I think Ali’s KO of foreman had more to do with physical exhaustion rather than the power that Ali generated
Ali's average punches where he was just flicking jabs or throwing quick flurries were maybe a 4. His more serious punches (the right cross, his cross counter, stinging double left hook) were about a 5. Part of this is because he had a very relaxed and fluid punching style not rigidly sticking to the fundamentals or transferring his weight. He was also on his toes a lot and a head hunter rarely going to the body. When Ali was dead serious and really going for it putting his weight into his punches, his hardest blows were probably a 6. He hit hard enough to get your respect and nobody ever just walked through his attacks. With Tyson, he had a totally different delivery system and natural gifts. While both guys had phenomenal Handspeed/athleticism, Tyson was built more like a tank with short but powerful arms. This made him better at close range combinations (ripping hooks and uppercuts. The peak a boo style perfectly suited his shorter stature. By building momentum with quick head movement, he generated even more power. Tyson's average punches were maybe an 8, the guy could really crack even with single shots. When he got full leverage with good timing, high speed, and weight transfer or landed his brutal combinations, he could get up to a 9 in power. Tyson's power came from the legs, good accuracy, great form, and a vicious all out approach wasting no time as soon as the bell ring. Common opponents would remark that while he had good power, what really got them was Tyson catching them with shots they didn't see coming due to the speed and odd angles.
Ali did cause Foreman’s legs to stutter in the 4th round with a single punch (right hand?) - about the same point in the Liston fight when young Ali clearly wobbled Sonny. Foreman has also called the last punch landed by Ali a “tremendous” punch - and imo, it was . I’m not trying to talk up Ali’s power beyond reality but he was hitting Foreman hard a lot - and such punishment can fast track the depletion of a fighters tank - even though we know young George’s stamina wasn’t great in the first place.
Ali is the GOAT. But he didn't hit harder than Tyson. And I say that holding the opinion that Tyson is grossly overrated. But he sure as hell smacked you harder than Ali could.
Wasn’t it Larry Holmes who, comparing just the one or two right hands that Ali hit him with in the first round, said that Mike hit like a malnourished Girl Scout who couldn’t crack a cookie? Holmes thanked god that Muhammad ran out of gas shortly thereafter. Possibly I’m wrong on that quote but if Larry did say it, rubber stamp it as fact.
Not that either would be pleasant but I’d much rather take Ali’s best free shot than Mike’s - at least in the case of taking Ali’s punch, I think I’d still live to tell the tale.
Are you ******ed or something? Or just trying to be different? Ali was the better fighter but Tyson hit way harder than Ali, have you got a brain injury or something?
Again, not to overstate Ali’s power - but Foreman was shook in the 4th round and exhaustion doesn’t generally lump up a fighter’s face the way Foreman’s was lumped. Zaire was one fight for which Ali said his hands were absolutely fine. A lot of the time Ali had to spare his hands - even when training, leading into fights - not the case at all for the Foreman fight.
