George Foreman vs Jack Johnson, How competitive would it be?

Cant we just say....Jack Johnson on film looked very much inferior to a 70's Foreman = S'all about the era.

 

Johnson is one of the smartest heavyweights ever, possibly the greatest boxer at blocking single punches and has almost unmatchable durability. Foreman throws wide punches one at a time and has shown stamina issues. The more I think about, the more I like Johnson in this one

 

What was negative in Johnsons era would not have been negative in the 70s, and anyway Foreman did not apply enough sustained pressure to trouble Johnson on the cards.

Foremans only shot at this is a knockout.

 

I gotta go with George.

Johnson would make it too physical. A huge part of his game was the clinch, the mauling. George was just too powerful, he'd do too much damage every time he had free space to punch.

I think Johnson is the overall better rounded fighter, but he usually beat men just as much through his physical presence as his technical skill.

 

What I know is that if you fought out of a crouch you were fighting from a huge disadvantage with George. If you fought tall and defensive you had a good chance of being able to withstand the onslaught.

Johnson was not a puncher...he could hit hard. He was more surgical with his punches and probably took his foot off the KO gass to torment his opponents. I believe that barring Big George landing a ruthless shot, I'd take Johnson. He is just smarter fighter. He is strong and tough..fight more than 20 rounds in some fights with everyone one in the stands hating him.

Johnson on points. (But he had better be very carefull)

 

Johnson didn´t fight anyone with the level of power of a George Foreman though, we don´t know if he could handle it like Young or Ali did.....
Johnson was smart so I don´t think he would believe that he could handle Foreman in the clinchs....would he had the jab and footwork to outbox George ? Do you think so ? I don´t see in any of his fights evidence for that, except the one with Flynn (IIRC) where he uses the jab fairly well.....obviously Foreman was very good with his offensive footwork and wouldn´t be easy for sure to keep George at distance....

 

Johnson faced himself against hookers and people slower than him... He would certainly view foreman as somebody he could take.. .and I think.. probably would take.

 

Johnson would move, slip, spoil and sharp-shoot to victory. He is much smarter than Foreman and would never be intimidated.

Unless you're Tyson or Louis or Dempsey, you don't outfight Foreman; you tire him out and then get him, and Lil' Arthur is uniquely qualified for the job.

 

Johnson seems to have the right style to defeat Foreman, lots of spoiling and smothering sneaky counter-punching on the inside.

On the other hand, as strong as Johnson was, Foreman might just brute his way out of trouble, push Johnson around and land something fight-changing. There's always that chance with Foreman. And I don't think Johnson's chin was granite.

 

Hard fight to call.

A lot depends on whether Johnson can tie up Foreman.

As far as George shoving Johnson goes: first, we have to see whether the referee allows it; also, even if the referee does, Johnson presents a much different situation than Frazier. Frazier was definitely looking to get in and work; George would shove Frazier back before he could get inside. Johnson would have either looked to draw outside punches from George, counter and tie up; if Foreman got tired of this, Johnson would try to induce him to get closer, close distance as Foreman started to get medium range, hit George with short punches and tie up. The question is, can Foreman time Johnson (with shove or punch) as Johnson is trying to move from long range to short range? Will the referee allow shoves? Would Johnson be able to deflect the shove and come in with short punches. Also, will Johnson try to punch on the break, and would the referee allow it. Also, free-thumb or attached thumb gloves? And what is the rounds limit?

If Johnson can tie up George, and if he can neutralize the shove, or has an anti-shove referee, it's an upstream fight for Foreman. But these are big if's, and even at that a Foreman punch may be able to detatch Johnson from his skills and timing.
If Johnson can't tie up Foreman, whether to being rejected by shove, or if Foreman is too strong, then it could be a very bad day for Jack.

 

Foreman rolls over him like a wave. Good at blocking single shots? Try and parry a Foreman uppercut singlehanded.

Ali could tie Foreman up. Johnson was as masterful as Ali in the clinch, but not nearly as physically strong. He can't control this man up close.

 

Ali is stronger than Johnson? Good lord what is this forum coming to

 

Ali certainly didn´t beat Foreman because he was stronger than Foreman, but because he could sustain the damage an inexperienced Foreman gave to him......could Johnson handle the type of agression, power and strenght Foreman brings to the ring ?
We don´t know, Johnson never faced a guy close to Foreman in those attributes...

 

You seem exasperated. On what basis do you presume it to be obvious that Jack Johnson is physically stronger than Muhammad Ali, in clinches or otherwise?

Edit: Just to be clear, I never meant that Ali was physically stronger than George Foreman. Ali practiced his clinching extensively in sparring, and was strong enough to hold Foreman when he wanted to.

 

I'm not going to argue with somebody that thinks Ali is stronger than Johnson functionally or otherwise.. That is just silly talk and I see no point in engaging in it.