Would early 70's Foreman have cleared the 90's with ease?

The nineties had a still tough Tyson, Holyfield, Tua, Mercer, Lewis and Bowe ... I doubt he clears it all but I'm positive it's not with ease ...

 

I don't personally think so, but the success of Foreman and Holmes in the 90s, should definitely give proponents of that era pause for thought.

 

I laugh at Ray Mercer’s name being thrown up here as even being viable.

Mercer lost to a 43 year old Larry Holmes.

Prime Foreman takes him out without breaking a sweat.

Ray Mercer.

 

I almost spilt my drink when i saw it too

 

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/SE-5FSMYJU8

 

Facepalm

 

Double facepalm

 

I agree, Lewis would be the bigger challenge - and perhaps Holyfield - and I suggest this because these two were the best of the 90s Heavyweights, in my opinion. That said, it would also greatly depend on when early 70s Foreman was matched-up with each of them since there were notable swings in form and/or respective technical and physical developments in both fighters, over the course of the decade.

 

Assuming he's some sort of prospect with a 20-0 something record in the early 90's, he would become champ at some point for sure. Maybe twice, and undisputed isn't out of the question at all.

Could obviously beat the Douglas defending his belt.

Could potentially beat the young Holyfield he faced as an old man. I really don't trust Holyfield to fight smart. If he gets into a shootout, Foreman is all over him and stops him brutally. However if Holyfield boxes, he has a chance of winning.

If he fought Bowe after Bowe became champion, that would be a hell of a fight. But I think there's a reason Bowe fought almost no noteworthy punchers, his style and habits were all wrong for a guy like Foreman. Foreman wins unless he gasses out trying to go for the KO too soon.

Goes without saying he could win a strap over temporary belt holders such as Morrison, Moorer, Bruno, Seldon, McCall, Rahman, etc. Easy work.

The biggest obstacle would be 1) Lennox Lewis (very dangerous fight he could lose) and 2) if Foreman starts to get overconfident or slacks off due to his disinterest in boxing (this was already becoming a problem in the 70's). There are so many factors to think about, and Foreman's overly aggressive style combined with his occasional stamina issues might mean he could end up being upset by a smart skilled fighter in the 90's at some point. Generally speaking I think he'd do fine and could potentially dominate with the right manager and coach.

 

That's a very decent summation tbf. It's be mostly down to Lewis and complacency in a nutshell.

 

Mercer went life and death with Bert Cooper, was schooled by a fat old Holmes, but he's going to outslug and beat 70's Foreman.

Comedy.

It would be a slightly longer version of the Chuvalo fight if we're being honest. Mercer's toughness just prolongs the beating.

 

Obesity is a disease! Not foremans fault lol

 

Foreman wouldn't be the giant he was in the 70's. And there are plenty of bombers rivaling his power but with better skills.

I think Foreman is all wrong (hate using the term "all wrong") for Lennox Lewis. But you have huge guys like Riddick Bowe who could box and bang, then you have big bangers like Mike Tyson and Razor Ruddock, guys with good power and solid chins like Ray Mercer, Ike Ibeabuchi and David Tua,

Oh long johnson...hold on tiiiiiiiight yo

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I haven't read whole thread so may have been pointed out already but it is not like you George was unbeatable, he was beaten twice. 90s Heavyweight scene was deep with a lot of varied fighters. If he was competing against the majority of the best fighters he would most likly pick up a loss. He had enough technical flaws that any of the best of the 90s could throw a spanner in the works. I find it hard to imagine any fighter from history to be unbeatable when you look at several different deep eras, if we assume they fight the best available.

 

Who's the Jimmy Young of the 90s? Solid era but there weren't many slicksters. Having said that he would take a loss or 2 if he tried to run the gauntlet of Lewis/Bowe/Tyson/Holy and there's no shame in that, I'm not sure there's a fighter that wouldn't.