Was Foreman able to fight so long due to the long break he took?

No. Moore, Hopkins and Duran etc fought the whole way or had much shorter breaks. Farr did pretty good coming back from a 10 year break but generally coming back from a 5-10 year layoff goes awful.

Fighting at a high level at 45-50 is not nearly as historic as coming back after 10 years and starting up again. While most of Foremans era aged terribly because of all the wars they wer in you still had Holmes and Bugner who were the same age as George fight just as long albeit at a lower level. Bugner even won a minor alphabet belt in 1998.

Not taking much punishment while boxing helps but not boxing for 10 years doesn't.

 

Of course, it did.

 

He eased his way back in by picking guys from the soup kitchen line

And because he eat moose liver and bear marrow.

 

Joe Bugner has severe dementia.

George Foreman is really the only one of his era healthy for his age.

Ali, Frazier, Lyle, Quarry, Ellis, Young, Norton, Shavers, all gone.

 

Yes.

 

If you take a break like that, you’re less likely to have bad shoulders, hands, arthritis, etc.

 

Yes.

He would have been mentally worn out had he fought for so long.

Hopkins was a bit of an exception. But Hopkins also turned pro late due to him being in prison.

 

Absolutely, He started again, his style was totally different if he’d have fought on through the 80s / late 70s he’d have ended up on the scrap heap with his ability and mental fragility… there were a lot of big, juiced up fighters with some skill coming through that’d do a lot worse to him then Jimmy Young - Moore, Toney, and Duran fought forever because they were amongst the most skilled fighters of all time… a bulldog like 70s George would’ve burned out fast fighting wars with mixed results and gone out on a losing streak of several stoppages.

 

Yes of course.

 

Worth adding that he mostly demolished his first career opposition. On top of that he had the general-like style that could be adjusted to the old age. Also, chin and power just take you a long way.

My personal opinion—Foreman was tutored by Liston, Moore, Saddler, and Clancy. He wasn't a classical boxer, but he was immensely crafty, efficient, and at times clever. Combined with his physical attributes, it made for a demoralizing opponent.

Also, genius matchmaking and marketing.

 

Other guys went the whole way there without the break. Duran. Holyfield. Hopkins. Etc.

It’s just more luck than anything. Avoiding CTE, career ending injuries, bad hands, etc.

 

I found your post intriguing. Please kindly elaborate on the highlighted point sir.