Poll - Who would you give a better chance of beating Usyk? Prime Foreman or prime Liston?

Usyk would definitely beat Liston. Liston just wouldn't land and would get outboxed.
Foreman is a 50/50. Either Usyk can't keep him off and George evetually lands, or Foreman also can't land and gets frustrated.
To be fair if Ali-Foreman had happened in the US, without the lose ropes and a whole country against him, he'd have a 50/50 shot as well.
Another good question for comparison is would Foreman have beaten Jimmy Young pre-Ali?

 

I think they’d both have a good chance of beating Usyk but I sorta like Liston’s elite jab

 

I agree that both have a good chance of beating Usyk but I would favour the more multi faceted and more broadly optioned Liston’s chances over George’s.

However, if Foreman could pull it off, it would likely be by way of a more stunning and empathic victory inside of 5-6 rounds.

 

It would certainly behoove Foreman to get Usyk out of there early. And Dubois had Usyk down but I suppose it’s debatable as to weather or not that was a low blow.

 

I think he'd beat both but of the two I might go with Foreman.

Liston was more technical but Usyk is a couple levels above Liston in that department. Foreman was all pressure and he might have a chance of converting that pressure into a ko.

 

Usyk's tendency to get hit with uppercuts at times could be very costly vs Foreman. Foreman was not a controlled puncher like AJ who was only attacking in spurts. He was a massive puncher with an iron jaw who attacked constantly and swung from wild angles which make it very hard to defend against. Usyk couldn't pull a rope a dope and simply absorb the kind of body beating that Ali did either. I am a bigger fan of Usyk than Foreman (even though i like George) but i see Foreman just fearlessly attacking him and stopping him.

Liston-Usyk would also be extremely competitive. A lot of the shots Liston threw at Ali that Ali dodged were because of Ali's extremely quick feet. Usyk has quick feet but not nearly as quick as the 22 year old Ali. So a lot of those huge shots that Ali somehow dodged would at least partially land. Liston is a more technical fighter than Foreman so this may actually play into Usyk's hands a bit more. I see this as more of a 50-50 fight.

 

For Liston: Usyk is more likely to beat Liston here,the bear is more technical,but his poor stiff footwork hinders him from cutting the ring vs Usyk,the best chance Liston gets is if he actually catches Usyk with his terrific combos, especially to the body.


For Foreman: he's gonna have an easier time if he actually manages to limit Usyk's movements and counters with his long reach and parries,if everything is set he's free to rip Usyk until around 5-6,if he fails too he'll lose inside an UD.

 

Foreman, he had a stellar amateur career and did fight against southpaws, Liston fought 1, but it was a journeyman, although it is on film.
People say Liston because of his better straight punches, but we don’t know if he’d know what to do with the lead hand, playing with the lead hand and punching off of that is important against southpaws.
Also Foreman isn’t gonna stand off of him and get bamboozled or be made hesitant, he’s at least gonna go for it.

 

Pretty much… George could kamikaze him, Liston won’t and he can’t box with Usyk.

 

Liston. Peak Liston was a more complete fighter IMO than Foreman.

 

Yeah, it seems prime Foreman was your classic under/over guy in terms of betting. Bet on either an emphatic early rounds victory or wilting, later rounds defeat.

Personally, I think it was a low blow but that’s not to say Dubois didn’t get Usyk’s attention otherwise with legit power shots.

If they do fight again (I think Parker should be first) I’d favour Olek but, with his power, Dubois is nonetheless dangerous and he appears to have developed greater stoicism since their first fight.

We can criticise AJ but he did try to fight back - and, after being badly hurt himself, he had Dubois stumbling backward with a couple of power right hands - but then Daniel immediately struck back just as gamely and it was all over.

 

Foreman, his unorthodox angles and sheer relentlessness would cause Usyk fits for that early half especially taking into consideration the amount of risks Usyk takes. He may have excellent defense, but so much volume and offense just gives George more opportunities to land.

 

Liston.

73 Foreman was a boxing monster; no doubt. But he was a flawed monster, as Ali proved.

Foreman could be fooled and get frustrated, was prone to overreach; and lacked adaptability if things didn't go his way.

Me thinks Usyk is smart and skilled enough to pull an UD versus Foreman with a 50/50 chance.

But Usyk will be facing an uphill battle versus the more well rounded and crafty Liston.

 

Loses to both, but it's more fun to imagine Foreman's body shots

 

I came into this a heavy Usyk favorite but those who have spoken for Sonny and George have not fallen on deaf ears. Good points made fellas. I'll have to think about them.