How good was prime George Foreman?

Overrated. Stylistically, I think that he would have had a more difficult time in other eras, for example against some of the mobile 80s heavyweights, Holyfield and the 90s-00s super heavies, and maybe even little guys like Walcott and Charles. Clobbers everyone else though (even Sam Langford and Gentleman Jim).

Very poor technique and balance, poor stamina, etc. Ali's win over him in Zaire remains one of the most overrated in the history of boxing lore.

 

Foreman would overpower the 1900's to 1960's era anywhere after 1969...well check his record!The 80's guys like Tucker/hol;mes and maybe even straight headed ****ey defeats a 70's Foreman.

Heres the kicker.....foremans prime was not in the 70's it was in the 90's!Prime is not age its when you are at your peak performance or top level.90's foreman defeats anyone in the early mid 80's other than Holmes.We know how he does in the 90's and if you we put 70's foreman in the 90's to take 40 year old foremans place he gets battered by practically all the tops...Bowe/Holyfield/Lewis/Morrison/Golota/Tyson/Mercer/etc...


How do I rank him as a whole? He was the second best fighter of the 70's despite losses to young and battered by lyle he was more consistant than they were....in the 90's he wasn't the guy or boogeyman anymore this was due to the super HW era and stronger ,more skilled fighters,to his credit he held hisown but he has questionable wins in that era and throughout his carer has several ducks including...Quarry,Shavers,Holmes,Bowe,Ruddock,lewis,Tyson,Tucker,Shultz,,i just cant take this guy to a level of decent,he was lucky against Moorer and he has that.Hes a top 10 ATg but hes about number 8 or 9.Hes really to me best known for his chin in the 90's and overall power not a very skilled guy when compared to the others.

 

Foreman wouldn't have won a title in the 90s...

 

He was one of the greatest of all time.

 

Hitting a stand in your face 5'11 pounder with little defense is different than a 6'3 moving target with reach,Ali did lay on the ropes but foreman was way to close to land clean face shots,he was a terrible thinker in the 70's,he got by on being bigger than his opponets he only outweighed Ali by less than 5 pounds ali was physical,smart and let foreman do all the work for him.

 

Prime Foreman was a large heavyweight for his day with ferocious punching power and a very good chin. He had the power to topple anyone. However he was not without flaws, he was slow of foot and hand and had stamina issues. His ring IQ was also mediocre. A boxer that could move and had a good chin could expose him and two did Ali and Young. Yes Young fought him after Clancy began to tinker with Foreman but I suspect Foreman would always trouble with a mover with a good chin. Partly why a fight with Holmes never materialized. His two biggest wins were against an undersized come forward swarmer in Frazier and a weak chinned can't fight going backwards Norton. They both played into George's strength.
I would grant Foreman ATG status but I would also admit his record is heavily padded in both his original form and his comeback form. Comb through his ledger and consistent quality opposition is lacking. If Foreman had not retired I think he would of defeated the majority of late 70s contenders as the division had deterioted but I believe he would of been picked off by a few mid 80s guy once he hit mid 30s. Pretty certain of it. Tucker for one. Bonecrusher would have a shot. Carl Williams etc.

 

Exactly! It was pretty incredible. Watching that fight for the first time in a decade made me reconsider a lot of my prior views about the top heavyweights.

 

Foreman would be old by time the time of Witherspoon and Williams I don't think it would harm Ali's result. If he lost to Holmes in say 80 then yeah it loses it's luster. The fact Foreman skipped the 80's an entire decade and then held his own against Holyfield (another fighter made for Foreman) really only further enhanced Ali's win.

 

True, good point.

 

George had his obvious flaws, but I'm surprised how he's being savaged here. What always fascinated me about Foreman was that -yes, he was slow and through looping punches- but because of his natural strength and power, he was still an ultra-dangerous force. He is an example of how you don't always have to do things by the book to be successful.

And he deserved a rematch with Ali.

 

"Foreman fought like a drunk that night."

Agree.

I've never felt right about that fight.

 

Do you think it was a fix?

 

Foreman would of had no trouble in any era. He would have been dominant. Ali was that good to make Foreman look as he did.