What if Foreman had not Retired?

[soul_survivor]

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!

[SN!PER]

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

[soul_survivor]

dimwitted ***s cant reply to anythin other than manny/floyd?

[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?

[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.

[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

[Sugar Adam Ali]

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

[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.

[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

[dc3383]

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