Why was George Foreman so successful.

Good post. George's jab was also a mean weapon- when he used it. In certain fights he starts off working the jab well, then decides "**** it, i'll just mash this guy instead" and it usually worked. Power, great chin, awesome strength made him extremely hard to beat in a rumble, but they way he neglected his boxing skills, made him vulnerable to cute boxers.

 

I don't see why Quarry says he ducked him. He called him out just before George had a shot at Frazier, but Foreman was hardly going to risk his big chance at that time. When he was champ he fought the guys rated 1 and 3 and not Quarry (who was rated 4th). Quarry usually lost the big ones anyway. He fought two top tenners on his way to meet Frazier: Chuvalo and Peralta (and Kirkman was rated #10 by the Ring).

 

He had mediocre boxing skills truth be told. However his sheer punching power, size, strength, intimidation factor and ability to cut off the ring to great effect allowed him to succeed as an fighter. His second career was in truth nothing that special, both Moore and Holmes were better fighter through their fourties.

I don't think he's the head to head monster that some make out: any good 'boxer' with a solid chin would give the guy fits, ditto the likes of Liston and Lewis who would match him for sheer strength and outbox him. Most swarmers are usually his meat and drink, Tyson would be a different story though. Superior handspeed, footwork, evasiveness and beter defense would be the difference.

Personally I regard him as, perhaps most over-rated ATG Heavyweight in history regarding legacy(Marciano probably would be: head-to-head), though he was still a very good fighter who made the best of what assets he had. :good

 

Foreman KO 2 Holmes. :yep

 

Foreman says he ducked Quarry.

In his book Foreman is open about his regularly knocking over a string of C-grade opponents to get his title shots. He calls it "ballyhooing" I think. A clear strategy of no-risk fights and quick KOs to build his reputation. It obviously worked.

 

He would bash Foremans face in with jabs and hooks, on his way to a UD.

Providing that Larry is 100% focused, Foreman's slow, wide arcing haymakers would keep missing all night long. :good

 

i think he boxed very well against Chuvalu and this was in 1970. Chuvalu wasn't a bum and Foreman gave him a hell of a beating. Good performance.

 

I mentioned that he may have avoided him before the Frazier fight. But by choosing to fight two blokes ranked above him isn't ducking. You duck the bloke rated #1 not the geezer rated #4. You can't fight everyone.

 

Larry often liked to brawl it out with strong punchers, it nearly cost him against Weaver, it would vs Foreman. Obviously if he gets past the 6th he's home and dry.

 

:thumbsup
I agree with everything, very wise post. Especially the Marciano bit. :good

 

He had tremendous strength and power and the intimidation factor worked very well,( though he wasn't all dominant in the first Frazier fight, once he caught Joe, it was over).

 

I get your point there, it's certainly a valid one. Very few men would suceed vs Foreman in a brawl (Liston or Lewis could match his strength). Providing Holmes is focussed and not too gung-ho he's more than capable of outboxing Foreman with a bit to spare.

Remember Foreman wasn't exactly a defensive genius. Ali got through and rocked him with flurried combinations throughout their fight in Ziare. Holmes hits harder than Ali, the straight jab straight down the pipe would potentially be big Georges worst nightmare, what with his wild, looping punching technique an' all that. :yep

I would also favour Liston against Foreman for those very reasons.

 

Foreman says he ducked Quarry when he was champion. It's no big deal but that's what he said.
He says he only fought Norton because the boxing authorities mandated it.

Joe "King" Roman wasn't ranked high at all.

 

But Foreman always gives it the "ooh, I didn't want to fight him" "I was afraid of him" "he hit me harder than anyone lese" spiel. He's overly nice to his old opponents and contempories.

 

Yeah, spot on Conteh. Remember him in the Champions Forever documentary? When he said he wanted to be Champion but he wished Frazier would die first, and his constant praise of Norton and how he was trembling with fear during the stare down.