Supposing that George Foreman had never existed..?

I think the biggest difference would be that fans would still have to listen to the argument that boxing is like all sports, athletes improve with each generation by getting faster, stronger etc. George proved there are exceptions. providing you were once exceptional and well preserved you can do it again.

I think ali would have regained his title from Frazier and fought him a 3rd time in manila. I don’t think Frazier would have lost to anyone but ali before 76’, he simply would have fought Bugner in foremans place and lost his title to ali in 74. Even though Frazier was in decline after the first ali fight I don’t see the man ali got past in manila losing to Norton, Lyle, shavers or young because they were not good enough. Ali would still have lost to Norton because he did lose to Norton but never in a title fight.

Shannon briggs would not have been a linear champion and lewis v hollyfeild would have been much smaller since lennox would not have had a belt.

 

Ha, you mean you haven't got a George Foreman already? I though everyone had at least one! I've somehow acquired two without spending any money!

 

Ali comes out ahead with Foreman but Frazier would have turned out much better. Sort of like Hearns to Leonard and Hagler and then to Duran and Benitez and Cuevas.

 

Wouldnt the rumble in the jungle involved Fraizer and Ali instead? and there would not have been the thriller in manila. Not much changes though.

 

I am embarrassed to admit that I don't own a George Foreman grill. I don't know how I can look at myself in the mirror each morning and call myself a boxing fan. I would grow a beard to avoid that but my wife won't let me. She does let me eat my greasy burgers though.

 

was Muhammad Ali out of shape for Ken Norton the first time really..?

He looked physically fine to me, he just so happened to get his jaw broken.

 

If Ali had regained the belt from Frazier he would have lost it to Norton who would have been lineal champion, in regaining the belt from Norton in close SD contests Norton would be held in much higher regard. The closeness of the Norton contests to me show how underrated Norton is, the fights are even closer than the Frazier fights and Norton so clearly won the first fight, not only that Norton then fought Holmes again losing by the closest of margins in a SD, Holmes of course a year or so later completely dominated Ali.

Norton was of course knocked out by Shavers and Cooney a couple of years later but this was in the twilight of his career, this is always held against Norton while we forgive other fighters like Ali and Tyson for their poor performances at the end of their careers.

After looking at his career I have moved him up a couple of notches.