What Are Holyfields Chances Against Foreman (Ali Fight)?

Cooney had him staggered with one good punch. Imagine…

 

I don’t think Klitschko ever operated at a high level personally - as pure a product of a putrid era as ever you will see.

 

I think a peak Holyfield who fought a very smart fight vs Bowe in their 2nd fight using movement and firing off fast combinations could beat a young Foreman.

Any other version probably gets stopped as Holyfield was too gung ho and liked to exchange punches too much and that would be his downfall.

 

Are we really gonna go down this road? Old George was never off his feet, young George was. Several times. Cooney was a huge puncher for all his fragility. Personally, I don't think it matters. Old Gelrge wouldn't fight young George with the same maverick attitude he fought Gerry because his ring iq would not allow him too. He knows he's not blowing his young self away, it's a war of attrition, a competitive fight where the old man teaches the young man many life lessons...now, here is the kicker....

Old George who got beat by Old George when he was young George beats Old George who didn't fight young George....


Thank you, thank you, I'm here all night.....

 

That’s fair enough.

 

The road of assessing how he fared being hit hard when his opponent will be prime Foreman? Yes, we will I would presume.

 

OK then...if we play by those rules, the relatively light fisted Ali knocked out an exhausted George. And Ronnie Lyle had him over several times. Old George hits harder and harder more often than either.. is it then inconceivable that the older man, who had a better defence and paced himself better, would weather the storm that would doubtless come, use his size and strength to tire out the manic younger man, who is already getting tired due to his huge expenditure of energy trying to get his older self outta there and finally sparkles him in..let's pick an entirely arbitrary round and say, the eighth? Yeah, the eighth sounds good.....

Hey man, good craic, thanks for your input. Peace and love, gbn x

 

Bizarre.

 

? In what way. You are citing Ol G being staggered by Cooney as evidence that Young G would stop him...I explained that I don't think you can do that but then applied the same logic you did to Young G....and I'M bizarre? Bizarre indeed brother man, bizarre indeed.

Oh, and just because I see a load of pigeons, here's another cat. I think prime Bowe beats George that night too...

Off to bed to dream of an unstoppable, unknockable young George getting stopped by a 7 years older, unfancied fighter considered well past his best and a big bookies underdog. But that is the stuff of dreams, ain't it? Could never happen....

 

Bizarre because I mentioned Foreman was hurt by noted big hitter Cooney, which you replied to be equating to young Foreman getting knocked out by relatively light-hitting Ali.

 

Are you disputing that Ali is relatively light hitting when compared to Cooney..? From memory Cooney ko rate was over 80%, Ali's was mid 60s I think...? I'm not sure how you can use sauce for the goose and disalow me to use the same sauce for the gander?

Anyhow, early start tomorrow, school night, peace and love, off to zzzzz x

 

I follow your logic here.

It had to read this paragraph 7 times before I understood what you're saying properly, but I did get there .

 

No, I’m staying that because a washed up Cooney visibly hurt him, it’s hard to imagine him surviving his prime self’s power, energy & finishing capabilities. Cooney even in his hey day was far, far below Foreman’s level, & was completely washed up when he actually fought Foreman.

You said, “if we play by those rules, light-hitting Ali knocked out prime Foreman…”

Im having a hard time seeing your point. Are you expecting old Foreman to rope-a-dope his way to victory? Of course both Foreman’s can hurt each other - but only one is going to follow up with a lot more punches, & do everything markedly faster. My money’s on him.

Really, it’s just common sense who would win this.

 

Fascinating discussion man, thanks again for your interesting opinions. I don't think old Foreman rope a dopes his younger self, I have written how and why he beats the version of himself that lost to Ali. He woukd excercise different tactics but win for ultimately similar reasons...in my opinion. You disagree and brother, that's cool! Have a wonderful day, off to work now, take care, gbn x

 

I wouldn't claim Foreman isn't an anomaly based on Vitali and zoning in strictly on 40+, barely.

Foreman's professional career spanned 28 years. Vitali's almost 16.
Foreman won the world title in under 4 years as a pro. Vitali won a respected belt at the 6 1/2 year mark.
Foreman regained the lineal title 21 years later. That's half a decade longer than Vitali's entire career spanned.
Foreman won the title at 23yo, Vitali at 33yo. Foreman regained it at 45, Vitali was retired at 41.

Based on just late age effectiveness you have a point but the span difference is astonishing. Ortiz is handy at 45 but has boxed 14 years with less than half the fights. Zhang has fought just 10 years for just 30 fights.

Vitali's high level span was a heap of years less and he had far less fights. While some guys are remaining effective later when it's all added up there's big differences. What Foreman did, on multiple fronts, will never be seen again.