Ali - Foreman Rematch - why it didnt happen ?

[WesleySnipes]

Could somebody exolain this to me?Foreman wanted it...Ali didnt or what?Did he maybe thought he could lost?There would be alot of money for him too so why it didnt happen?

[BKM-2010]

Somebody recently said something along the lines of Foreman losing his shot against Ali after he lost to Jimmy Young.

[Sugarj]

To be honest, it would have happened soon enough after Zaire, but Foreman went through a very bad personal time. Defeat drove him into a bad depression.

With the exception of that 5 men in one night exhibition, Foreman was out until early 1976 when he met Ron Lyle. By that time Ali was preparing for his 5th title defense since taking the title from Foreman.

Foreman struggled badly with Lyle, which hardly ignited interest in a rematch. However 1976 was otherwise an excellent year for Foreman whilst Ali was lucky to receive decisions against Young and Norton. I can understand why no one in the Ali camp wanted to rush a Foreman fight at that point; however a match would have been unavoidable if Foreman had got past Jimmy Young in early 1977. Sadly he didn't!

Could 1977 Foreman have beaten 1977 Ali?

Despite losing to Young, Foreman still looked very useful over the 12 rounds. He looked pretty frightening in round 7!

That said Ali's chin, distance stamina and combination work still looked good against Earnie Shavers that same year.

Its a very tough call!!!

[WesleySnipes]

To be honest, it would have happened soon enough after Zaire, but Foreman went through a very bad personal time. Defeat drove him into a bad depression.

With the exception of that 5 men in one night exhibition, Foreman was out until early 1976 when he met Ron Lyle. By that time Ali was preparing for his 5th title defense since taking the title from Foreman.

Foreman struggled badly with Lyle, which hardly ignited interest in a rematch. However 1976 was otherwise an excellent year for Foreman whilst Ali was lucky to receive decisions against Young and Norton. I can understand why no one in the Ali camp wanted to rush a Foreman fight at that point; however a match would have been unavoidable if Foreman had got past Jimmy Young in early 1977. Sadly he didn't!

Could 1977 Foreman have beaten 1977 Ali?

Despite losing to Young, Foreman still looked very useful over the 12 rounds. He looked pretty frightening in round 7!

That said Ali's chin, distance stamina and combination work still looked good against Earnie Shavers that same year.

Its a very tough call!!!

wow...thank you for replying...that was quite revealing

[BKM-2010]

To be honest, it would have happened soon enough after Zaire, but Foreman went through a very bad personal time. Defeat drove him into a bad depression.

With the exception of that 5 men in one night exhibition, Foreman was out until early 1976 when he met Ron Lyle. By that time Ali was preparing for his 5th title defense since taking the title from Foreman.

Foreman struggled badly with Lyle, which hardly ignited interest in a rematch. However 1976 was otherwise an excellent year for Foreman whilst Ali was lucky to receive decisions against Young and Norton. I can understand why no one in the Ali camp wanted to rush a Foreman fight at that point; however a match would have been unavoidable if Foreman had got past Jimmy Young in early 1977. Sadly he didn't!

Could 1977 Foreman have beaten 1977 Ali?

Despite losing to Young, Foreman still looked very useful over the 12 rounds. He looked pretty frightening in round 7!

That said Ali's chin, distance stamina and combination work still looked good against Earnie Shavers that same year.

Its a very tough call!!!

If this is all accurate information, it sums it up very well.

Oh and as for who would have won in a rematch? Ali without a doubt. People don't realise Ali didn't just outsmart Foreman, he throroughly outboxed him as well. He was 10 times more skilled and intelligent as a fighter. And indeed, if at that point he could still take Shavers' best punches, Foreman would have nothing to offer to Ali. Again.

[jabsRstiff]

Could you imagine how mentally ****ed George would have been if it's the
4th round or so and Ali's still there, and sticking him with shots?

He'd have been more tired than he was in the 1st fight.

[Boxing Bob]

big bombers with poor footwork were Alis specialty. Repeat of Zaire!

[bojangles1987]

I hate when people say these two should have fought a rematch. Ali humiliated Foreman and knocked him out. No rematch was necessary.

[Sugarj]

big bombers with poor footwork were Alis specialty. Repeat of Zaire!

I think you might be selling Foreman's footwork a little short here. Just because he wasn't a dancing master like Ali or Walcott doesn't mean that his footwork was poor.

Ali said that Foreman cut off the ring better than anyone he ever faced. Norman Mailer praised his footwork as 'a balletic art' in When we were kings.

I think that a rematch would go to decision and I'd favour Ali, Foreman's chin was always superb, knocking him out again would take some doing unless he foolishly blew himself out a second time. I don't think that he and his team would fall for that.