If Prime Foreman Faced Every Champ Before Him..?

Lot of Louis discussion going on. Honestly depends on how good is his chin? We know it was good but it wasn’t invincible. We know be would be susceptible to fast straight rights. He didn’t handle Ali’s or Lyles well and they had excellent 1 2s. But handled guys who were good hookers. If Louis didn’t leave himself so open after show himself to get knocked down often id pick him. But they both express fatal flaws against one another imo makes it one of the more better fantasy fights

 

I already found one.

His name is Jimmy Young.

 

I'd mildly favor Liston and Louis and no need to talk about Ali.

 

Foreman fought Jimmy Young in his prime? Did you read the thread title?

 

Fortunately not everyone considers the 28 year old #1 contender on an impressive 5 fight win steak past prime simply because he got outclassed by a superior technician for a second time.

Foreman was a flawed fighter who should be held accountable for his short comings in his physical prime. He wasn't destroyed by the loss to Ali, his sin was greater, he failed to learn anything from it.

He was genuinely KOed by the modest punching past prime Ali because he had poor stamina and couldn't figure out how to avoid repeated right hands over the top. He was than outpointed by the smaller light punching Jimmy Young because he again, loves to block right hands with his jaw.

The great destroyer in his prime...

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I would ask you rewatch the fight. Young was no speed demon with his feet either. He fought most of the fight right in front of big George.

Young was simply a superior technician who used excellent feints, constant hand movement, left hook and right leads to confuse Foreman and beat him to punch continuously despite being at a reach disadvantage.

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I think that there was always a stylistic issue there.

I am going to go out on a limb, and say that if we match him against all the lineal champions, then one of the slicksters get's past him.

I don't know which one of course.

 

Possibly.

But the question is who? Name one lineal champion that fought in a matter remotely similar to Young?

Who was safety first and had defense and survival on their mind at all times?

I struggle to think of anyone. Walcott was slick but could be very aggressive and would go for the knockout if he sniffed any weakness. He has several fights where he goes after someone from the opening bell.

Tunney could be slick and cautious but I can't see a man his size surviving with Foreman.

Johnson was an excellent defensive fighter but had a totally different style. He stood right in front of you and had fairly slow feet, operating at a easy going pace to tire you out. Lots of clinching and inside fighting. Young operated at mid range constantly shuffling about to make himself a more difficult target and aiming for counters and hit and run tactics.

Seriously who? People can bring up Young all they want but he was pretty unique fighter at HW and caught Foreman at a pretty unique and poor set of circumstances (hot outdoor country, a shattered confidence, the need to prove he can go the distance, etc). Credit to Young for winning, but let's not act like a prime version of Foreman was ripe for the taking for any slickster.

 

My guess is that if he fights Tunney and Walcott, he probably loses to one of them.

 

Since when Jack Johnson had slow feet? Even at 220 lbs against Moran he showed brilliant movement when he wanted.

People need to stop confusing slow feet with economical footwork. Louis is one thing, but to accuse Jack Johnson of having slow feet? Ridiculous...

 

He wasn't fleet footed. That's the point. His posture and foot speed looked more like a guy rough playing pool. He'd be right in front of Foreman and would attempt to wear him out with wrestling, guard manipulation, and inside fighting. Probably not the wisest strategy against a huge brutish opponent who hits like a truck and is good at guard manipulation himself.

Ali himself said he realized it would be too difficult to use his feet to get away from Ali. Foreman could cut off the ring well and had excellent timing to make up for his lack of raw speed.

 

Walcott has losses to guys like Abe Simon and Rex Layne and was KO'd 6x. I wouldn't bet a quarter.

Did Tunney beat anyone remotely Foreman's size?

 

Disregard. I read the Thread Title wrong.

 

If you just said that using movement wouldn't help against Foreman, then why do you use Johnson supposedly slow feet against him?

Johnson could do the same thing Young did, except that he punched harder and was likely stronger physically with better clinching technique.

 

Young was in there to survive and hug Foreman constantly while offering a weak offence. Foreman exhausted himself, an obvious mistake.
Ali, on the other hand, while using his own defensive grabbing ploys, was peppering George's face with stinging combinations.