Ali-Foreman 2, Sept. 1976

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Tony1244
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Ali-Foreman 2, Sept. 1976

Post by Tony1244 »

Foreman is given the rematch @ Yankee Stadium in lieu of Norton, 09/1976. Foreman had just KO'd Lyle and Frazier earlier that year. What happens?
Syntax Error
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Re: Ali-Foreman 2, Sept. 1976

Post by Syntax Error »

Ali on points.

Although Ali was faded in '76, he wasn't totally gone.

He could still take a punch, as we saw against Shavers in '77 and he could still move, although not as well as in his peak a decade earlier.

Foreman was too slow and predictable to beat a still living Ali, plus George never really looked that great after the Rumble in the Jungle, Frazier 2 aside, but that's nothing to boast about because Joe was more washed up than a dead crab by '76.
DrDuke
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Re: Ali-Foreman 2, Sept. 1976

Post by DrDuke »

Both were past it for sure. Ali lost a lot of resourses in Manila. Foremam was never the same after the Ali bout. After the mentioned bouts both had troubles with Young. Foreman even officially lost to him, but he faced Young in 1977, so, by Sep 2, 1976 he would come out in about the same shape in which he actually fought Young. It means, that Foreman could be outboxed. Before facing Norton for the 3rd time Ali had the remains of what he had used to be and that fight actually was on Sep 28, 1976, so, Ali would fight Foreman in this hypothetical matchup in about the same shape in which he actually fought Norton. I guess, in this situation Ali would be the fighter, who had more left. So, Ali would provide a Young-like performance against Foreman.
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