Muhammad Ali 1974 v George Foreman 1994

And Muhammad Ali was never ko'd ever, so the chances are slim to say the least.

 

It's interesting how George never really has lived down that defeat in Zaire. Recently he said in the interview in On the Ropes that he dominated the first 7 rds against Ali, only for Ali to come alive and knock him out when he was tiring in the 8:th.

That's close to delusional, actually. A case can be made that George didn't win a round of that fight. Just look at his face going in to the 8:th. He just can't seem to accept, even now, how thoroughly beaten he was.

 

In 1974, Ali was the fastest he ever became during his second career. He came into Kinshasa having gone the 12 round limit in five consecutive bouts. Weighing in the 212 to 216 range, his speed and mobility were at a different level than when he was 220 and up.

George was smarter, bigger and stronger, defended himself more actively with the cross armed defense Moore installed for his second career, jabbed efficiently and well, and paced himself superbly. That's a recipe for survival though, not for beating Muhammad.

Deficits in speed and straight punching would have remained a huge disparity to overcome. Ali could stand flat footed in mid ring, and repeatedly beat George to the punch before the old man even got within range to connect with his bombs.

Considering how badly Moorer was beating him, a shutout would not be an unreasonable outcome for Ali. Foreman would have to play for the knockout all the way, but have few and far between opportunities to pull the trigger, and have disappointing results when he did manage to connect.

 

Yes, the Ali who fought Foreman was in tip top shape. George was
just too damn heavy in '94 to even catch him once solidly.

 

Ali beats him easy.

Old Foreman couldn't compete with elite level fighters.

While he may have been a smarter fighter and therefore better prepared mentally, physically he just didn't have the tools.

 

George's age wasn't the factor. It was his weight. George was a trim 220 in '74
for Ali, not 257+.

 

If their fight in '74 would have continued into the ninth, Foreman would have been beat up pretty bad. George was spent.

 

stop it with all your hayemaker bull****
Foreman landed "hayemakers" on Holyfield and Morrison, and he didn't knock them out. Plus these guys do not have chins like Ali. Foreman pretty much has a punchers chance against anybody, but he would not knock Ali out, just because Ali would not get hit flush. Old Foreman was not as fast and didn't have the reflexes he did before.

 

Ali boxes circles around him, I see no way for George to win this fight.. His only real shot is a KO, but Ali is pretty much KO proof.. So I see no scenario in which George can win..