Would Prime Foreman Overpower Louis?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Fergy, May 7, 2021.



  1. George Crowcroft

    George Crowcroft Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    You're supposed to watch with your eyes open. Louis' footwork was leagues better than Foreman's.
     
  2. lone star

    lone star Active Member Full Member

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    Really? George was one of the best at cornering his opponents. Joe was good but George just too big and powerful.
     
  3. he grant

    he grant Historian/Film Maker Full Member

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    I think the prime Foreman is in many ways the most over rated of the upper tier of the heavyweight champs .. I think a prime Louis destroys him ..
     
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  4. RulesMakeItInteresting

    RulesMakeItInteresting Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Prime Louis might have got knocked down, but George would have ended up overwhelmed in 6 or 7.
     
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  5. lone star

    lone star Active Member Full Member

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    Sorry did I forget to mention that George had a very powerful jab? A punch that Joe relied on. Best can’t see Louis reaching George without getting tagged.
     
  6. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    Trying to walk Louis down, is a good way to get killed.

    He loved nothing better, than to back away from an opponent, and keep them walking into a carefully prepared killing zone.

    If an opponent put one foot forward, then he smelled blood!
     
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  7. lone star

    lone star Active Member Full Member

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    I still think Foreman too strong and powerful. But both greats.
     
  8. HolDat

    HolDat Well-Known Member Full Member

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    George forgot about his amazing jab in his prime at times.
     
  9. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    Theoretically yes. He was one of boxing’s hardest and most dangerous punchers and Louis was hurt by lesser hitters. In practicality ? Not sure if I’d favor him to do it. Joe Louis was an even better puncher than Foreman was and had the skill, hand speed and style to penetrate Foreman’s porous defense to inflict fast and early damage. I hate to use the word “ crude “ to describe George Forman. But In the 1970’s he often displayed that he WAS a little on the crude side, and crude punchers never did well against Louis.
     
  10. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member Full Member

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    Louis is one of the very very few I'd favor over peak Foreman. I'm certainly not counting Foreman out but the lightning fast power laden pinpoint shots of Louis brilliantly used as counters when need be would be a sweet foil to George's wider swings. Unbeaten George is going to corner anyone and right there is the key. You need plenty of power and ability to fight him off and gain some respect otherwise the fat lady is next up on stage. It's why i favor a Louis and Liston where as the likes of Holmes and Holyfield et al i personally see as underdogs.

    So much get written about the Louis chin but he's like Larry Holmes - both can be dropped and hurt but they have brilliant powers of recuperation and huge hearts. Tactically Holmes often gave himself a short time to clear his head and it was back to business and with Louis he liked to fire back - hard. He was extremely dangerous when hurt.
     
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  11. Balder

    Balder Well-Known Member banned Full Member

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    George will grill up a Joe Louis pancake.

    If you cannot escape with footwork,... and Joe could not...bye bye ...Bring the syrup and butter.
     
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  12. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    They are both to an extent tailor made for each other. I think Joe's lack of mobility moving away from engagement might be his undoing. But Joe could also punch inside George's assault and cause all kinds of trouble.

    It really is one of the greatest mythical matchups.
     
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  13. KuRuPT

    KuRuPT Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    It seems, unsurprising so I guess, I'm in the minority :) The vast majority seems to pick Louis, and if I was betting money, I'd put that money on Foreman. Louis was everything everyone has said, and yet, that still got him floored by the Galento's, Buddy's and Jimmy's of the world; why wouldn't I think someone who's better in almost every way, plus a better finisher, shouldn't find a way to get the job done? Louis isn't some mover who's going to set up Foreman to walk into something using all these angles, he wasn't hard to find, hit, and sometimes put down. I think Louis will get hit will something big, go down, and since I don't think he's very good at holding when hurt; or at least, good enough to hold off Foreman and stall, I see Foreman ending the fight more times than not. Yes, if they fought 10 times, Louis would win some because of his pin point accuracy and power, and he'd put Foreman in all sorts of trouble. However, I still think Foreman wins more of those fights, but hey, what do I know.
     
    Last edited: May 7, 2021
  14. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member Full Member

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    Great post. This is the flipside scenario for sure and the exact way a win for George would likely go down. No matter who one favors this bout is an open affair.
     
  15. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Foreman was not as skilled as Louis, but Joe's chin was not too amazing. It was fair, but not amazing. And you needed an amazing chin to beat Foreman. This is not a blanket statement though. I can reasonably see Louis beating George, and what I said I did not even say to say that I think George would necessarily beat Joe.