I wouldn’t pick a fast Eddie Chambers for example, but Foreman never beat a world level slicker, so it’s hard to judge matchups when they put him against the likes of a Chris Byrd, there are so many unknowns.
Foreman's achiles heel was always a clever boxer. However, there are some factors need to consider in his showings against them (Peralta, Ali & Young). Against Peralta he was a 15-0 novice with less than a years experience, going against a world-class contender with a record of 77-5-8. He was also very durable - only being stopped 2x in 116 fights (Pastrano on cuts & Foreman in a rematch). Against Ali, he was fighting a very durable fighter, who laid on the ropes for the majority of the bout & wasn't getting hit too flush for the most part. Ali even had to change strategy after the 1st round because Foreman was closing the gap & Ali knew he couldn't fight at that pace for long. Against Young, Foreman was fighting to measured & calculated against the better boxer - fighting his fight instead of rushing him like he did Ken Norton. It was also the fault of boxing promoters who told Foreman not to knock out Young too early so that they could make money from advertisements. Young was also durable. The 3 things they all had in common is that they were durable. They all took a good bit of punishment from Foreman. A chinny clever boxer likely won't last against Foreman, nor will a stationary target. Foreman would beat most, but not the very elite clever boxers.
I've often thought Byrd could give George an hard fight, not saying he'd necessarily beat him but he definitely had the moves.
Of the guys that could have beaten George in real time, there's only Holmes that I give a realistic chance (obviously apart from Ali and Young) In his comeback a guy like Tucker could beat him (avoided for good reason maybe)
A very good, slick, very durable boxer. Preferably not a small one. Jimmy Ellis or heavyweight Roy Jones aren't going to do it, for example.
I think Foreman would detonate on Eddie Chambers eventually but Chambers speed and movement would make it difficult for Foreman. I agree Foreman vs Byrd would be interesting matchup.
Foreman almost beat Jimmy Young in a 12 rounder and his ghost won 4 rounds against prime Holyfield. Anyone 70s Foreman could beat in a decision wasn't going the distance anyway so people sort of made up weaknesses that weren't there. A great point fighter needs a Jimmy Young kinda chin to beat Foreman because without one Foremans getting 10-8s and then he wins even if he loses more rounds. Can any of these fighters mentioned here stay upright a whole fight with 70s George? Because thats almost a requirement to win.
To beat young Foreman you need a good slick boxer, sure ... plus a granite chin and enough stamina to outlast a furious beating. Ali had all those qualities, and sure I can imagine several hustlers who could pull that gig too: Holmes, Liston, Louis, Holyroid, maybe even Usyk. But neither Tyson nor Wlad/Vitali are Ali. Eventually young Foreman is going to connect and they go down hard.
No I think an aggressive, powerful, quick handed counterpuncher like Louis is potentially even more stylistically dangerous for George than a slickster.
Ali did more than be good and slick. He had to innovate. The only person I've ever heard of having displayed rope-a-dope was Roland LaStarza who hardly relied on it like Ali did for this fight. The only men I know of worth mention in a sentence about Ali's ability to work people up are Mayweather, Johnson, and Mendoza. The corkscrew, older than Ali, there is McCoy. The shuffle, the shoulder shimmy, posture/juxtapositioning game is all JJ Walcott. These things combined are more than "good and slick" they are a GOAT quality recipe and that's what it took to beat George Foreman. Ability, Knowledge, Creativity.
Yes your right. George wasn't just an hard hitting brute that anyone with legs could beat. He was a special fighter.
In my opinion, a slickster with speed, a good jab and lots of movement. I don't buy the theory that Foreman has ever had great footwork.
Slick boxers seem to be Foreman’s biggest weakness…. But I simply can’t believe that he would steamroll literally ANY and EVERY fighter who stood up to him in a shootout. I’ve often asked myself : What would happen between George and Oliver McCall ? Vitali Klitschko ? Mike Tyson ? Ike Ibeabucchi ? There have to be some guys who would have beaten him without just stick’n and movin’.. I loved Foreman.. but he wasn’t invincible. And since his time there have been a myriad of men who have surpassed him in physical size and strength
