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I wish I had the luxury 2 have seen this fight take place. I'm bringing this fight 2 the board, who do u think would have won if they have fought back in the mid 70's?

babulous wrote:I wish I had the luxury 2 have seen this fight take place. I'm bringing this fight 2 the board, who do u think would have won if they have fought back in the mid 70's?

Holmes, wide 15 round decision or mid to late KO.

If by mid 70s you mean 1974-76, when Holmes was still a pup and Foreman was in his first prime, Foreman by TKO or KO before the 7th. If we assume Foreman stays active beyond 1980, and endures more wear and tear along the way, I would go with Holmes winning a decision--but if Foreman catches him like Shavers did in '79, Holmes doesn't escape.

How about prime vs. prime? The Foreman who still used that now-underrated jackhammer jab and could put anyone down with either hand, vs. Holmes the consummate technician and master jabber who beat up an aging Ali and went on to dominate the division for the better part of a dercade.

I find that one a tough call - Holmes the superior boxer, but Foreman had the great equalizer - power. To beat that Foreman you had to box a really smart fight, find a way to neutralize George's jab, punish him for every missed shot, and even then take a huge amount of punishment, as Ali did. I just don't see Holmes being able to land those heavy multi-power-punch combos like Ali did throughout the Rumble, and say Foreman TKO8, but after eating a hell of a lot of Holmes' jabs and ending up looking like the elephant man as a consequence. Your thoughts on prime vs. prime?

I think that Holmes win (w15). U can't beat what u can't catch, as I recall, Foreman was never a real agile fighter w/ speed. Anything is possible when it comes 2 hw's, having a good chin means nothing when caught w/ a good shot. Foreman would have that punchers chance, but the jab is the most lethal punch in a fighters arsenal, the favor is in Holmes corner. How do u think Buster Douglas & Lenox Lewis was so successful w/ Tyson, weakend the prey then go 4 the k.o., Foreman's conditioning would barely get him thru the fight.

I would go with a Holmes win, late stoppage.
This is due to Foreman's lack of mobility and stamina.

I read something in the early 80s i think, about Shavers being the hardest hitter of all time.
If this was correct , it would mean Foreman did not hit as hard as Shavers, (cant believe that, but anyway),... if it was so... then it would mean that if Holmes could get up from a Shavers haymaker, it was possible he could do the same against Foreman. All if's but's and maybe's i know, but i would still go with Holmes to beat Big George

Judging from comments from fighters, I'd say Shavers probably did have an even greater single punch than Foreman, although both were absolute pulverizers. But Foreman had things that Shavers did not, and I think he would have gotten to Holmes more often than Shavers did, especially after a knockdown.

I've never been much of a Holmes fan with regard to personality, but I do think he is among the most underrated champions of all time (however, I don't think he is as underrated or ignored as he thinks he is.) The fact that he did get up from his knockdown against Shavers--and Holmes was out on his feet with lots of time left in the round-- and come back to win big is a testament to his greatness. In fact, in the "prime against prime" fantasy match, Holmes amazing recuperative powers--on par with Louis and Ali--and his championship heart might have seen him through the rougher moments that would certainly occur at some point in a fight against Foreman.

But I still think that Foreman would have presented Holmes with a little more than he ever had to deal with offensively, and that would have been the difference. But then, a prime Holmes always found the extra resources to pull it out . . .

Suffice to say that I wouldn't want to bet on this one, but I'd gladly fork over the pay-per-view costs to watch it.

Foremab by KO in the 6th. Foremzn hzc very underrated speed and his mobility wasn't bad either. Holmes had a faster and crisper jab but Foreman would give him serious problems b/c his jab was HARDER. Very close fight but Foreman was in another league then Shavers, Snipes, and Cooney.

Holmes beats the crap out of Foreman, and does it with real relative ease.

Foreman was a slow plodding slugger, with next to no real skills, the only thing he had over Holmes was Power, the same advantage Shavers, Norton and Cooney had over him.

Holmes won all those fights.

For those who have seen Holmes - Shavers I.

Thats what this would be like.

Holmes with every round in the bag.