If George Foreman had to fight against every heavyweight Champion before him how would he fare?

**** I missed it! Should've known you never know with Mark

 

The Antman, outslicking top shelf posters since May 4, 2017!!!!

 

I'll take this as asking about every champ before prime Foreman.

Some guys might catch him simply by being surprising, like Ingo or Walcott, but it's more likely he can push these guys off balance, trap them, and club them.

Liston allegedly was strong enough, per Foreman's account, and more skilled. So that's one who could Lyle him.

Ali, obviously.

Louis, maybe. Louis got out-slicked occasionally, but did anybody ever come to brawl with a prime Louis and win?

Maybe Schmeling over 15, playing the survival game for a while? Peralta survived against Foreman for some time, and it took a motivated Baer time to grind/foul Schmeling down. Foreman had a lot of advantages over Baer, but stamina wasn't particularly one.

I doubt Dempsey does it, but per tradition, he's one of the better pre-Foreman champs you'd pick to have a chance.

I don't see anybody from the Johnson era doing it unless they're able to play the wrestling game with small gloves. And even then, Foreman did a lot of that stuff anyway. And they'd have to be able to take Foreman's shots delivered with 5 oz gloves...

Charles might be able to, if he chose to fight ultra-negatively a la Young. He had the skill. But would he? Dunno. Probably not.

 

This is true, Bowe was typically as likely as Holy to mix it up. Fatal against Foreman.

 

I can agree with this…although I think a few are 50/50. I could see Charles, Holmes, and Lewis being pretty even money. Although many may not agree with the Charles pick I think he had the skills and chin to win in his prime or at least trouble him

 

Ali , he loses. Liston in his prime , he probably losses, the only other threat to him is prime Joe Louis. But Louis would need to be at his countering best, and defensively sound. No laspes of concentration like his fight against Galento Everyone else, I believe he destroys. Maybe Conn or Tunney could prolong the fight. But eventually he'd over power them.

 

Without a doubt, no question he loses in a side if it’s all at once.

 

My assessment is Louis had never been hit the way Foreman could, and he wouldn't hold up to it. Louis had a phenomenal recovery but when Foreman sensed someone fading he could come on viciously especially in during his first career. Even an elder Foreman I would give the odds to over Joe Louis. Joe Louis footwork was ergonomic but not elusive, especially not enough to evade Foreman who is known as a master of cutting off the ring.

I will speak on the fighters I am most familiar of. But I think the most weak styles against Foreman are short pressure fighters, and patient tactical fighters with little footwork.

I think Jack Dempsey would at the least frustrate him but be put down, Foreman's long guard would work against Dempsey much like Frazier I imagine.

Gene Tunny might be able to handle his beating for a few rounds, but the accounts giving of how he stood toe-to-toe with Greb give me the feeling his willingness to be game enough to stand and throw in front of puncher Foreman and Tunney, like Louis was too much of a think-man's boxer to fight Foreman's swarming style. Not to discredit Foreman in his prime, I think he was a very tactically advanced fighter, granted more so the latter half of his career when he was much wiser.

Primo Carnera I would give a decent chance, if we are talking about a Primo with the footwork that he had earlier in his career.

Ezzard Charles, Jersey Joe, Rocky, and Patterson might put up some fight, but I see them all struggling as much as Frazier, though not in the same ways. Determined champions who just can't take Foreman's punishment. I see these fights more of an issue of physical disadvantages than stylistic mismatches.

Sonny Liston I give a very good chance. Foreman himself said Sonny was the only person to ever make him back up and for the flak Liston gets he had a beautiful left jab.

 

I agree with the thoughts Conn or Tunney might prolong the fight, that's well said.

 

I'm close to your camp Flash. We know post exile Ali beats the monster at his best. I'd narrowly side with Liston too. I'd call Louis close to evens and have Lewis 40-60.

I personally don't think Conn or Tunney would prolong much of anything tho. He'd cut them off and pound them somewhere. He knew how to find that body and i don't think it would take too many blows on guys this size to get ugly.

 

I class him as head to head effective, but not head to head versatile.

 

This assume prime Foreman.

Before him: Louis, Ali
After him: Holmes, Tyson.

50/50 about Liston. But I favor him over everyone else.

 

Foreman would absolutely smoke Jack Johnson

 

We'll never know. Johnson was very tricky and he knew how to neutralize opponents in clinches.

 

Jersey Joe lost 29% of his fights but he is going to beat George? So, George couldn't qualify to be among 30% of Joe's best opponents?