George Foreman's ATG Ranking?

Well he DID beat two undefeated lineal champions when they were both in their twenties emphatically. One of them commonly appears in most people's top 10. He beat contenders in Norton, Lyle, Chuvalo, Rodriguez and Savarese. He beat several decent fringe types in Kirkman, Ledoux, Denis, Stewart, Cooper, Coetzer and a few others. His win list against ranked opposition is slim, but it has quality and the strength of his resume isn't just based on that alone.

 

Indeed. But I'm more interested in ranked opponents when Foreman faced them. A thread was done on this years back by Lufcrazy I believe, but there were many corrections needed to be made. I've also started a thread to see who had the most heavyweight title defenses in history. Just a little project I'm doing and would love everyone's input.

Thank you!

 

I don't rate George that high. He got publicity for his comeback and all that, but that doesn't get guys higher rating. He was a big strong guy in a slow division , so his power made up for his age, which was not as big a factor as people thought taking into consideration how bad the heavyweights were and his power. He lost to Evander and Morrison ( who was not exactly a great fighter), and then won against weak chinned Moorer, who lost in seconds to Tua. I rank him top 15 heavyweight. No better. He demolished Frazier, who was probably a little overrated and too small for Foreman to be walking in to him.And Frazier had a great style for Ali.

 

Hard to not rank him top 10, though George himself, a symptom of his latter day modesty, did not. Critiqued his own performance in both careers, had Patterson 10. I give Foreman some credit for his comeback, though he did cherry pick somewhat, mostly for what he did in his early years,

But anyone who mentiones the Briggs loss without stating that is widely seen as Highway Robbery either does not know a lot about recent HW history or is severely biased. The HBO specail before that match was bemoaning the risk at 48 of continuing, the fix seemed to be in to protect himn, but that was a really excellent win, for all inetents & purposes, at 48.

H efought courageously, you cannot just say :a slow division: when the HWs can beat everyone head to head! Yes he could not beat a peak Holyfield, could at his own peak, even if Evander was PED enhanced. Morrison fought wisely & did not stay in range, another one who would never survive a peak Foreman who would cut off the ring on him.
Just imagine Morrison or Holyfield fighting George at the same (any) ages.

 

Morrison would get beaten by George easily in George's prime, but I think Holyfield does ok. Holyfield was I think mentally tougher than the earlier George, so who knows if Evander cannot win a decision.