What if Foreman had not Retired?

Just thought about this while reading a recent thread. It's an interesting idea, what if George Foreman, the most feared heavyweight on the planet in 1974, had not retired in 1977? What if he was not as severely affected by the Ali loss has he had been? I mean, he returned after a 15 month lay off to fight Ron Lyle in a great fight and even squeezed in a Frazier rematch in a busy year. But apart from an almost shot Frazier and a B class puncher in Lyle Foreman's other opponents were mediocre to say the least. It's obvious from watching those post-Ali fights that Foreman was not the same fighter, the power was there but the hunger and ferocity was gone. Then he lost to Young, had an awakening and retired. Again, what if Foreman was still the same post-Ali, what if he stayed active, did not retire, how do you think things would have panned out? I think he would have beaten Young, finishing him off in the 7th I think it was when Young was in desperate trouble. I reckon he would have got a title shot, probably not when Ali was on the throne but by 1978 definitely. Instead of Norton v Holmes, we may have had Holmes v Foreman or even easier for him Foreman v Norton. The heavyweight landscape would have been change for ever....maybe even Tyson v Foreman in the late 80s. OMG!

Comments (13)

soul_survivor

I still got to favor holmes,, you make valid points, but i gotta disagree,, Holmes did get on his bike on occasion and use the jab, like a poor man's version of ali.. Most of holmes' wars were latter in his prime, from 79-85 I think holmes 75-78 would stand a much better threat to george,,,,, I just think that holmes would be able to pull it out,, foreman has a punchers chances, but larry's heart would get him thru,, especially late, when foreman would fade after rounds,, larry would come on like gangbusters late, especially in a 15 round fight,,, IMO I can see Holmes making it damn difficult with his jab and technical ability, no doubt so you have a fair opinion. I just highlighted one point, I wouldn't say Holmes was prime in 75-78 or a better fighter than 79-85 cos in the mid 70s Holmes was fighting nobodies. Off the top of my head, I think the only legit opponent he had in the mid-70s was Shavers and ofc the Ali sparring. In the mid-70s, if Foreman had stayed mentally ok, I think he takes that version of Holmes, inexperienced and unready, out.

12y ago

Sugar_Adam_Ali

When was Holmes ever up on his toes? He had a great jab but he never moved like Ali, he had great footwork but he never danced around the ring flicking a jab. His jab was a real hard shot, shot out when his feet were planted square. Holmes was a terrific boxer but even in his prime he got dragged into wars he had no business being in. If Foreman dragged Holmes into a war, we would have seen Holmes ragdolled like he was against Tyson. A mentally stable, fully fit Foreman TKO 8 or 9 over Holmes. I still got to favor holmes,, you make valid points, but i gotta disagree,, Holmes did get on his bike on occasion and use the jab, like a poor man's version of ali.. Most of holmes' wars were latter in his prime, from 79-85 I think holmes 75-78 would stand a much better threat to george,,,,, I just think that holmes would be able to pull it out,, foreman has a punchers chances, but larry's heart would get him thru,, especially late, when foreman would fade after rounds,, larry would come on like gangbusters late, especially in a 15 round fight,,, IMO

12y ago

soul_survivor

1. Foreman already disposed of Norton. It would of been the same in a rematch. Like Soul Survivor said Larry never flicked a jab. I like to think of him as a boxer puncher with an emphasis in boxer. Foreman would of took hos head off. Thats one of the biggest fights we missed out on in Foremans prime but like Russian said his head wasnt right. Ali might be dead if he fought Foreman in 78-80. Posted from Boxingscene.com App for Android very true about Ali. Also, I'm talking about this scenario as if Foreman was never psychologically affected by the Ali loss and then the Young loss. I think a fully fit mind and body of Foreman would hurt and KO Holmes.

12y ago

beez721

Foreman was the one fight Cus Dmato told Tyson to never take yea that would have been a tough styles match for tyson. foreman would have been ripping those brutal uppercuts on him

12y ago

dc3383

Foreman was the one fight Cus Dmato told Tyson to never take

12y ago

beez721

When was Holmes ever up on his toes? He had a great jab but he never moved like Ali, he had great footwork but he never danced around the ring flicking a jab. His jab was a real hard shot, shot out when his feet were planted square. Holmes was a terrific boxer but even in his prime he got dragged into wars he had no business being in. If Foreman dragged Holmes into a war, we would have seen Holmes ragdolled like he was against Tyson. A mentally stable, fully fit Foreman TKO 8 or 9 over Holmes. pretty much agree. I think its a real tough one to call between a prime foreman and holmes. holmes had great heart and recuperative powers but he was dropped and hurt badly by guys like renaldo snipes and mike weaver. neither guy was as good or hit nearly as hard as foreman. I could see holmes beating george for the first few rounds but I think georges tremendous physical strength would start wearing holmes down and I feel george would stop holmes sometime after the 6th round. would have been a difficult fight for both guys tho. damn shame foreman retired after the young fight. would have loved to see them go at it in the late 70's

12y ago

soul_survivor

foreman wanted the ali rematch badly,, and in my personal opinion ali ducked the rematch then with the jimmy young upset, it virtually killed the rematch,,, I think if we had holmes-foreman,, holmes would own him with the jab and movement. Larry would be on his toes, flicking the jab like a mad man, and i dont think george would be able to overcome it... I have always favored holmes over foreman for that very reason,,, I think that is why they never fought in the 90s as old men,,, george didnt want none of the jab When was Holmes ever up on his toes? He had a great jab but he never moved like Ali, he had great footwork but he never danced around the ring flicking a jab. His jab was a real hard shot, shot out when his feet were planted square. Holmes was a terrific boxer but even in his prime he got dragged into wars he had no business being in. If Foreman dragged Holmes into a war, we would have seen Holmes ragdolled like he was against Tyson. A mentally stable, fully fit Foreman TKO 8 or 9 over Holmes.

12y ago

Sugar_Adam_Ali

12y ago

Russian_Crushin

Foreman was in a very bad place mentally after Ali, he needed the retirement. When he came back, he may have been very old, but his mind was str8

12y ago

ironmike2012

Foreman would have been champ til Tyson or Holyfield took the belt. He would have hurt Ali if they fought 78-80, destroyed Norton worse then Cooney did. Also he would have finished Cooney within a couple of rounds. Wonder if Joe Frazier would have had Marvin fight Foreman? Foreman probably has 25-30 title defenses, Michael Spinks would have never been a champ if Foreman was champ. Foreman vs Tyson would have been awesome at the end of the eighties.

12y ago

soul_survivor

Possibly we would've seen Foreman vs Ali II instead of Holmes vs Ali. very real possibility but how horrendous would that have been? plus do u think holmes may have ever won a slice of the title, what if foreman had both wba/wbc, before the advent of ibf, do u think holmes or anyone else could have beaten a focused foreman?

12y ago

soul_survivor

dimwitted fuks cant reply to anythin other than manny/floyd?

12y ago

SNPER

Possibly we would've seen Foreman vs Ali II instead of Holmes vs Ali.

12y ago