Let’s say foreman never fought Jimmy young in 77? ?

Holmes by decision most likely.

 

Holmes would win during this time he was starting to peak and his jab, mobility, technical skills, would be the difference.

If Foreman lost a convincing decision to Young in 1977 in the region of 8 rounds to 4 i can't see him beating Holmes.

 

The only thing I could see is Foreman would take Holmes much more seriously.

 

Holmes was way too sharp 78. He'd probably get floored, but most of this fight would be about George's seeming inability to fight much beyond he's-standing-right-in-front-of-you. George would get sliced by the jab over and over while getting foiled with his own jab. He wouldn't be able to bully Holmes inside, in fact Holmes will probably be outlanding George on body shots.

Larry gets floored in the middle rounds, gets up and has the time of his life trying to keep possibly the best finisher he's ever faced off of him, but winds up back in control in under a round (with a more cautious-yet-focused laser-jab attack).

George is sucking wind bad by the 9th and Holmes is throwing a nasty lead right in the mix. Ref stops it in the 10th with George on his feet but horribly swollen, unable to see out of his left eye.

 

Holmes over Foreman