We know Foreman was sharply damaged by his loss to Ali, let’s say he gets it into his head he could never win a fight with him (which privately, he might have). So to cast doubt on Ali’s first win, Foreman takes a rematch in early 1975 & lays down like Liston - in every way as close to a recreation as he can (first round, rolling around, one light punch puts him down etc). Let’s say both men’s careers pan out the exact same way but for this change. We don’t ever find out that Foreman did this intentionally, we just know as much as we do about the Liston II situation. Who do you think is more reputation-damaged by this? What would you guess happened, in light of it being the second time for Ali?
If it’s identical then Ali now holds two wins over Foreman? - one because of incompetent refereeing (after some one sided action) and another because he was much better?
It would be the case that twice in Ali’s career he pulled major upsets & then his apparent victim rolled over willingly in the return fight. In nigh identical circumstance, no less. I’d be curious of how people reacted & thought of Ali’s legacy afterward. Foreman’s too, for that matter - again, allowing for everything else in their careers being the same.
Ali's voodoo works yet again on the big scary monster. And not sure how George picks up from something like that. It was bad enough him losing to Young and cracking up after, but he redeemed him self massively, but not sure he could here.
