How Would A Young Foreman Have Done In The 1990s?

From one guy who has an “Agenda” against George Foreman to another I think this post is pretty much it. Funnily enough 70s Foreman’s career would do well to resemble Old Foreman’s he’d need to be managed perfectly to keep the damage from adding up, putting a guy with a defence like that in with Ruddock x2 would be risky, stunting and prematurely age the guy if he went 1-1 and wanted a third for $ he’d be damaged goods by 95-96 and likely be on Post Prison Tysons chopping block…. Holyfield likely outlasts and breaks his psyche before the ball even gets rolling, ideally he’d fight the exact same line up as Old GF but I don’t think he’d have the same commercial success to have a career like that…

 

True; he couldn't ride the Boomer nostalgia wave like 90s George did. Big punchers in that weight class weren't uncommon in the 90s...if he still has a gold medal by the thread terms, that might help to steer him away from dangerous turns in the river.

In reality, contrary to the Foreman apologists, who try to preserve pre-Ali Foreman from criticism by making him fragile, I think he was made of pretty resilient stuff even before his religious conversion. The real 70s Foreman would probably adapt to the 90s, develop a skillset like his older equivalent, take the same chemical assistance as everybody else in that era was taking, and bounce back. But then, in that case, we are no longer talking about the actual Foreman of history whom we can see on film. We are talking about an imaginary Foreman character, and have no way of judging his capabilities.

So, sadly, I suppose we are stuck with the Foreman of history, who can only improve as far as he did in the 70s. And that Foreman needs careful management. But he might still prove psychologically resilient despite being small, crude, and dehydrated.

 

Ray Mercer also had a gold medal and it only went so far.

 

He would do very well.

Pre 97 Lewis has very little chance vs Foreman and i would even favour George over the post 97 version.

Bowe avoided big punchers and my guess is he would avoid Foreman too.

 

He would do alright but would get be outclassed at the top levels. There weren't as many midgets to bounce around in the 1990's.

 

Hmm, OK.

In that case, depending on the chosen timeframe, sure there would be situations with George being the underdog just because natural ageing and accumulative tear and wear.

In RL Big George became HW champion when he was 24, and actually he was just starting to peak out when his development was cut short by Ali.

Assuming in this alternative timeframe that George is 24 in 1990, and since there is not Ali around and No Kinhasa, I would confidently give him at least 5 prime years.

So the question is: Who could take a young prime Big George down between 1990 - 1995?

- Tyson was already beat by Tokyo Douglas in 1990 and everything went downhill from then on. By 1992 he was in jail and wouldn't be back until 1995, a shell of himself. In this timeframe Tyson is manhandled by Big George if they ever cross paths.

- Holmes: by 1990 Larry was already an old man, who had been beaten by Spinks and Tyson, and actually retired ... twice. In RL, Holmes was beaten in 1992 by Holy, therefore: in this timeframe old Larry is decapitated by young Foreman who goes to jail and makes Tyson his prision bytch.

- Holyroid: in RL Holy became HW champion in 1990, so his development would roughly match Big George's, being his prime challenger. I can imagine Big George and Holyroid running a trylogy for the HW world titles between 1990 - 1995. But Holyroid was not invencible, losing to Bowe in 92 and Moorer in 94, thus I think Big George had the upper hand, winning two out of three.

- Bowe: he would be also a dangerous one... if he comes to fight. A motivated, focused, in shape Bowe would give Big George the fight of his life. But that Bowe was frequently missing. In RL Holy beat him in 93, thus in my opinion Big George has the upper hand here too, winning two out of three.

Lewis: Another dangerous one. He became world champion in 1992, but lost to McCall in 94 and actually didn't fight Holyfield until 99, thus I see him a level below Big George who probably beats him three out of three.

- Moorer: gimme a break, Moorer wouldn't last six rounds versus young Big George.

- Everybody else: just punching bags for Big George to practice.

All in all, in this hypothetical 1990 - 1995 timeframe only Holyroid, Bowe and maybe Lewis have some chance of beating Big George, but always as underdogs; thus I wouldn't be surprised at all if he goes undefeated between 1990 - 1995.

 

Foreman was still in his prime when he retired. Assuming the religious vision happens regardless, he retires in 1995 and is at peak second-career shape around 2009. I think he can grab the WBA with some luck. Wlad and Vitali have the other three locked down by the time Foreman returns.

He probably gets a belt in both stages of his career, but is unlikely to nab lineal unless he gets somebody like Moorer at just the right moment in career 1.

 

I think young Foreman beats 91 Holyfield but loses in a rematch

Id favor young Foreman to beat everyone in the early 90s era (minus Holyfield in a series) but hes not unbeatable

I could see someone like Tony Tucker beating him. Foreman could always be outboxed.

 

You think an unseasoned fighter with very few rounds is versatile enough for the whole 90s? In this scenario Ferg green lighted a 1991 bout with Tyson - 5 years after Frazier he was retired and only technically active for like 3? Not even 4.

 

1. Tyson won two wars against Ruddock. Ruddock was bigger than Foreman. had a better gas tank, and was comparable in strength and power to Foreman. Foreman didn’t win any wars with guys like 91 Tyson or even Ruddock (Lyle is a stretch) in the 70s.
2. Green Lewis detonated on Ruddock and also beat guys like Mason, Bruno, and Tucker. He had good preparation for a guy like Foreman. Foreman didn’t really have good preparation for Lewis other than getting drilled by Lyle and Ali.

 

This all also takes place per the OP as having happened after Holyfield and Tyson in 91. So two potential losses, I personally think if he’d lost the title shot to Holyfield he’d be run over by Tyson and be easy pickings considering how he dealt with Ali, imagine what going 0-2 by brutal KO-TKO loss instead of gassing to Ali would do to him. There is no scenario the guy who only fought for 3-4 years after Frazier toughs out the true “Golden era” let alone dominates lol opponent type at best if he is forced to fight the whole decade by otherworldly forces and doesn’t just quit the spot.

 

I can see Foreman beating Holyfield, actually because Foreman’s resume going into it it would be abysmal, Evander would probably be overconfident enough to have a Bert Cooper moment and possibly lose by upset (I don’t think it’s likely but slightly possible) a 2nd fight with a real plan where he isn’t just dancing in night clubs for hours and he’d turn him into a bobble head.

 

Just look at how Ruddock’s career panned out. And if Ruddock landed a huge shot on Frazier (first fight), there’s not even that much stopping him from repeating Foreman’s 70s career.

 

He’d be hyped because of his power. His management would do things like set him up to beat the absolute crap out of the shell of Pinklon Thomas. I think Holyfield would bring his A game.

 

That’s a good point, he’d have an equal opportunity to also have a reputation for a great jab that he will never use when he descends into full caveman like Foreman too LOL.