Zaire, Foreman's (lack of) corner and strategy

Just read them all. Fantastic. Thanks again.

Very astute and not at all superficially blinded by the atomic flash of Foreman’s easy victories over common opponents Frazier and Norton.

They also forecast features that were key to the complexion of the actual fight. These dudes weren’t mucking around, were they? Lol.

As it played out I still think it was a bit more of a tight rope walk than was projected with more punishment absorbed than anticipated.

However, there was always an instant confidence in the all important intangibles that Ali always brought to the table - chin, over all durability, will to win, IQ, immune to any potential intimidation or impaired confidence etc. - intangibles that you couldn’t take for granted when considering the chances of most other fighters.

 

Can't imagine how frustrated Big George must've been! Especially with all the taunting.

Like everyone's been saying, indeed hindsight is 20/20. I guess George would've saved some energy if he threw the jab more upstairs/downstairs & straightened his punches out a bit. But it seems it wouldn't matter anyway, might've gone another round or two.

 

Virtually all fighters from that era seemingly couldn’t stand Ali and always picked him to lose (as did other pros or ex pros- Cooper, Quarry, but going for the undefeated champ is hardly unusual, that’s why they all picked Frazier to beat Foreman (something that seems lost with time due to the size of each of them).

The Ring magazine would even have cover stories “how I would have clobbered Clay” (Louis), “I would have beaten Clay” (Dempsey), they couldn’t wait till he lost.

 

Join us, the two resident trainers and the idiot that agrees with them sometimes.

 

I actually posted them about 12 years ago on here, they seemed to go down a lot better then….funny old world isn’t it . It seems that George is enjoying his highest ever historical rating right now, I reckon they should make a film about him.

 

Frazier said after the 7th I think that “George ain’t going to make it” (or words to that effect). He could see that GF was spent.

 

The thing I’ve always questioned, is the scenario of “big fan thinks his man has no chance”. Because is my experience, when you’re a fan, you always think your man has ‘some’ chance, regardless of the odds (it’s the reason I’ve had a season ticket with my football team for so long, despite being consistently one of the worst teams in the division, I go to the game thinking, “we’ve got a bit of a chance today”. It’s the hope that kills you, is of our sayings.

Despite hardly anyone predicting Evander could beat Mike, I always had a feeling he could possibly do it, if he rode out those early moments, because I wanted it to happen so much, that how it typically works (my mate, a massive Tyson fan had a party at his that night, so the desire for a Holy upset was huge). I don’t mean in a “gun to head” prediction kinda way, more in a “never write this guy off” way. And the thing is, I’m not really a massive fan of any fighter, so much bigger fans (of whoever) would surely be more confident that their man ‘could’ come out on top- or at least has a chance.

 

Spanish?

 

I know and I don't think of it as being particularly unusual.

But I thought their say was worthy of a mention, in terms of the momentum that had gathered behind Foreman by then, for whatever reason. One or two of those reasons might have been his annihilation of Frazier and Norton, as well as Ali having been beaten by both Frazier and Norton.

Just sayin'

 

It was a good read mate and most fighters felt the same based on their common opponents and it's always better to read contemporary views from good sources before all the hagiography and legend is added (aka the flotsam and jetsam).

 

And Foreman might well have. But I imagine Dempsey and Louis (and perhaps even Tunney) might have felt they'd have had a good go in their day.

 

Agreed.

Something else noticeable in the predictions for this fight is the frequency one encounters a 'fence-sitter', who went with Foreman Early (before round X) / Ali Late (beyond round Y).

 

Ha ha definitely. Reminds me of old Ange Dundee in the old KO 'battle of the legends'. "Foster early or Loughran points"

I used to do that myself as a kid and my dad would go off his barnet..."which one then?" he'd say...and when pressured, i'd nearly always go for the guy riding out the storm and winning late/points. I've always been a 'bet on the stronger chin' predictor when it comes down to it (or the slickster).

 

fantastic discussion in here fellas enjoyed reading thread thank you

 

Sounds very familiar, that 'make a pick' experience.

But - yeah - going with the proven chin and 'pain-eater', with all other things considered is usually a sound picking strategy, in my book.