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

Yes, but he also faced an opponent that wasn't on the level of some other fighters defensively. I think both of these things cancel each out in a way.

I agree and that's all I wanted to say. Someone like Charles could be stopped quickly, but we shouldn't assume that he wouldn't be able to take Foreman's power. There were other insanely powerful fighters in other eras.

I agree that Foreman was fantastic fighter and very dangerous one.

 

I had a sizable reply on the go but got BSOD for the first times in many years and lost it. I will get back to this in coming days ok.

 

Since the point I was making was that one should do more than count up knockdowns, those qualifiers only strengthen my agenda.

 

If you want your point to be that flexible!

Lyle was noticeably bigger than Louis, not that i'm siding with the size queen.

But yeah I'm just as bewildered by the surprising amount of people that think Joe's durability is average or less so i am certainly with you there. Larry Holmes got knocked down and heavily stunned at times too but like Louis he virtually always came out of it. Both could be dropped but they were extremely hard to stop near their best. They were pretty hard to stop well past it too. Louis was often at his most dangerous when dropped as he looked to turn the fight straight back around against aggressive open opponents. Like Holmes he recovered quickly and gave himself the best chance to get past any rocky moments via tactics perfectly suited to his skillset. Both of these guys were very very impressive when hurt.

 

I will point out that even if Young and Ali got him when he was tired, and (arguably in one case; definitely in the other) not for a 10 count, they still knocked the guy down. As did Lyle. Foreman was a bit less durable in ye olde days than his 90s incarnation. Or his defense was worse. Or his opposition was better. Or maybe -- here I wield the Power of Context -- just a bit less lucky.

 

yes agreed

every great champion struggled with a veteran on their way up

Lennox Lewis went distance with cruiser weight Ossie Ocasio

Marciano close fight with tiger Ted Lowry

Louis went distance with Bob pastor

Jack Dempsey went distance with John Lester Johnson

Frazier close fight with bonavena

Tyson fury with McDermott

Ali close fight Doug jones

Liston with Marty marshall

 

Admittedly haven't watched Young-Foreman in a long time but I remember thinking the KD was incorrectly called. I also thought the bout was very close, and that pre-zaire Foreman would've taken advantages of many opportunities he let slide in this fight, and knocked Young out.

 

"Prime" Foreman barely got by 196 lb Gregorio Peralta...and yet...he beats Dempsey?...Louis?

 

I think Mike Tyson is possible loss. If Ali can KO foreman, then so can Tyson who was quicker and more powerful.

 

1. Foreman was nowhere near his prime when he faced Peralta.

2. He decisively beat Peralta.

3. I could just as easily say "Dempsey barely got by Firpo yet he beats Foreman?" or "Louis was dropped by guys like Buddy Baer, Tony Galento, yet he's beating Foreman"?

 

I think Older George 1990s gives Younger George 1970s massive problems! If only it was possible to see THAT!

 

Ali barely got by Doug Jones. No way he beats Foreman.

 

rockyjim

I love you but you’re better than this. How about Marciano barely got by Tiger red Lowry…and yet he beats walcott for the title?

 

Fitzsimmons barely got those bandy legged pants on at 167lb no way he gets them on at 172lb two years later

 

Agreed. Might as well try to squeeze Butterbean into a size 0 tutu.