What If Foreman Had Defended Against Jimmy Young, In 1974??

I agree.

 

Yes, both men weren't the same as the guys who met later.

 

You’re really a ****ing idiot.

 

100% agree Richard. It was his wars with such fearsome opponents like Shavers, Lyle, and Ali that helped Young refine his cagey defensive style. No doubt the pressure of facing such opponents made the gears tick in his brain, his nerves turning to steel, and all his cylinders firing.

Had his team just threw him in there with a monster like Foreman at that point in time, he'd likely get intimidated before he even got in the ring, and that could lead to disaster as Foreman was excellent and pressuring guys at the stare down.

Shavers mentioned in his book, "welcome to the big time", that it was actually Joe Frazier who gave him the advice on how to deal with Jimmy Young (they had sparred before). Joe told him straight up that Young was scared of Shavers big right hand and that he'd be looking for it from the opening bell. His advice was to not come out storming but to wait for the perfect opportunity and to not throw with his full strength until that opportunity came, because if he threw with full strength and missed, or it connected and didn't land flush, Young would get on his bike and run in fear the rest of the fight and outpoint him.

A greener Young would no doubt be fearful after seeing Foreman tear through the division like a forest fire. However, if you could get a time machine and get the more experienced young to face a 74 Foreman that could be a very interesting bout.

 

Meh I doubt even a prime Young would beat a Zaire Foreman.

 

This is really interesting about Shavers and Frazier, Glass, thank you!

 

The cope continues.

Prime Young UD12 prime Foreman.

If it's a 15 round title fight well...Young gets a TKO.

 

Terrific post.

 

Jimmy Young was an awkward type of fighter, but he was cagey enough to avoid the heavier blows. Big George Foreman always had an issue with stamina. Pre Zaire, his opponents were well intimidated, just stood there frozen and let him unload on them, after Shavers, Young appeared to have a built in radar system that let him know that a damaging blow was on the way. Remember round 8 of their actual fight in March 1977, Jimmy was hurt, then went to Rope A Dope, George tried in vain to pull him off the ropes. Nobody until Muhammad Ali had exploited Foreman's glaring weakness, a lack of stamina. Young in 1974 with a degree from the University of Earnie Shavers could.

 

You nailed what I been saying but being a bigger ass about because I don't have the patience for this debate anymore.


Agree 100%

I feel Young doesn't get his due. It's all about what Foreman shoulda or woulda done. Young beat a physical prime Foreman while giving up height, reach, and weight.

 

True, Young did manage to survive when Foreman attempted to bomb him out in their actual fight round 8.

The question is if Zaire Foreman would allow it to get to the 8th round in the first place! Remember that Foreman wanted to prove his stamina issues in Zaire were just a fluke. He attempted to pace himself with a half assed boxer puncher style developed by Gill Clancy. Also according to George, Don King asked him to take his time so that they could air some commercials since George was known for bombing guys out early. Might just be a poor excuse, but if true it explains why he paced himself so awkwardly and let Jimmy off the hook a few times in the fight.

The 74 Foreman would not be under such restrictions. Young definitely has the style and skill to survive, but in 74 he might lack the confidence and experience to execute the game plan. Not sure he survived if gets caught on the ropes without having seen Ali do it first.

 

Anything is possible I suppose but the fact remains that while George Foreman bombed opponents out in 1974, as you said, with zero restrictions, there might be that one fighter that could take him into deep waters, thus drowning him. After Earnie Shavers, Jimmy Young became hard to hit.