Re-evaluating George Foreman

I feel George is overrated. Certainly a case can be made for top 10 for him but I don’t place him in top 5.
No shame in losing to Ali even a past prime Ali but he got picked off on the comeback trail by Jimmy Young. Rather than rebuild himself again he went home.
10 years later he returns and is extremely carefully matched - which early on he should be after 10 years out of the ring. But it was clear George was trying to cash in on a Tyson fight and the huge money Tyson was generating. He fought admirably against Holyfield (who was still viewed as a blown up cruiser at this time) and then he lost to the chinny Morrison. Then he landed the home run against Moorer. A great accomplishment for his age. However Moorer was never viewed as the top heavy in the division. Comeback Foreman never fought Tyson, Lewis, Bowe or a host of other top fighters. He dropped his belts to avoid Past prime Tucker and denied Axel Schulz a rightful rematch.
With wins over Frazier, Norton, Moorer and Lyle I think he can make top 10. But he would be on back end. His resume has so much padding. Jerry Quarry probably bested more ranked fighters.

 

Foreman is a top five fighter IMO. His best wins came against men mostly in their primes and to me is still the most devastating puncher to ever live. Winning the title two generations later also adds to the legend.

 

The win over Lyle was good but sort of like Hagler vs. Hearns. Both guys gave up tactics to flip a coin.. A great fight but yeah heart won that one. And I love the fight, although George was almost out there also. In both careers especially the second, George could not beat the best fighters, and Ali like it or not outclassed George. Even Morrison outboxed him. I don't see that top 10 heavyweight. He dominated Frazier and Norton (who to me as a little overrated but was strong) obviously.

 

Foreman fought a lot of weak opposition in both of his careers, and both of them hang on one or two incredible wins.

Here is what blows my mind about Foreman:

His win over Joe Frazier, is the most impressive destruction of a top ten all time heavyweight, by anybody ever!

His win over Michael Moorer, is the most impressive feat by an ageing heavyweight.

He did the impossible twice in his career, twenty years apart, and between those two wins, an entire era unfolded, which he watched from the sidelines!

That blows my mind!

 

There's a lot to be said about those critical moments when a fighter rises to the occasion.

I agree with your assessment of the quality of the win against Frazier, in '73.

His achievement, 21 years later, speaks for itself.

I don't think any other heavyweight has these types of performance/result on their ledger.

And, these weren't astronomically outrageous flukes, either. Foreman also swept Norton aside; out-slugged Lyle and gave a good, 40-something account of himself, against another ATG Heavyweight, in Holyfield.

Foreman could stay focused under fire. He was a winner; a hard man to keep down. It makes for a great story, no matter where one ranks him.

 

You've explained your case far better than I could tonight, my man....and may I say that it's great to have a civilized, intelligent exchange of views!

 

These guys were just politely appreciative of good analyses. Why denigrate their Goodwill or allude to a absurd gay-baiting?
Would the all too common from a safe distance vicious personal attacks, mockery & attempted humiliations (which have at least receded here) be better?

Foreman himself said he was not top 10. But he is unreliable in that he makes many exaggerated claims, & it may be true-or the reverse of his first career humility, a self-conscious modesty.

I suppose lower top 10 is about right. If you include head to head, I think he does better than smaller & most older greats.
Folks seems to think he lost to Shultz, so that I will not credit.
But the opposite for Briggs: I think that he may have been short-changed because boxing did not want him hurt against Lewis.
But he was almost 49 vs. Briggs, & should get mucho credit there.

 

This is a very good point that is often overlooked. Foreman has 2 devastating KO wins over 2 undefeated prime unified champions in frazier and Moore. No one else at heavyweight has that on their record so it cant be swept aside in an ATG discussion (in addition to his H2H abilities: namingly, his granite chin and crushing power. I cant rate someone above him if i think he'd not only beat them but their resumes arent far apart).