Which versions of Young Foreman could beat the Holyfield he later fought?

Likely none. The first time he ran into a smart durable fighter with stamina, well, that didn't go well.

 

72-74 Foreman has a good chance of stopping any version of Holyfield if it becomes a brawl and Holyfield is sloppy with his defense.

 

Yes because Holyfield is a carbon copy of the GOAT.

 

Clearly he is not. But most of the same traits that allowed Ali to defeat Foreman are also possessed by Holyfield.

 

‘73-‘74.

 

Yes because just about anyone can pull off the rope a dope against Foreman.

Not to mention Holyfield had a very dangerous tendency to slug it out with punchers far more powerful than him.

 

They’d make a good plan for the fight, it’d be working then Holyfield would get dragged into a fight making it look a lot harder than it had to be to beat Foreman lol.

 

Holyfield absolutely would not rope-a-dope. He'd fight much more like Ali did in round 1. He'd end up in some exchanges he shouldn't be in, might have a scary moment or two, but eventually he'd out-last Foreman.

Question -- who other than Ali would you pick as a favorite over a prime Foreman? Holyfield seems like the obvious pick. Since they actually did fight, and since Foreman actually did land some great shots, we know Holyfield can take being tagged by him here and there. And I know you're not going to seriously suggest Foreman could win on points against Holyfield.

 

Must have been frustrating being his trainer sometimes. You've got this guy who busts ass in training, does everything you ask, is a real good boxer and a beautiful counterpuncher, can follow a fight plan to the t... until the other guy pisses him off, then he throws it all out the window.

 

I think I read Steward call Evander an arrogant guy that was hard to work with, maybe it had something to do with just that? You watch all this film, you build this plan in training and then you watch him stand toe to toe with someone who has 20lbs on him that he could probably box without a gamble.

 

a nice 23 year old version on the way up. As we have seen, Holyfield had real problems fighting off the hottest up and comer, namely Bowe, and even M. Moorer. Evander has almost no chance vs George 71 - 74 version.

let's see how a 40 year old Holyfield holds up to mid 20s Foreman

 

Grief the 40 year old comment boxers age differently it’s not the zinger you somehow think it is. No chance against the guy who almost got killed by Lyle? Whose only “destruction” of a proper sized heavy is Ken Norton? Right. Neither MM and Bowe fight anything like Foreman? What’s the relevance? The best comparison is probably??? Ray Mercer maybe? Foreman… will still be slow, not something he can’t handle in terms of power but this time… a lot weaker (Holyfield will be the more inside savvy, stronger guy here lol) predictable and pretty much jab less for the most part - the Old George was easily the better incarnation to face Holyfield.

 

Foreman was coming off a defeat and rusty from the layoff. Ron also stopped Shavers just recently and considered "up there" with Shavers as one of the premier punchers.

I certainly would not place Moorer in the same class as a peak Foreman. I doubt anyone would

Foreman would surely win it in devastating fashion in a brutal slugfest.

Foreman in 4