Overlooked Reasons Why Muhammad Ali Beat George Foreman

I do not buy excuses, the ropes were too loose, the weather was against me, the weather had to affect Ali too, my shoes were too big etc. Muhammad Ali was a very astute fighter, he watched George Foreman destroy Joe Frazier in January 1973 by TKO 2. He probably saw George annihilate Ken Norton in March 1974, TKO 2. Ali noticed that Foreman winged his wide punches, also the fact that Foreman lacked stamina past the 5th round. Ali also prepared himself for the humidity, which you are supposed to do instead of walking around sullen, trying to imitate your boyhood idol, Charles Sonny Liston.

 

When Ali imitated Foreman before the fight he certainly noted his wide punches. Ali was at ringside for the Norton fight.

 

Thought so, I know at the contract signing at the Waldorf, Ali humiliated George, then shot a rubber band at him. Lol.

 

If my memory is correct Ali was having lunch with Jack Dempsey at his restaurant and Foreman walked in. Ali excused himself and gave George the business.

 

Didn't Foreman complain that he lost his legs because they had been coated with Vaseline or something?

 

Exactly this. Foreman is an ATG.

That wasn't what you said.

Why make an ignorant statement just to walk it back. Saying Foreman wasn't good is just being a contrarian for the sake of it. No ones being sensitive, they're disagreeing because you're wrong.

 

Okay, Foreman is overrated. Yeah, I stand by that and have defended it countless times but I know what I meant. Edit: it’s hardly ignorant when you look at 70s Foreman a little closer.

 

Look at him a little closer? You mean his stacked resume of top talent which he defeated during the arguably greatest era of heavyweight boxing? Again. It just sounds like you want to be a contrarian. Foreman in before he retired and after was a gifted, and unique fighter who could bang in any era with the rest of them.

 

He got whipped by an Old man in the fight of his dreams. He beat a fighter who aged overnight and was defending against just about one of the weakest defensive line up ever. He went life and death with Ron Lyle and was absolutely clowned by Jimmy Young and beat up. He struggled with a LHW who laid on the ropes... What is left to say? Oh, he KO'd Norton, who only lost to the best guys obviously.

 

No question. Monster puncher. Big. Immensively strong. Had some skills but he excelled against a small , slightly warnout swarmed and a chinny guy … he was then perceived as a force of nature and he wasn’t. Many fighters beat a 74 Foreman. Ali just caught him in a super dramatic moment.

 

Great line from Sonny who had been training like a beast for the fight and was devastated that he'd have to go again, at his advanced age, in a few months time.

By all accounts, Sonny poured a big vodka and got philosophical about the injury that had caused the postponement.

'Oh well, ' Sonny said. 'Could have been worse. It could have been me.'

Sonny really was the witty one out of him and Ali.

 

A few of these are disingenuous. The rest are flat out lies. I'd expect nothing less from you.

 

Lies? Please continue.

 

On the money.

 

Younger Ali would've primarily used his physical attributes against George. Foreman is one of the best ring cutters in history. Ali was much wiser and nullified George's strengths very well. Asking Chuvalo for advice didn't hurt either.

This forum tends to ALWAYS believe a fighter would always win no matter the time/era/prime. I definitely disagree with this logic. Boxing is all about timing. Would Calzaghe always beat RJJ just because he beat him at his worst? I highly doubt it. Holyfield fought Tyson at a perfect time. We'll never know if things would've ended differently if the fight occurred in 1988.