what if Foreman did not retire in 1977?

he'd have burned himself out.

 

We are talking Prime Holmes vs post Ali Foreman. The game plan how to beat George was written at that time and Holmes at his best would have the speed, boxing ability and jab to comfortably beat Foreman. Assuming a 15 round title fight George runs out of gas using his slowed down style by round 8. He is stopped at some point between 10-15th rounds. Competitive early, one sided late.

 

Foreman proved that the evolution of boxing is grossly overstated.

He came back as a shell of his former self to ko an undefeated champion 20 years after he held the prize.

 

Nobody "did it" to Holmes. He was undefeated until age caught up to him vs Spinks.

Getting hurt, getting knocked down, and still winning is very important to be considered an ATG.

 

Because Foreman got tired in 1 fight then of course he would get tired in every fight that went past 8 right? Clearly the logic of a person who doesn't know boxing.

In any case Foreman called out Holmes various times before he tired. Before the Scott LaDoux fight Foreman was calling him out and Jerry Quarry even talked about how Holmes people stated they weren't going to let Holmes get in the ring with that "Monster" or "Animal" Foreman. If Holmes thought he could of won he would of said something then. Ali had better foot speed than Holmes and he couldn't out box Foreman so why would Holmes? Ali also could take a body punch better than Holmes and if you think Larry could use the "Rope of Dope" that wouldn't work again.

If they fought doing the late 70's Foreman would of stopped Holmes, Larry knew it and his people knew this. Only people who don't know boxing or Larry Holmes fans think differently.

 

Holmes also hit a lot harder than Young (who put George down) and had a far better jab. I think he takes Georgie.

 

I'm not so certain about that..... Moorer was a undefeated champion, that's right, but he was a former light heavyweight that didn't have a reliable chin. He was knocked out after outbox Foreman for nine rounds. I think your point would proved to be exact if Foreman had defeated the best Heavyweight of that time, namely Lennox Lewis.

 

Young hurt Foreman because of his hitting power? Young could not break an egg with his punches. He hurt George because Foreman was exhausted

Holmes did NOT hit harder than Frazier or Lyle. Not close in any way.

Too many on this thread don't know the era or the fighters in question. I watched all of these bouts live. It was well known and understood that Foreman fighting in his original style had poor stamina. LOOk at his bouts with Ali and peralta where he completely fell apart long term. Post Ali, Clancy tried to teach him to pace himself but the Foreman who paced himself was less a destructive force vs pre Ali Foreman.

Holmes of the 77-80 time period was Prime Holmes who could fight 15 hard rounds and keep boxing the entire distance with good movement and combinations. If Young could outbox and knockdown Foreman, Holmes would knock him out. Holmes was a far greater fighter than Young.