Which heavyweight could outslug prime George Foreman?

[Jim Jeffries]

When Foreman fought Ali, George had already (rather easily) destroyed the only two men to beat Ali at that point, so I imagined he liked his chances. And it's hard to believe he "ducked" Quarry, who'd already been stopped twice by Ali.

Whatever slim chance Jerry might have against George, it wouldn't be by out slugging him, rather by outsmarting him with precise counters.

[Kid McCoy]

Lyle was a raw, powerful slugger against Quarry. Young Foreman was not a technician, so I think the comparison is valid. And while I agree that Foreman was a better fighter, the diffirence is not as huge as you're trying to make it out to be. They both had trouble with Young, both were stopped by Ali but the diffirence is Lyle fought Quarry unlike George. We'll never know if he would have destroyed Quarry or if he would have been picked apart like Shavers, Lyle, Foster etc. All of this adds up and then you have George himself admitting he ducked him(And I highly doubt that he says these things with an agenda. All of the things he's been saying in terms of boxing have only hurt his reputation.)

So in response to this thread, I see Liston and Quarry being able to beat him in a slugfest. What's even more important to this is that George may be mentally beaten before he even steps into the ring.

Nor will we know if Quarry would have been beaten handily like he was against Frazier or Ali. Ellis also beat him, Chuvalo KO'd him, Norton KO'd him, an aged Machen beat him and an aged Patterson probably did too, so let's not pretend Quarry was some terror of the division.

I'm not even arguing that a Foreman victory was a cert (although Quarry slugging with him would be suicidal, like it was against Frazier), just that it's a major stretch to suggest Foreman was ducking him. He took on numerous fighters who had already beaten Quarry, and beat three of them handily. Even the older Ali was superior to Quarry. Look what happened in their rematch. Strange that Foreman would duck the one who got a pasting and instead tackle the winner.

As for what Foreman says now, he also claims he was scared of Frazier, wanted to duck Norton, and doesn't rate either version of himself among the top ten heavyweights. It's all part of his nice guy act. I'd take it with a pinch of salt. He's hardly going to say he would have knocked Quarry out. When it actually mattered, he was willing to face Quarry.

[Greatest1942]

Nor will we know if Quarry would have been beaten handily like he was against Frazier or Ali. Ellis also beat him, Chuvalo KO'd him, Norton KO'd him, an aged Machen beat him and an aged Patterson probably did too, so let's not pretend Quarry was some terror of the division.

I'm not even arguing that a Foreman victory was a cert (although Quarry slugging with him would be suicidal, like it was against Frazier), just that it's a major stretch to suggest Foreman was ducking him. He took on numerous fighters who had already beaten Quarry, and beat three of them handily. Even the older Ali was superior to Quarry. Look what happened in their rematch. Strange that Foreman would duck the one who got a pasting and instead tackle the winner.

As for what Foreman says now, he also claims he was scared of Frazier, wanted to duck Norton, and doesn't rate either version of himself among the top ten heavyweights. It's all part of his nice guy act. I'd take it with a pinch of salt. He's hardly going to say he would have knocked Quarry out. When it actually mattered, he was willing to face Quarry.

Agreed on Quarry.
Few if any could ever outslug Big George. I would give a chance to Sonny Liston at his prime. Sonny had a good chin, had very good staright punches and could punch with either hand. I will favour George but the Sonny who destroyed Williams could very well prove all calculations wrong.