If George Foreman hadn't paused his career...

This was the intro piece to his last fight (Shannon Briggs) which has some good opinions on how George would have done if he hadn't stopped...

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(skip to 17:15 to hear George answer this very question)

 

That made me feel bad for him.

 

Holmes would have outboxed him and Foreman doesn’t see any significant wins during the 80’s while Holmes passes the torch to Tyson. Foreman loses a close UD to Tyson in a brutal fight. His career is derailed and likely never gets his title shot with Moorer.

 

Imo that wasn't prime Foreman. That was a Foreman, who changed trainers, who wasn't as confident as he was a few years earlier and who flew to Puerto Rico a few days before the fight, with no time to acclimatize to the heat.
I think the Foreman from '73-'74 would knock Jimmy out in the early rounds.
And correct me if im wrong, but didnt Don King tell Foreman to delay the knockout?

 

So many excuses. No, he wouldn’t KO him early he’d meet the same fate.

 

Hmm well if he sticks with Gil Clancy and continues trying to be a boxer puncher to prove he had good stamina and skill, I think he has mixed success. I think a rematch with Norton is inevitable. Norton was the outstanding contender of the late 70's and eventually won the vacant championship. If Foreman's management plays their cards right he can get a shot at the title again. This would make him a 2x champ before the 80's even begin.

The next obvious step would be a showdown with Holmes in a dream fight that should have happened at least twice. However, after Losing to Young, Foreman's management would be wary of facing another cute boxer type with a good jab and defense. I think they may have Foreman take on a green Witherspoon as a sort of litmus test for that sort of boxer. If he manages to beat Witherspoon (and I think he certainly could beat the younger version at least), that would give them the confidence for a legendary match with Holmes.

I could see it even becoming a trilogy of bouts like Ali vs Frazier and would make the 80's HW scene very memorable. The two of them are close to the same age with opposite styles, but they each bring something to the table that make it such a close matchup. I think the more they fight, the more Holmes wins. Perhaps Foreman wins the first match reverting back to his non stop juggernaut aggression after being outboxed and manages to drop Holmes or even stops him. Then in the rematch Holmes makes adjustments and outboxed Big George. Third match, Holmes has presumably become a much more confident seasoned veteran with his sizzling jab fully perfect. Holmes likely wins a convincing decision or stops Foreman late with his sharp combinations dragging him into deep waters.

Foreman's stock would be pretty high as the 80's continue having taken a win over Holmes who goes on to have a stellar record beating guys like Norton, Weaver, Cooney, Williams, etc just like he does in the regular timeline. Meanwhile, Foreman is starting to slow down but still hits like hell. He fights Smith in a battle similar to the Lyle fight with both guys going down in a brutal slugfest before Foreman emerges victorious. Foreman gets outboxed by Pinklon Thomas in his attempt at winning a 3rd championship losing a decision. After crushing a few tomato cans, he beats up Snipes before getting another title shot, this time against Tubbs. He puts up a spirited effort but gets outboxed yet again against the slippery Tubbs. By 1986 Foreman is 37 years old with 6 losses and likely north of 240 lbs with plenty of belly fat and diminished reflexes. He doesn't have much left in the tank and desperately wants to win the title one more time.

He has an eliminator with Weaver, narrowly out pointing him and gets a final chance, this time against Michael Spinx who just beat Foreman's old nemesis Holmes. In a fight somewhat similar to Foreman vs Young, Big George finally figures out how to pace himself, walls Spinx down, lands his jab, and saves his energy only striking when he sees a clear opening. He gets thoroughly outboxed and made to look silly for 13 rounds--losing 11 in a completely lopsided affair as the tricky Spinx works his magic with erratic movement, counters, and responsible defense. The crowd boos telling him to take his washed up pudgy self home. Finally, out of nowhere, Foreman lands a nuclear bomb of a right hand in the 14th. Spinks looks as if he ran into a sledgehammer and lays motionless on the canvas for the full 10 count. Nobody can believe what they saw. A ringside Ali, Frazier, and Norton are in disbelief jaws open before smoking and congratulating their old colleague. Foreman finally becomes a 3x champion having captured the IBF crown.

 

But it's not over yet. There is a menacing young boxer from New York who has been lurking like a shark smelling blood waiting to sink his teeth into the division to become undisputed. This is is, the matchup of the decade, maybe even the century. Two of the biggest hitters of all time. It's a promoters dream fight that only happens when all the stars are aligned. Big George Foreman vs Iron Mike Tyson. Iron Mike has a pretty damn good resume himself having recently destroyed Berbick, Thomas, Tubbs, Ruddock, and Dokes to capture the other belts. What he lacks in experience he makes up for with a very busy schedule tearing through the division and perfect his craft with a solid team that drills the peak a boo style into him daily.

The decade is nearing it's end. After they both defend their belts with stay busy fights, the two gladiators enter a 4 month training camp as the fight is hyped up like crazy. Literally impossible to predict the outcome. Big George has been incorporating weight lifting and a healthier diet to look like his old self. At 39 he's taking a big risk, but that may as well be his middle name. Tyson meanwhile spars with big guys like Cobb, Smith, and Bruno and works on his speed and defense. Finally the match happens summer of 89.

It's a rocky start as the two have styles that are like oil and water. Tyson's quick head movement and polished combinations do not mix with Foreman's rough clubbing and shoving. It gets very wild at the end of round 1 as Tyson turns over a hook into an elbow to which Foreman responds with a very rough shove sending the younger man to the canvas. They're given a warning. Round 2 and Foreman has some success with his heavy jab, but already Tyson is getting the timing down and attempting to land powerful counters as he steps in. Round 3 and Tyson is targeting the body any chance he gets. Foreman has to cover up and is being swarmed like a bear surrounded by a gang of bees.

Round 4 and Foreman begins framing and walking Tyson into shots. We now begin to see the ugly clash of styles. Tyson has a small lump from clashing his head with an elbow as he attempts to weave his way inside. Frustrated, Tyson charges in loading up a wide hook and is clipped by a crushing uppercut. Tyson goes down! The entire stadium is on its feet. Tyson is up at 6 and wobbly, but also visibly furious. Foreman goes on the attack with wild haymakers but Tyson puts up a tight guard and survives the round. In the 5th, Tyson uses his speed and defense to recover, using the ring and landing a few shots to keep Foreman honest who isn't foolish enough to empty his gas tank so early. Round 6 and Tyson is back. He lands four brutal hooks to Foreman's mid section. Foreman tries pushing Tyson back but is warned by the ref. Round 7 and it's all Tyson, he has fully recovered and the body shots are paying off as evidenced by the welts on Foreman's belly. Round 8 and the two are trading blows with sweat and blood flying. Round 9 the momentum shifts again as Foreman lands a sledgehammer right that Tyson somehow managed to endure and is battered. Round 10, Tyson sets up a right to the body followed by a piercing uppercut sending Foreman's head back. Somehow the two of them are still fighting and landing heavy artillery. Round 11, Tyson is landing brutal combinations downstairs and upstairs, sealing Foreman's right eye shut with double hooks before Big George takes a knee under the pressure. Tyson follows up with a right uppercut to Foreman's forehead who has yet to rise. Foreman is up at 3 and they slug it out with plenty of dirty fouls before the ref takes points from both. Round 12 and Tyson throws everything but the kitchen sink at Foreman who can't defend himself and is being nailed badly before the ref waves it off. Foreman gives Tyson a hug and the crowd is roaring so loud the ring announcer can't even hear himself while screaming into the microphone.

 

You can tell he took up weight lifting for the second career. Look at his arms in these two videos.

 

I assume you're replying to Kamikaze (or whatever alt he is this time)? I have him on ignore but he was the only poster here who's obsessed with the bout and never fails to bring it up to disparage Foreman.

Apparently, Foreman gets no excuses for losing despite many things working against him (including a change of style, flying to Puerto Rico less than 24 hours before the bout, shattered confidence, etc), but his wins over Frazier and Norton don't count and they're allowed all the excuses in the world. Insanity.

 

LOL. What about the temperature of the overhead lights?

 

The only thing LOL worthy is you not knowing Louis was dropped in the first round in the fight where he won his title.

I've already went through this with you. I shared official hospital doctors' statements that Foreman suffered a heat stroke, and was dehydrated. I don't have time to educate you any more than I already have.

 

So was it the overhead lights, or was it that he was swinging at air, in a panic, for 12 rounds?

Braddock wasn’t Louis’ biggest fight, pal.

 

Im not that active to know the names of these guys, but I guess Kamikaze is this Journeyman92 guy? I saw him a few times here trying to discredit Ali a bit. Maybe he doesnt like the fighters from the 1970s?

 

Hmm…if George carried on after his defeat to Jimmy young in ‘77…

Maybe he would avenge the Young defeat in 1978 with a KO in the 3rd round before beating Earnie Shavers with a TKO in the 8th. He beats Bugner, Le Doux and and Lyle…again… at the end of the 70s before calling out Holmes after Larry’s 1980 victory over Ali. Holmes promises Foreman a shot but tells him to get in line! George calls Holmes a chicken heart as a war of words begins.

After a couple more routine wins, Foreman then fights the 6ft 6 hard punching Gerry Cooney in a title eliminator, and Foreman wins in the 10th after a battle royale where both fighters hit the deck after a punishing and brutal contest.
Next up for George…World Champion Larry Holmes in 1982….

Foreman charges out trying to finish it early, but Holmes counters well. He uses his jab to great effect throughout the fight but Foreman still gets in some brutal shots.
The fight is a close one, but Larry wins a S/D after an extremely close fight, and George angrily announces his retirement after the fight, claiming he was robbed.

He changes his mind about retirement a few months later, and he then fights young contender Tony Tubbs in 1983, but age appears to be catching up with George as Tubbs outboxes Foreman for 9 rounds and 30 seconds of the 10th, before Big George catches Tubbs cold, and wins a 10th round KO! George again calls out Holmes, but Larry isn’t interested.

George then KOs Reggie Gross before challenging Gerry Coetzee for the WBA title and beats the South African on points to become the WBA champion at the age of 34!

The stage is set for another battle with Larry Holmes for the unifed Heavyweight Title which would take place in 1984. After much to-ingand fro-ing between both teams, the fight doesn’t take place! Foreman says Holmes is running scared, but Holmes says Foreman priced himself out of a fight because he knew he’d be beaten again.

Anyway life goes on and in 1985/86 Foreman meets and beats a few other contenders by KO…Snipes, Weaver and Bruno, before two more defences against Greg Page and James Smith, beating both narrowly on points. The Smith fight is a particularly brutal one. How it went the full 12 rounds, I really don’t know. I blame my scriptwriter!

Then in 1986, 36 year old George meets the dangerous 29 year old Tim Witherspoon in his sixth title defence. Witherspoon outboxes Foreman despite taking some punishment in the final 2 rounds as George tries to KO Tim as he knew he was well behind on points.Foreman looks tired after the fight and after this defeat he announces his retirement.

George comes out of retirement in 1987 to challenge the new young Unified World Champion Mike Tyson, saying after a year’s rest he feels rejuvenated and promises to KO Tyson early. But Big George finds the young champion is no pushover, and in the first 3 rounds, after hitting Tyson with his best shots, and taking some in return, George slows down. He is then battered mercilessly for the next 7 rounds by the fast punching, energetic younger man, and his corner stopGeorge from coming out for the 11th round. Tyson therefore wins by stoppage and Foreman finally finally finally calls time on his great career. He congratulates Tyson and says he’s the best he’s ever faced.
He finishes off with a sly dig at his nemesis Holmes…”If Larry is foolish enough to fight this young guy, he won’t last 4 rounds! This boy Tyson will destroy him. Mark my words.”

It’s almost as if he’s speaking from the future!