Would George Foreman have dominated the 1980'2 heavyweight division

Umm........no, he was dwindling. The punishment he would (might) have taken would've stopped him coming back as the durable 'Big' george we know and love IMO

 

Definately Not.

He would have always lost to Larry Holmes from 1978-1979 onwards. He'd essentially be in a position where he's better than the rest but no good enough to beat the best.

He's probably walk through most of the 80s but he' pick up a fluke loss or two from a few cute slicksters.

 

Agreed,

I see no chance for him dominating that period. He might however have taken a fragment of the crown from someone like Weaver or Dokes, but that's about it.

 

Agreed with the essense of the thread, no way he beats Larry, he may have been a belt holder but he would perhaps of being outboxed by someone that was a bit of a mover. Then again he should have become technically better with age

 

One obvious name: Larry Holmes

That is all that separates Big George from dominance, had he not retired

 

Agreed. The thing is though, I don't know if he isn't not capable of it I just don't think George would be prepared mentally had he not retired and come back like he did.

 

As everyone else said before me, he would've ran into Larry Holmes and IMO he would've been outpointed

 

So then the next question is...

Let's say he manages an 80's career where he has a fluke loss to a slickster or two, beats several top contenders, grabs a belt, and gets easily outpointed by Larry Holmes. Thanks to attrition, he never comes back in the 90's.

Where would you rank him compared to OUR timeline's Big George?

 

Depending on the quality of his wins (and losses) I think that Foreman would be ranked Top 15 or Top 12 in the all time HW ranking.

However, I also think he would always rank lower than he actually does. His comeback championship, 20 years later was a HUGE boost for his status.

One question outstanding; had Foreman not retired or gone downhill after the rumble... would have he tried to avenge his defeat against Ali, perhaps during 1975? :huh

A revenge victory, even against a faded Ali, would probably help him to improve his standing in the ATG ranking, but a second defeat would bury him for good.

 

Had he not retired and continued on, I believe he would have burnt out around '83-85 and been DONE as a fighter. I think he deserved a rematch with Ali and may very well have won against the Ali of 1976 and beyond---he certainly would have defeated Leon Spinks, Ken Norton, Duane Bobick, and others around at the time. Foreman/Coetzee, Foreman/Weaver, I think would have been damn good matches---as would Foreman/Dokes and Foreman/Tate.

But I think he would have fell apart against Holmes, his mindset wasn't right. Now the Foreman of the '90s? He had the style necessary, the patience necessary, to have defeated Larry.

 

Agreed with the posts that say he would have come a cropper against Holmes, but I think he could have been reasonably dominant if he could fight for the WBA title and go down that road.

The likes of Tate, Weaver, Coetzee, Page etc. were good fighters, but not outstanding fighters. Page had the potential, but he rarely showed it.

In 1980, George would be 31 years old with no real wear and tear on his body.

I think he beats Tate by KO, who was a decent boxer but not very durable. Let's say that's for the WBA title.
He'd also be too powerful for challengers like Coetzee and Tillis, although James' slick movement would cause him problems. He knocks out Coetzee in five and finally manages to get Tillis in the ninth round.
Weaver would have been interesting, as Mike liked to play possum on the ropes and allow the other guy to wear himself out on occasion.
I think he'd employ that strategy with Foreman.
The problem here is that Weaver simply isn't as durable or as canny as Ali, and it's unlkely George would fall for the same trick twice. Foreman overwhelms him in six or seven rounds, imo.
Dokes would surprise Foreman with a spirited fight, and George would have to settle for a decision here in a fight that has people wondering if the great monster is winding down.

The guy to get Foreman is Page. He was durable, crafty and had good all-round skills. By this point, Foreman is in decline and Page takes the title with a comfortable and relatively easy decision. This would be in about '83 or so, making George champ for a little over three years.

George retires the following year after losing a rematch to Page, again by decision. He attempts a comeback three years later, but after winning his first five fights, he is comfortably outboxed by Tony Tucker in '87.
He never fights again.

 

Yes.









































I mean, no.

 

Not a chance !! Larry Holmes was 3 times the fighter of Foreman and i'd back Tyson to detonate a big shot on him .. Tyson v Foreman would be one hell of a scrap but Holmes would do a number on Foreman ..

 

No he cant get past Holmes or 80s Tyson in the later half of the 80s.

And there where to many talented HWS around for him not to get at least 2 losses from other contenders.