ali left, and there was nothing illegal about the barrage of heavy blows he delivered with both hands on Ali against the ropes. He showed quite a varied arsenal with his trademark short left uppercut and huge overhand right, keeping Ali back on his heels.

In fact, as someone has said, Foreman walked through Ali's rights while making his own blows count. I'm sure Foreman hurt Ali more in this round than vice versa.

So, even though it was fascinating to see Ali's courage in brazenly throwing straight rights on a champion just about every other man on the planet was afraid to **** off with shots, Joe Frazier was right in saying this was a pretty even round. In fact, on sheer punches landed and punishment delivered, I have always given it slightly to Foreman. Diminishing returns was the reason Ali switched tactics in the very next round.