Replies

[wolterb]

Would Foreman have beaten Ali in a rematch had it taken place in 74' or within a couple years after?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My opinion is, Yes he absolutely would have! Ali is thee luckiest boxer on this planet when it came to his career (imho). One such example is the outcome of the rumble in the jungle. If fate exists, it appeared to be on the side of Ali in that first fight.

Had a rematch happened, Foreman would've battered Ali and maybe put him on the canvas too on way to a decision win.

What does everyone else think?

[neophyte7]

ali definitely benefitted from foreman being cut in sparring...and the fight being postponed. if mobutu had not insisted on them staying in zaire until the cut healed and the fight materialized...it might have played out differently. foreman called ali out for the rematch...but it never happened. i can't say for sure how the rematch would have played out. ali may have realized he got away with one and didn't feel good about the rematch. who knows?

What Ali endured physically in this bout was beyond HUMAN capability... He was advised by Herbert Muhammad to quit boxing after this bout... No way in hell he could subject his body to the same torture. He didn't get away with one, yet he did what could only be done one time and one time only- FOREMAN was a juggernaut

[daprofessor]

What Ali endured physically in this bout was beyond HUMAN capability... He was advised by Herbert Muhammad to quit boxing after this bout... No way in hell he could subject his body to the same torture. He didn't get away with one, yet he did what could only be done one time and one time only- FOREMAN was a juggernaut

herbert muhammad was elijah muhammads son and was only in the position of manager because of his father. he really was NOT a boxing person. i thought ali took more punishment in the last fight with frazier than the fight with foreman.

[wolterb]

ali definitely benefitted from foreman being cut in sparring...and the fight being postponed. if mobutu had not insisted on them staying in zaire until the cut healed and the fight materialized...it might have played out differently. foreman called ali out for the rematch...but it never happened. i can't say for sure how the rematch would have played out. ali may have realized he got away with one and didn't feel good about the rematch. who knows?

I find all of that stuff to be interesting...the cut, mobutu and the event taking place in zaire in general. I think the manner in which Ali handled the entire episode is part of what makes him so great.

herbert muhammad was elijah muhammads son and was only in the position of manager because of his father. he really was NOT a boxing person. i thought ali took more punishment in the last fight with frazier than the fight with foreman.

I agree...even the first fight with Frazier looked to me more devastating.
with the Foreman bout at least Ali was braced against ropes and saw most of the punches coming (though that is not saying too much). Fraziers punches looked more compact and on the number.