Could prime Foreman have beaten Wladimir?

[Taeth]

I was just thinking about this today, and baring a big lucky punch I just don't see Foreman standing a chance. I think Wlad would use good movement and his jab and totally keep Foreman at bay. In his day George was so big, but in comparison he is two inches shorter and 25 pounds lighter than Wladimir, and as strong as he was I don't see with his lack of footwork how he would have the power to bull through Wlad's jab.

[Spicoli]

I'd give the Foreman who fought Holyfield a better chance at beating him.Mentally superior to young George...would be a nice jab contest for a while but keep remembering how Stewarts jab turned George into a lumpy mashed mess.Dont think Wlad could get away with holding that right hand back so much,he'd have to commit it early and often leaving his melon there.Foreman was a shuffler in comeback but had a suprisingly fluid and hurtful 1-2

[blegit]

Could he? Definitely yes. Would he? I think Wlad beats Foreman more times than not. But probably something like 3 out of 5. This would be a fight that I think either fighter could win by KO. Of course Foreman has the better(and maybe his only) chance. But a prime Foreman actually moved decent. No less than a Samuel Peter and Peter had Wlad down several times. I think the new version of Wlad, who is aware of his chin issues, would be the better fighter against Foreman. The pre-Sanders Wlad would probably lose before halftime.

[ICB]

You guys must be kidding, Wladimir Klitschko is deadly cautious against fighters like Sultan Ibragimov. And you think he beats a prime George Foreman ? no way no how.

Wladimir Klitschko has a weak chin, he has suspect stamina. And the only reason he is improved. Is because he fights so cautiously, which i got nothing against.

But then again he's only allowed to get away with that, because there's not real Heavyweight's around to test him.

A prime George Foreman in the early 70's, had underrated speed. And was quite loose suprisingly, if you watch his fight vs George Chuvalo you'll see what i mean. It certainly shocked me when i see it.

And if anyone says George Foreman can't KO Wladimir Klitschko, late on because he had suspect stamina in the 70's and was too wild. Then i suggest you look at his win over a good boxer Gregorio Peralta, he stopped him in the 10th round, and Gregorio Peralta was a good boxer.

And eventually George Foreman would catch up to Wladimir Klitschko, there's no way Wladimir Klitschko would be able to fight the entire fight. Not getting hit with one of George Foreman's bombs, and it would only take one flush punch from George Foreman.

[Taeth]

It would take one perfectly landed punch by George Foreman. I don't think he would necessarily hurt Wladimir with a glancing blow. Foreman was more the type of guy who really hurt guys with punches but he didn't have that snapping Tyson or Hearns type power that lead to a lot of one punch ko's.

Wladimir was cautious of Sultan's speed and southpaw style, he fought the wrong fight that night, I can't see how that fight in any way compares to how he would fight Foreman.

Foreman was relatively light on his feet compared to the big guys today, but he was only 220pounds. Wladimir is just as light on his feet but he has a lot better defensive skills and he has all that extra size behind his jab.

The big problem Wlad made against Peter is that he didn't trust in his jab enough like he did against Rahman and Brewster II. He should have made a more concerted effort to stick it harder in Sam's face. I honestly don't think many heavyweights in the history of the sport could beat Wlad when he is landing his jab effectively.

[milmascaras1]

physically, wladimir certainly has the weapons to beat a prime foreman but like ICB said, he would be way too cautious to fight someone as powerful and dangerous as foreman. my guess is if he wouldn't get caught with anything big he would probably win a decision by using his jab all night and holding whenever foreman got close to him. but one big mistake by wladimir and it would have been over for him as foreman would have made him pay dearly.

[piye]

This is silly. no way does Wlad go the whole fight without getting caught by big George, and the minute big George catches him flush this fight is over.

[Jimmy G-Force]

This is silly. no way does Wlad go the whole fight without getting caught by big George, and the minute big George catches him flush this fight is over.

Exactly. Foreman would have taken his head clean off his shoulders. Big George in his prime was a fucking beast. The way he lifted Frazier off his feet with that uppercut was incredible and still hard to comprehend.

[Howlin Mad Missy]

A. to the Q.
Yes.

[Althugz]

This is silly. no way does Wlad go the whole fight without getting caught by big George, and the minute big George catches him flush this fight is over.

Agreed. I was surprised at how many people said George wouldn't win this at the start of the thread. Big George will land at least once and that's all it would take.

[Lance Uppercut]

The Hardest puncher in the history of boxing vs a fighter with a notoriously fragile chin. Great thread.

Here is a better hypothetical: could a prime Ali beat Samuel Peter?

[DaxxKahn]

A young Foreman was a vicious fighter with an even more vicious punch...He had a decent chin that could withstand a few jabs to get inside with some shots that would land like sandbags on Wlads chin,,,,

I like Wlad as a fighter but a young Foreman was a diffrent beast all together....

Wlad could not get in and jab to a win he would have to FIGHT!!!!! and in a fight I have to go with George by KO

[bcollins]

Even glancing shots from Foreman back then were hurtful. Wlad has a great jab and good defense, but I don't think he could keep Foreman off for 12 rounds. Big Wladdy just doesn't have the punch resistance to last with a prime Foreman.

[OumaFan]

for what its worth I think its a stretch to assume it would take a totally flush shot, even a glancing shot could have Wlad dancing. The better question would be could Wlad beat him? Yes he could, but he'd have to be very sharp.

[Zilla]

You guys must be kidding, Wladimir Klitschko is deadly cautious against fighters like Sultan Ibragimov. And you think he beats a prime George Foreman ? no way no how.

Wladimir Klitschko has a weak chin, he has suspect stamina. And the only reason he is improved. Is because he fights so cautiously, which i got nothing against.

But then again he's only allowed to get away with that, because there's not real Heavyweight's around to test him.

A prime George Foreman in the early 70's, had underrated speed. And was quite loose suprisingly, if you watch his fight vs George Chuvalo you'll see what i mean. It certainly shocked me when i see it.

And if anyone says George Foreman can't KO Wladimir Klitschko, late on because he had suspect stamina in the 70's and was too wild. Then i suggest you look at his win over a good boxer Gregorio Peralta, he stopped him in the 10th round, and Gregorio Peralta was a good boxer.

And eventually George Foreman would catch up to Wladimir Klitschko, there's no way Wladimir Klitschko would be able to fight the entire fight. Not getting hit with one of George Foreman's bombs, and it would only take one flush punch from George Foreman.

You're saying Foreman would beat Klitschko on the strength of Sultan Ibragimov? Do the two fight ANYTHING alike? Klitschko was cautious because he didn't know how good Sultan's chin was and he was good defensively. Sultan was waiting to load up with a hayemaker to try to take him out. Any fighter willing to stand and trade with Klitschko is in for a rude awakening. Klitschko is much better defensively than any incarnation of Foreman and he's also much lighter on his feet than any incarnation of Foreman. People who just stand in front of either fighter are going to lose badly and Klitschko prepares for every fighter. He would have been quick enough to give movement to George so he wouldn't have a standing target.

And let's not underrate Klitschko's power. Michael Moorer, as he put it, was crushing George before the KO came. Wlad would hit him even harder and actually pay attention to his defense. Sure, Foreman could have knocked him out had he landed a couple 1-2s, but Klitschko would have reduced the likelihood of that happening. In the meantime, any version of Foreman was hittable and I don't see Foreman lasting after 2 dozen or so of those straight rights landing flush.