Is George Foreman the most overrated fighter in history?

Add Chuvalo. Otherwise that's pretty much it.

 

Norton was older when he faced Holmes than Quarry when he faced Norton, I think.

And is Norton-Young considered more controversial than Holmes-Norton?

 

People age differently. I would say Norton retained his peak physical performances longer than Quarry for a variety or reasons, most notably he took care of himself outside the ring in between fights where Quarry did not.

Norton vs Holmes is the more famous fight with the dramatic 15 rounds. For my money though the fight was that close or controversial I scored it for Holmes 9-6. As for Norton vs Young I haven’t watched it in ages but I do believe it was razor close.

 

Its a good resume. A hall of fame resume but I would think it should have more depth for 76 wins. And Cooney while a good fighter in his prime had, had 1 fight a loss in 5 years going into the Foreman fight. That’s a good win in name only. Foreman had fought 19 times already on the comeback and was far more sharp for the bout.

 

Norton said he lost his edge after he flet he was robbed by Ali and never was the same again.

I've watched Norton againsgt both Young and Holmes and thought neither was controversial but Holmes-Norton probably closer.

 

I don't think his resume is that spectacular either and probably don't have Foreman in my top 10. As achievements go, winning the undisputed HW title at 45 is something else, though.

 

You could make a credible argument, that George Foreman has the two best wins in the history of the heavyweight division, and that they were twenty years apart.

The counter argument would be that his resume in both his reigns, was thin in terms of top level wins, though of course you have to combine them together.

 

Right on the money regarding fighters aging differently. The view point Lyle-Quarry was (correctly imo) one fighter was on the way up (Lyle) while the other was on the decline (Quarry). And Quarry was the younger man!

 

top ten easy

 

Comeback George Foreman was slow is a myth like Rocky Marciano's bad ballance. Sure he was slow as he neared 50.

88 -92 Forman was not slow however and there are fights of his where commentators note how surprisingly mobile he was.

Remember in the 80's, HWs were all hopped up on yeyo and zipped around the ring like greased lightning. Anybody not as fast as Mick Dokes was seen as slow.

Povetkin wasn't slow. Foreman moved at the same pace. There was loads of guys slower than Foreman in the post Lewis era. Id argue Foreman was more mobile than Anthony Joshua.

Speed and mobility are not the same. Cooper , Lux , Coatzer and a few other had faster feet than Foreman. Yet none of them could avoid him.

Foreman being one of the best ring cutter off'ers. . He stalked guys like Golovkin who also wasn't known for fast feet. There's a misconception that fast feet = good feet.

You don't get the likes of Conn and Bob Pastor in every era.

 

Nice post. I'd like to see what the blue pill says to that! Someone mentioned Witherspoon name in this thread. He would have beaten Foreman is the 80's and early 90's IMO.

But Foreman is a top 10 heavyweight in my book. Witherspoon is not.

 

That was one of those fights where old George looks unstoppable. He won't stop coming right at them. He's hittable but doesn't seem to get hurt by anything. He's slow but every punch he lands is heavy. I get why Cooper quit.

 

I thought George looked great against Briggs, his jab was fantastic. I never had him winning by less than 3 points. I'd be astonished to hear anyone thought Briggs won that fight, would love to see their scorecards. Total robbery, that.

 

I remember someone saying that old Foreman looks slow when you watch him on TV, but hes actually deceptively fast when your in the ring with him, especially with the 1-2 combination. The right hand he knocked Moorer out with was disguised well after Foreman hit him with the jab, the right hand came very fast behind it.

 

Well Holyfield was certainly no slow poke and Foreman managed to tag him numerous times every round with some heavy shots. Old Foreman obviously wasn't some sort of speed demon, but he had no trouble timing numerous guys half his age. He was "fast enough".