BoxRec

Slick boxer counter puncher Jimmy Young made his defining moment of his career when he upset former heavyweight champion George Foreman by a 12 round decision in 1977. In your opinion, was Young's best win of his career, but not about his questionable loss to Ali and Norton. It's not difficult for you to answer.

Yes.

Ali would have been if he won the nod. The Ron Lyle wins are runner up.

Yes, without question

Obviously the Foreman fight.

George was a pretty solid favorite even though Young had convincing wins over Lyle and the disputed loss to Ali.

He had also fought to a draw in a rematch with another power puncher---Earnie Shavers.

Most say Young deserved the nod in that bout.

You would have different views on what somebody like Jerry Quarry's best win was... Some would say Thad Spencer... some Floyd Patterson... some Ron Lyle... some Buster Mathis... some Earnie Shavers... some Mac Foster.

With Young it's cut and dried... Jimmy was on that night... Confident as Hell he had the perfect style for Big George.

scorpio83 wrote: ↑28 Dec 2017, 05:25Was Jimmy Young's upset win over George Foreman in 1977 his best win ever?

I would say so.

I always feel a bit sorry for Jimmy - he never gets the credit he deserves. He was a good, good fighter but because of his inconsistency his records states otherwise.

Maybe if Jimmy had've gotten that win against Greg Page when they fought - or just one sweet win, a last hurrah against someone like Tony Tucker or Tony Tubbs... Maybe then he wouldn't be treated so harshly.

But as it played out and as it stands - Jimmy Young will more than likely not be remembered in the decades to come. And if he is, it will not be as a top ten fighter of his day.

It will interesting to see how history will judge him down the road. The trend now to put so much stock in win/loss records and WBS title defenses against stiffs will hurt him.
Some people take one look at this record and dismiss him. They won't understand that he was thrown to the wolves early in his career for example.
One thing that could help is Youtube. If people give him a chance and look at his fights vs Lyle, Foreman and Norton is see how good he was, if they really understand boxing.

Ambling Alp II wrote: ↑29 Dec 2017, 11:49 It will interesting to see how history will judge him down the road. The trend now to put so much stock in win/loss records and WBS title defenses against stiffs will hurt him.
Some people take one look at this record and dismiss him. They won't understand that he was thrown to the wolves early in his career for example.
One thing that could help is Youtube. If people give him a chance and look at his fights vs Lyle, Foreman and Norton is see how good he was, if they really understand boxing.

Yes, people who don't know who Jimmy Young was, then they should watch his fights against Ali, Foreman, Lyle and Norton and understand to appreciate his skills and resumes during his career. Also, Young's upset win Foreman should have won the 1977 Ring Magazine's Upset of the Year because George Foreman was the former World Heavyweight Champion and a big name rather than an award went to Jorge Lujan KO 10 Alfonso Zamora.

Crease wrote: ↑29 Dec 2017, 08:04

scorpio83 wrote: ↑28 Dec 2017, 05:25Was Jimmy Young's upset win over George Foreman in 1977 his best win ever?

I would say so.

I always feel a bit sorry for Jimmy - he never gets the credit he deserves. He was a good, good fighter but because of his inconsistency his records states otherwise.

Maybe if Jimmy had've gotten that win against Greg Page when they fought - or just one sweet win, a last hurrah against someone like Tony Tucker or Tony Tubbs... Maybe then he wouldn't be treated so harshly.

But as it played out and as it stands - Jimmy Young will more than likely not be remembered in the decades to come. And if he is, it will not be as a top ten fighter of his day.

He wasn't beating Page, that's for sure, and definitely not Tucker, or Tubbs. Those guys were too skilled, and Young was too old.

Young beat Foremen, but Ali refused to give him a rematch.

Should Ali have given him one?

I think because Young had only 17 wins when he fought (and most think beat) Ali the first time... Young was also robbed against Norton - which was supposed to be a box-off for Ali's next opponent... Losing an elimination fight to a swinger like Norton, that most people thought you won, can be pretty damned deflating -- but you need to try harder next time.

Instead of reacting positively to the robbery and working harder than ever in the gym Young started falling off.... All Young had to do get a title shot at Larry Holmes was beat Ossie Ocasio in two (2) tries... Promoters didn't want to match the novice Ocasio with Holmes because it wasn't an attractive fight... Nobody GAF about Ocasio, who wasn't very good... Therefore they gave Young another bite at the apple in a rematch with Ocasio because they wanted Holmes vs Young.

It was another poor showing by Jimmy... Young just didn't have the drive to be Heavyweight Champion.

Nile4000 wrote: ↑13 Jan 2018, 03:53 Should Ali have given him one?

Not unless he wanted another boxing lesson.