How did George Foreman stay in better shape than Ali and Frazier?

The big punchers don't take as much punishment, because they end their matches quickly.

Frazier had a style that wasn't good for longevity. Ali lost his legs and tool a beating later in his career.

Foreman retired very young.

 

The 2 Georges are definitely the exceptions rather than the rule. Look how mostly all, if not all, of their peers from the 60s and even the 70s have sadly p***ed away. Apart from Ali, Foreman is the oldest living former heavyweight champion.

 

Foreman didn't meet that many top fighters before his first retirement, and while he had some tough fights he didn't have such bruising battles as Ali and Frazier had against each other.

In his second career he was very carefully managed and had even fewer top opponent than in his first. Especially his fight with Holy was very tough, though, and other fighters would show more signs of wear and tear after a battle like that, so good genetics play their part as well.

Guys like Bowe and McClellan took a lot of damage from just a few wars, while guys like LaMotta and Chuvalo seemed very healthy after countless bloody battles. Some are just more lucky with those things than others. Foreman is clearly one of the lucky ones. Healthy with hundreds of millions in the bank. A result of careful management and good genes, I'd say.

 

I just think Foreman was more robust than Ali and Frazier.

 

Do you want grill jokes? Because this is how you get grill jokes.

 

Haven't read all the posts but:
#1: He was NEVER in countless wars. He was stupid, careless, cocky, and 'brain dead' after Zaire against Lyle who wasn't going to KO George; left Ron in a puddle, thought he was dead, and never was the same fighter again (thank goodness Ernie's LH connected just before the bell)
#2: He took over a decade off. The only shot he took during that time was a taste of marinade sauce.
Sidebar: I can't think of a fighter I hated so much and came to love him years later!