George Foreman vs Larry Holmes - Fight That Never Happened

Holmes. The prime Holmes was incredible durable with a BIG heart.Foreman ? Too slow and his stamina
was questionable.

 

If someone like Shavers can knock Holmes down then I dont see why a much better fighter like Foreman cant. Id favor him 65/35

 

I'd give Larry the slight edge.

 

I recently re-watched Holmes' fight with Mike Weaver, whom Holmes struggled to keep off him and was badly hurt on a few occasions. It's not a big stretch to see Foreman going one better.

 

I always imagined a fight between these two going Like this

Foreman comes out like he always did ,trying to smash his opponents head off .Holmes would spend at least the first 5 rounds avoiding any contact hardly a part from a few quick jabs .But Larry s just playing the long game .By the 7 th Holmes is standing his ground more ,while George is lookin arm weary .But there would be a shock kd against Larry around the 9 t h but he'd get up and survive .By now George is blowing hard and Larry's jab has made his eye swollen tight. Finally just before the last round ,Larry tags him ,sending him crashing .Foreman doesn't even make it up at ten .

 

I see it real similar, but think the end would come slightly earlier around 9 or 10, and minus Larry getting knocked down...

 

In their primes, It would would end in a draw.

Theyre perfect dance partners. Each has a strength and weakness that cancels the other's.

 

IDK, he had trouble with a puncher by another name.... Mike Weaver. See here:

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George Foreman was bigger than and better than Weaver and hit at least just as hard. At least.

Holmes would have to marshal all of his resources to win because this wouldn't be an easy fight. But ill slightly favor Holmes.

 

I can see either man winning.

You can say "if Jimmy Young could outbox Foreman, then what would Larry to do him?"

Or you can say "If Larry struggled with Shavers, Snipes, and Weaver, then Foreman would kill him."

I will very, very narrowly favor Foreman and add that if the fight took place when they were 45, Foreman would have blasted Larry to pieces.

 

I'd narrowly favor pre Ali version Foreman to get him out of there. He was something else. It's all about Holmes getting past 5 or 6.

 

Tough call. I believe old Larry beats old Foreman. Too crafty durable and too good on his feet for George to pin him down.
The prime version is very interesting fight. I used to believe Larry wins, and Larry did beat better competition than George imo. But George was great at cutting the ring off and was good at catching the Jab larry’s Best weapon. Just a matter if his gas tank would hold up. George has his moments and hurts Larry but fades late and either gets stopped or loses close decision

 

Holmes by close decision, survives a few scary moments

 

But who they fought isn’t going to impact this or even dictate how this would play out. Holmes would fight him closer to Ali (without sitting in the ropes IMO) , than Frazier.

I agree with @Fergy that Holmes would be cautious the first 4 (maybe even 6) rounds, looking to limit damage and perhaps outbox to a lead., then around 7-8 Larry takes more and more opportunities. Fergy thinks Larry gets caught and dropped, I think it is possible but feel Larry does not go down. Then Larry clearly in control stops him around 10.