George Foreman vs. Lennox Lewis

[OptimusWolf]

EDIT: ***I don't think Lewis would approach this fight in his pre-McCall style of unloading big shots at will. he'd most likely look to keep his distance, use his jab and concentrate on not eating bombs.****

Bad matchup for Lewis, and big george would win 9 times out of ten, although if Lewis could keep george from landing in the first half of the fight then I'd back Lewis to win a wide UD.

[K-DOGG]

nice post. good karma and 50,000 points for you!

Butterfly, I just realized what you meant with your 50,000 points quote. Thank you; but forgive my ignorance, I'm a newbie. What's the "points" thing about?

[sk1927]

Foreman would grill him!

[Heckler]

Because Lewis has shown that A) he doesn't have the ability to absorb huge punishment B)Doesn't have great recooperative ability AT ALL. He is generally an offensive boxer when it was slick defensive boxers that would give george the most problems. He never showed great Stamina nor did he posess the handspeed required to somewhat neutralise george. Lennox is a big man, not exactly hard to find in the ring, he wouldn't be able to BOX George. He'd be cut off, bustled up against the ropes and forced to fight his way out thus fight George's game. Lewis would be drawn into a slugfest and no-one wins a slugfest with George Foreman. KO within 8 rounds. Im sure Lennox would make a good showing of himself, but there is no doubt in my mind that he would be KTFO.

And would people stop brining in post 74 Foreman matches. He was not CLOSE to the same fighter. Different style, different trainers, and generally less effective.

[The Noose]

Some great arguments on the last couple of pages.

[TheHoff'sGhost]

Because Lewis has shown that A) he doesn't have the ability to absorb huge punishment B)Doesn't have great recooperative ability AT ALL. He is generally an offensive boxer when it was slick defensive boxers that would give george the most problems. He never showed great Stamina nor did he posess the handspeed required to somewhat neutralise george. Lennox is a big man, not exactly hard to find in the ring, he wouldn't be able to BOX George. He'd be cut off, bustled up against the ropes and forced to fight his way out thus fight George's game. Lewis would be drawn into a slugfest and no-one wins a slugfest with George Foreman. KO within 8 rounds. Im sure Lennox would make a good showing of himself, but there is no doubt in my mind that he would be KTFO.

And would people stop brining in post 74 Foreman matches. He was not CLOSE to the same fighter. Different style, different trainers, and generally less effective.

great post

[MickyHatton]

Because Lewis has shown that A) he doesn't have the ability to absorb huge punishment B)Doesn't have great recooperative ability AT ALL. He is generally an offensive boxer when it was slick defensive boxers that would give george the most problems. He never showed great Stamina nor did he posess the handspeed required to somewhat neutralise george. Lennox is a big man, not exactly hard to find in the ring, he wouldn't be able to BOX George. He'd be cut off, bustled up against the ropes and forced to fight his way out thus fight George's game. Lewis would be drawn into a slugfest and no-one wins a slugfest with George Foreman. KO within 8 rounds. Im sure Lennox would make a good showing of himself, but there is no doubt in my mind that he would be KTFO.

And would people stop brining in post 74 Foreman matches. He was not CLOSE to the same fighter. Different style, different trainers, and generally less effective.

I certainly agree that there could only be one winner in a slugfest and thats Foreman, no argument there, I also think you have some valid points about cutting off the ring and how his size may actually impair him.
Its a hard one to swallow but you may be right, I may be converted!
The only point I will add is that Lewis had a jab like a sledge hammer and could KO any Heavyweight (take the Rahman KO) he could fight on the back foot but I agree that George would have given him serious trouble!

[Yogi]

And would people stop brining in post 74 Foreman matches. He was not CLOSE to the same fighter. Different style, different trainers, and generally less effective.

Having just watched a few of Foreman's fights from both before and after the one with Ali, I'd say Big George was VERY close to the same fighter after 1974...

For example, Joe Frazier tried to be much more elusive in the rematch and unlike the first fight with Foreman, rarely attacked Big George head on. But Foreman used the same basic style of jabbing when Frazier was on the outside & within reach of it (which is how he started the first fight), threw numerous hooks & uppercuts when Frazier or he closed the distance and were mid/close range, and gave the same type of pressure in forcing Frazier back against the ropes (where Foreman again let the bombs go)...There was no noticable difference in speed of hand or foot, and besides the fact that Frazier fought him much different the second time around (Foreman didn't have to push Frazier off as much in the rematch, but still did when Frazier attacked him head-on), George Foreman fought with the same style he did against Frazier in the first fight, as well as other fights like against Boone Kirkman for example.

[Southpaw Stinger]

Having just watched a few of Foreman's fights from both before and after the one with Ali, I'd say Big George was VERY close to the same fighter after 1974...

For example, Joe Frazier tried to be much more elusive in the rematch and unlike the first fight with Foreman, rarely attacked Big George head on. But Foreman used the same basic style of jabbing when Frazier was on the outside & within reach of it (which is how he started the first fight), threw numerous hooks & uppercuts when Frazier or he closed the distance and were mid/close range, and gave the same type of pressure in forcing Frazier back against the ropes (where Foreman again let the bombs go)...There was no noticable difference in speed of hand or foot, and besides the fact that Frazier fought him much different the second time around (Foreman didn't have to push Frazier off as much in the rematch, but still did when Frazier attacked him head-on), George Foreman fought with the same style he did against Frazier in the first fight, as well as other fights like against Boone Kirkman for example.

Physically George is no different. His basic fight style didn't change much and obviously his arsenal of shots remained the same. Mentally though George was different. This can be seen when comparing the two Frazier fights.

Fight 1, George goes for Frazier and tries to blast him at every oportunity. If Frazier slows down, Foreman pounces and attacks - just as he did with all fighters. Frazier was backed on the ropes and Foreman hit more and a lot harder.

Loses to Ali

Fight 2
George picks his shots more carefully and jabs more. He still attacks Joe when Frazier slows but Foreman doesn't throw relentless hooks as much anymore. Frazier is backed up against the ropes but Foreman doesn't off load, he looks for openings and throws smartly. George wasn't going to have another rope a dope happen.

Maybe George was a smarter fighter after Ali, but this came as a loss as it changed his primary and most dangerous fight style.

[BKM-]

See, i didn't see the Foreman vs Young fight for years. I can't remember much of it but i always hear about Foreman being dominated in that fight.

How was that version of Foreman and how did Young outpoint him? Could Lewis do the same thing if so?