Holmes convinced me that if he'd been 10 years younger he'd have won. Foreman didn't leave me feeling confident he'd have won at any age.
George Benton was pleading with Holyfield to stop following him to the ropes and commented that he “couldn’t do anything” with Holmes there.
Foreman had the biggest moment in both fights rocking Holyfield in the 7th round which was a memorable round. But I thought Holmes won more rounds and was more competitive overall. To compare the stats..... Holyfield outlanded Foreman 355-188. Holyfield outlanded Holmes 247-207. So Holmes landed more punches and got hit significantly less than Foreman whilst being alot more competitive in overall punches landed. As @Barrf said based on both performances many would pick a prime Holmes to beat a prime Holyfield where as its much more debatable a prime Foreman would beat a prime Holyfield.
Foreman did better on one of the scorecards where as Holmes did better on 2 of the judges scorecards. But realistically it would be hard to see more than 3 rounds that Foreman won where as most people had Holmes winning 4 rounds with a possibility of winning 5. Foreman got hit with over 60 percent of Holyfield's punches and shipped some major punishment. Holmes frustrated Holyfield on the ropes in a tactical fight and got hit less significantly less than Foreman who ate over 100 more punches from Holyfield. So for me no not clearly Foreman at all.
Holmes boxed better, of course, but Foreman had the better smile, the better diction, the most money, the most power, the most Christ, and these are the things this forum is about and the ones which we should be focused on. But Foreman is gone now and he cannot campaign anywhere, I'm afraid. Edit: I'm sorry, I thought this was posted on the noseparationofchurchandstateyaywoohoo.org forum. It also is black and gold.
All things considered they both put forth reasonable efforts. Holmes showed some good guile while foreman hit him damn hard a few times and showed an ATG mandible.
Foreman got hit a lot against Holyfield where as Holmes competed… GF in that bout showed his level for his entire comeback as very obviously below the genuine contenders and champs… even amongst soft touches (Morrison and Stewart etc) he just lacked. Holmes fought and beat a guy like Mercer the exact type Foreman avoided/ducked… fought McCall and Tyson who Foreman wouldn’t touch (he’d fight Tyson but just for the $ he didn’t believe he’d win, Holmes competed again) Holmes was only EVER convincingly beaten by Mike Tyson when he hopped off the couch he was a different breed, against Holyfield he lost but he wasn’t “beaten” not even the way George was against even “The Duke”
