Foreman or Bernard Hopkins? I think B-Hop is just a tad more impressive because he had no massive layoff like Foreman did and it requires a lot more skill and guile to fight the way Bernard does since he wasn't gifted with the tremendous natural power of Foreman. But then Foreman did capture the lineal HWT title with a viscious KO and held his own with an ATG in Holyfield who was prime as a 40+ year old man. Thoughts? Damn it I can't edit the thread title.
They are both phenomenal. Foreman won Olympic gold medal in 1968, and he was World HW lineal champion as early as 1973 and as late as 1997. That's unbelievable. Hopkins at 50 fighting for 3 belts 2 divisions above his 'prime' weight is also quite impressive.
I'd say Hopkins longevity is more impressive, older while at the top and more active throughout his career. I'd say Archie Moore's longevity was also more impressive than Foremans, maybe even more impressive than Hopkins. Over 200 fights over more than 27 years, compared BHops 66 fights over 27 years or Foremans 81 fights over 28 years only 18 of which were active years.
Hopkins but not withstanding that foreman took a 10 year evangelical break which is more impressive still.
True, to take that long out from a sport and still be able to compete at the level Foreman did, was phenomenal. I can't think of another athlete that did that. A few years out and coming back is hard especially when past prime, but 10 years out must be a unique feat. Foreman was just a prodigious talent. To win an Olympic gold medal within 2 years of first stepping into a ring is another phenomenal achievement of his, he was so raw and basically a novice, yet his physical attributes were enough to overcome his lack of experience.
I asked him if he thought he could have been great at any other sport, I was suprised that he said no, boxing was it.
Hopkins. He was splitting fights with the best in a higher weight division in his 40s. He also reigned at middle without any serious hang ups when he was younger whereas Foreman stumbled around from the Ali fight until his first retirement.
I look at it the opposite way. He wasn't taking any punishment, which made him physically fresh when he came back at 38.
Definitely B Hop ...he took his more dangerous fights LTE in his career, And B-Hop fought till he was older and never really took any time off Its damn incredible when u think about it. I think of Bhip more like Rchie Moore
