Is George Foreman the most overrated fighter in history?

No. That would be Larry Holmes or Mayweather.

 

20 titular defenses, unstuck himself from the canvas to come back and stop the most powerful puncher in heavyweight history, came back and beat the WBO champion while in his 40s...overrated compared to whom?

I know, and the worse part for me was how he didn't act anywhere near so much like a caveman at the beginning of his pro career. He had a real nice jab. I think the Dokes fight put him into Cro-Magnon mode.

LOL! Nothing wrong with that, my good friend

Yes, older Holyfield (shoot, Holyfield overall) was a wonderful Warrior aberration. His entire career bears out why I put him as #4 ATG, an amazing fighter!

The only problem I have with Bowe vs Foreman is the fact that Bowe got hit a little much...otherwise, would LOVE to have seen that. It would be a case of good big man (here its Bowe) against a good, somewhat smaller man (I know, weird to see 70s Foreman that way lol)

 

With all due respect, any heavyweight that was a big banger could put out the lights on Ken Norton. Jose Luis Garcia in 1970, George Foreman in 1974, Earnie Shavers in 1979 and lastly Gerry Cooney in 1981. Against boxers, Norton was successful but against heavy hitters, forget it.

 

Norton was green against Garcia and dispatched him easily in the rematch, no shame in losing to Foreman who was an absolute beast at that time. Norton was also past his best against Shavers and completely shot against Cooney.

Whilst i agree Norton could be suspect against punchers, i don't believe he loses to every single known puncher in Heavyweight history, simply because he lost to a monster like Foreman. And then lost to another ATG puncher like Shavers whilst being past his prime.

 

Your opinion is well respected but Ken Norton could be problematic for a boxer with a lack of a punch. Or he could walk through of a well past his prime fighter like Jerry Quarry.

 

I agree Richard that Norton's kryptonite could be against punchers, but i do feel like Norton gets slightly under sold in H2H mythical match ups. Just because he lost to some of the best punchers of all time, and a few of them as you know were when he was past his prime.

Lately i've been seeing a few posts on this forum, that Norton was an "average fighter" that just had a good style vs Ali. I think that's absolute rubbish in all honesty, an average fighter doesn't fight on even terms with two of the top 5 Heavyweights of all time in Holmes, Ali. And then beat another highly skilled Heavyweight in Jimmy Young, who was one of the best Heavyweights of the 70s.

Norton was one of the best conditioned Heavyweights that could fight 15 hard rounds, could hurt you with either hand, underrated body puncher, and whilst his style was unusual and maybe a bit vulnerable to punchers. I still think he was a class Heavyweight, and i think he's been getting disrespected too much lately.

PS my last two paragraphs wasn't directed at you Richard, that's just me venting because i've been a little bit frustrated with the lack of respect Norton as of late. Again nothing against you my friend.

 

I completely understand Buddy.

 

Holmes? Why Holmes? I agree with Mayweather, but Holmes?

 

Yep, Riddick Bowe was the antithesis of Lennox Lewis. He liked to mix it up in dangerous territory where Lennox would only visit the mean streets if he needed to. I think Bowe's power is on par with Ron Lyle, maybe even stronger.

 

I don't mean to barge in but wouldn't a Norton-Holyfield scrap be the barnburner of all barnburners!?

 

It would be a classic two well conditioned Heavyweights, who can fight at a hard pace for 12 or 15 rounds in their prime.

 

Add Frazier in there for a triple threat match!!

 

Foreman is a solid top 5 ATG heavyweight champion.

Olympic champion.

Became undefeated worlds heavyweight champion by beating Frazier who was thought of as unbeatable at that time.

In another all time displays for ko power he obliterated top contender Ken Norton.

After a 16 month layoff fought Ron Lyle one of boxings most destructive hitters at the time. In a rugged display of Will to win came back after being knocked down twice to score a ko.

Most all heavyweight champions built their career fighting lowly competition. This is true with ATG heavyweight champions as well with few exceptions.

Only the craftiest of boxers from the 70’s were able to beat Foreman Ali and Young.

Then in what is undisputedly the greatest achievement in all of sports history Foreman regained the legitimate world championship 20 years after losing it. An incredible feat in of itself criteria for all time greatness.

 

I once lightly sparred a very young George Foreman he was a typical new age fighter and didn’t have any of the stuff you’d need for my era he got worse from his Olympic days not better

 

True Swatter, George Foreman was slow and ponderous, always swinging for the fences, it caught up to him against Muhammad Ali in October 1974, almost against Ron Lyle in Jan 1976 and finally against Jimmy Young in March 1977. Foreman lacked stamina after 4 rounds, he just fought aimlessly.