How different is George Foreman's legacy..?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Fergy, Nov 27, 2025 at 5:00 AM.


  1. Spreadeagle

    Spreadeagle Active Member Full Member

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    Hmm.....yes you do have a point.I used to think that Holmes would have always beaten
    Big George if they had clashed in the late 70s or early 80s.
    However I now view this as more of a 50/50 fight.Overall of course Larry had more skills
    but Foreman was brilliant at cutting off the ring.If Foreman had trapped Holmes against the ropes
    it could have been bad news for Holmes.
    The winner may have been in doubt but dammit I wish this fight had taken place.It would have
    been an absolute classic.
     
  2. SouthpawsRule

    SouthpawsRule Active Member Full Member

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    Pre-Ali Foreman would torture Young.
     
  3. Dynamicpuncher

    Dynamicpuncher Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I don't agree Foreman never historically thrived against boxer types.

    A former Light Heavyweight in Peralta went 20 rounds with Foreman in 2 fights.

    Young was only ever stopped twice in his career.

    Once by Shavers when he was green as grass thrown into the deep end with only like 10 professional fights.

    Once by Cooney past his prime and that was on cuts.

    Unless Foreman stops Young early he's in for a tough fight.
     
  4. SouthpawsRule

    SouthpawsRule Active Member Full Member

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    Foreman nearly stopped Young in the 7th round in their actual match, Young even said he had no idea how he managed to survive that round. And that was against the most timid version of Foreman who was trying to box with Young in fear of gassing out.

    I don’t like his chances against a rampaging confident version (and no the greener than grass Foreman that fought Peralta hardly counts)
     
  5. Dynamicpuncher

    Dynamicpuncher Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Yes everyone brings up the 7th round but actually forget Young comeback strong at the end of the same round. So I don't see how surviving Foreman’s onslaught and finishing the round stronger is an argument in favour of Foreman.

    Foreman was in his prime in the 2nd Peralta fight and was still extended into the 10th round. And that was against a 36 year old Peralta with over 100 fights at the end of his career.

    Yes Foreman fought more passive vs Young and still gassed out at the end. So if Foreman fights more aggressively vs Young he will gas out sooner if he doesn't stop Young early. And as I said Young isn't historically the easiest fighter to stop and Foreman didn't thrive against boxer types.

    There's no evidence in Foreman’s career that stylistically he would have an easy time with Young.
     
  6. SouthpawsRule

    SouthpawsRule Active Member Full Member

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    Because he could barely survive the onslaught of an ultra-passive and scared Foreman, pre-Ali Foreman will not give him a chance.

    Peralta I was 1 year into his professional career, Peralta II was only 2 years. He wasn't in his prime, compare his matches with Peralta to the ones with Frazier and Norton, his balance, punch selection, accuracy, distance control, all were miles above. He was a young raw prospect struggling with a tricky and experienced veteran, it always happens.

    No, if he fights more aggressively he catches Young earlier and actually TKOs him. Foreman being especially unwell against boxer types is a myth at this point, rope-a-dope only existed because Ali was unable to box Foreman up at range and had to get his hands dirty.

    There is, its in the match itself.
     
  7. Dynamicpuncher

    Dynamicpuncher Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Ultra-passive scared Foreman who had stopped all his opponents in 5 rounds or less after the Ali loss ? coming into the Young fight ?

    Foreman had 27 professional fights when he fought Peralta the 2nd time, he was about a year and a half away from his best performance of his career against Frazier.

    So yes i would say Foreman was very close to his prime when he fought Peralta the 2nd time.

    Unless you're suggesting Foreman’s prime is 1 year for the Frazier, Norton, fights.

    Norton, Frazier, are aggressive come forward fighters who can't fight on the fight on the backfoot nor they can fight a tactical defensive fight. So they have no relevance stylistically in regards to why Foreman had more issues vs Peralta, Young.

    Yes and you're assuming Foreman stops Young early based on what exactly ?

    When has Foreman ever had a notable stoppage against a durable boxer type in his career ?

    Young was stopped twice in 57 fights and one of them was on a cut, and the other was when he was put in the deep end against Shavers after just 10 professional fights.

    Historically Young isn't an easy fighter to stop he's durable with a tricky defensive style.

    Between 1974-1977 Young was in red hot form performing very well against the notable Heavyweights of the golden era like Ali, Norton, Shavers 2, Foreman, Lyle x2.

    Foreman would never have an easy time vs Young during this time frame.
     
    Last edited: Nov 28, 2025 at 1:10 PM
  8. SouthpawsRule

    SouthpawsRule Active Member Full Member

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    You yourself said Foreman fought more passive than normal, don't backtrack. Foreman literally had Young staggering around with head spinning and everything in the 7th round and he just walked up to him. Pre-Ali Foreman would jump across the ring and pummel him to a TKO in that position.

    I thought I made myself pretty clear, go watch his matches after the Peralta bouts, he got a lot better and sharper.

    There's no footage of the rematch, but we do know from eye witnesses that Foreman did a lot better than the first 1st match, cut Peralta over the eye, staggered him with left hooks and stopped him in the 10th round (which actually disproves the idea that he automatically gasses out and becomes useless late into the match)

    I don't know if you have seen the match or not but Peralta didn't even fight a "tactical defensive fight", he caught Foreman with counters up close and actually stood his ground the whole match as Foreman kept coming at him like a bulldozer, Young was jabbing and moving around until Foreman gassed out.

    He nearly did in their actual match despite being passive.

    Idk, Chuvalo?

    You keep repeating these obvious facts but it doesn't matter, we have already seen that even the most timid version of Foreman can hurt Young and come within a brink of stopping him, and this is a way more aggressive, dangerous and offensive Foreman we have here.

    Sure, he'd still win though.