Would and could Joe Louis, Ali, Tyson, Lewis, or any other heavyweight

This is why Foreman is underrated to answer the question on another thread.

 

Perhaps. But he's a hard one to rank.

 

Yes, this is actually a good thread. There's a solid point to it. Foreman's comeback gets underrated. He beat the HW champ record by 8 years. That is not only a huge feat but a shattering one record wise in a Bolt esque way. To answer this question, I imagine Holyfield can be competitive but not do as nearly as well as he did in Foreman's comeback. No way he beats Briggs at 48 or Moorer at 45.

Foreman's undervalued H2H and people overestimate speculative H2H in their criteria. Hence why Foreman gets underrated. He's a top 5 HW folks. Face it...

 

Seahawks? Oh boy . I assume you're being humorous but you never know.

 

Agreed,

Its not impossible for other champions to do what he did, but in all likelyhood, they would have to change something major about their fight game, as Foreman did. George needed to make adjustments to make himself more suitable for fighting into old age. He shored up his defense, threw straiter punches, and was more efficient about throwing fewer, yet more effective shots. In order for say Louis, Ali, Tyson, or any of the others to do this, they'd have to make some adjustments themselves and that's the hardest part of it. It isn't easy for an old dog to learn new tricks.

 

Well guys like Foreman, Hopkins have had long careers but were not really in many wars and did not burn out in the first half of there career...Toney had a few tough fights, Jivov for one but he came back and did well without accually ever being in top shape...Foreman did mount a nice comeback and learned to deal with what tools he had and worked it, he also gained a pace and some stamina(something he lacked earlier). He also managed himself well....but BIG GEORGE WAS UNIQUE

 

I like this Chris Warren fellow. He knows his stuff and makes the correct ascertions about the classic fighters. He's also right about the white guys. Finally someone who thinks like me.

 

Is the question 'What man could beat Moorer at 45'? Perhaps Holmes would have pulled it off the same year

I suspect a good few many HWs could beat Moorer at 45. But then again many/most are shot to pieces by their 40s but Foreman having 10years out and many easier opponents on his comeback (Holyfield aside) was much much fresher

Moorer was chinny so the bigger HW punchers, even old 1s could potentially take him out, if Lennox came back at 45 to fight a Moorer clone I reckon he'd do it.

 

No to Holmes. and no to anyone else unless you start listing names.