The incredible thing that we don't talk about when it comes to George Foreman

[brocktonblockbust]

i think that its easy to forget (or maybe you just dont know) how inexperienced he was as a fighter and how quickly he rose the ranks despite his lack of experience. he started boxing at the age of 17. that is pretty old. he won the state golden gloves and national golden gloves title a year after he started boxing. that is very impressive. then less than 3 years after he started boxing, he won the olympics. that is a very impressive feat. he used his sheer athleticism and strength to win.

he then started fighting professionally at the age of 20 (remember that he only started boxing at age 17). then he got to 37-0 with 34 KO's by the age of 24 and 3 1/2 years of professional experience before facing frazier. frazier was a force to be reckoned with and was expected to destroy foreman. obviously foreman easily won the fight. imagine that though. after 3 1/2 years, most people are still very protected. and that is also understanding his short amateur career. most people who move fast in the professionals had an extended amateur career.

lets look at wlad right now. he fought a high ranking HW in chris byrd after 4 years (safe fight but high ranking) but had an amateur record of 134-6 compared to foremans 22-4. that is 114 less fights. what foreman did would have been equivalent to wlad facing lewis at that time instead of byrd which everybody would have thought that wlad was too green to win. i would agree with that (although i would agree that wlad would never beat lewis but thats beside the point).

anyways, i just wanted to write how fast foreman went to through the rankings. no wonder he was so out of control early in his career. he never got the chance to really slow down and work on basics. it was basically throw punches and knock people out. and since he was winning, he just kept doing it and didnt develop a lot of basic boxing skill until after his first retirement.

Excellent post. Big G is my 2nd fave. Rocco you know is my fave and similarly he started fighting at age 23!!!!!!!

[ross]

In 3.5 years Mike Tyson wiped out a division. He turned pro in March 85. Beat Berbick for the WBC in November 86! Then went on to unify and beat everyone else including Holmes and Spinks by June 88. Thats fast progression!

[mikeeod]

In 3.5 years Mike Tyson wiped out a division. He turned pro in March 85. Beat Berbick for the WBC in November 86! Then went on to unify and beat everyone else including Holmes and Spinks by June 88. Thats fast progression!

Another impressive fact is how many prime, HOF fighters Mike beat. The weight class was STACKED. Look at the names on his resume: Berbick, Tubbs, Page, Bruno, Marvis Frazier, Tucker and Tyrell Biggs. Talk about a murderers row!!!

Sorry Ross, I couldn't resist. The post is talking about GEORGE FOREMAN's accomplishments, which have absolutely nothing to do with Mike. It's funny that u r so desperate for concurrence on ur admiration for Mike that u constantly have to try and tout his accomplishments. Try to stay on message or at least tie ur post to the original discussion.

[Master]

I did not know that about young George and his lack of boxing experience, it certainly resulted in his first loss to Ali. I think the older George Foreman has said that he would have paced himself and not exposed his naivety against Ali had he had the experience he gained in his second comeback.

I also think it is a fair point from @milkeeod that the quality of skill if better in the lower weights.

[ross]

In 3.5 years Mike Tyson wiped out a division. He turned pro in March 85. Beat Berbick for the WBC in November 86! Then went on to unify and beat everyone else including Holmes and Spinks by June 88. Thats fast progression!

Another impressive fact is how many prime, HOF fighters Mike beat. The weight class was STACKED. Look at the names on his resume: Berbick, Tubbs, Page, Bruno, Marvis Frazier, Tucker and Tyrell Biggs. Talk about a murderers row!!!

Sorry Ross, I couldn't resist. The post is talking about GEORGE FOREMAN's accomplishments, which have absolutely nothing to do with Mike. It's funny that u r so desperate for concurrence on ur admiration for Mike that u constantly have to try and tout his accomplishments. Try to stay on message or at least tie ur post to the original discussion.

Im pointing out that George isn't the only fighter to have a rapid career rise. He only made two defences of the title as well.

Boxing's quickest World Champions | Boxing News

[mikeeod]

In 3.5 years Mike Tyson wiped out a division. He turned pro in March 85. Beat Berbick for the WBC in November 86! Then went on to unify and beat everyone else including Holmes and Spinks by June 88. Thats fast progression!

Another impressive fact is how many prime, HOF fighters Mike beat. The weight class was STACKED. Look at the names on his resume: Berbick, Tubbs, Page, Bruno, Marvis Frazier, Tucker and Tyrell Biggs. Talk about a murderers row!!!

Sorry Ross, I couldn't resist. The post is talking about GEORGE FOREMAN's accomplishments, which have absolutely nothing to do with Mike. It's funny that u r so desperate for concurrence on ur admiration for Mike that u constantly have to try and tout his accomplishments. Try to stay on message or at least tie ur post to the original discussion.

Im pointing out that George isn't the only fighter to have a rapid career rise. He only made two defences of the title as well.

Boxing's quickest World Champions | Boxing News

Tyson had an EXTENSIVE amateur career and didn't make the Olympic team. George, as was pointed out, started late and went on to, in a ridiculously short amount of time, win Olympic Gold and the heavyweight championship, beating an ATG in the process. It would be equally pointless for me to day that Evander Holyfield won a cruiser weight title in 15 fights, unified and cleaned out cruiser, and went on to beat....

It doesn't belong in this thread. Evander had an extensive amateur career and was an Olympic bronze medalist. What George did is unheard of, coming from the streets and with little time to learn his trade, win the most prestigious championship in the world (not a title, but the one and only championship at that weight at that time). Just tell the OP good job.

[mikeeod]

In 3.5 years Mike Tyson wiped out a division. He turned pro in March 85. Beat Berbick for the WBC in November 86! Then went on to unify and beat everyone else including Holmes and Spinks by June 88. Thats fast progression!

Another impressive fact is how many prime, HOF fighters Mike beat. The weight class was STACKED. Look at the names on his resume: Berbick, Tubbs, Page, Bruno, Marvis Frazier, Tucker and Tyrell Biggs. Talk about a murderers row!!!

Sorry Ross, I couldn't resist. The post is talking about GEORGE FOREMAN's accomplishments, which have absolutely nothing to do with Mike. It's funny that u r so desperate for concurrence on ur admiration for Mike that u constantly have to try and tout his accomplishments. Try to stay on message or at least tie ur post to the original discussion.

Im pointing out that George isn't the only fighter to have a rapid career rise. He only made two defences of the title as well.

Boxing's quickest World Champions | Boxing News

Hahaha. I missed the silly comment at the end, about Foreman only defending twice. Yeah, what kind of bum loses to Ali?!? Much more impressive to get outboxed and knocked out by James Douglas. What did Ali ever do that was so great?!?

[Bill Paxtom]

A remarkable fighter.

He only had 'one' bad fight in his 1st Career, and no controversial wins.

How many boxers can say that.

[powerpuncher]

A remarkable fighter.

He only had 'one' bad fight in his 1st Career, and no controversial wins.

How many boxers can say that.

It's just a shame that it took over a decade to get his head back into boxing after that loss. If he could have matured more quickly, I have no doubt that he would have had many more years of success during the 70's and 80's.

Although he did have the Jimmy young fight which was bad but I will give him the excuse that he did suffer from heat exhaustion in that fight and almost died so it's understandable. Kind of like I give Robinson a pass on losing to Joey maxim.

[ross]

In 3.5 years Mike Tyson wiped out a division. He turned pro in March 85. Beat Berbick for the WBC in November 86! Then went on to unify and beat everyone else including Holmes and Spinks by June 88. Thats fast progression!

Another impressive fact is how many prime, HOF fighters Mike beat. The weight class was STACKED. Look at the names on his resume: Berbick, Tubbs, Page, Bruno, Marvis Frazier, Tucker and Tyrell Biggs. Talk about a murderers row!!!

Sorry Ross, I couldn't resist. The post is talking about GEORGE FOREMAN's accomplishments, which have absolutely nothing to do with Mike. It's funny that u r so desperate for concurrence on ur admiration for Mike that u constantly have to try and tout his accomplishments. Try to stay on message or at least tie ur post to the original discussion.

Im pointing out that George isn't the only fighter to have a rapid career rise. He only made two defences of the title as well.

Boxing's quickest World Champions | Boxing News

Hahaha. I missed the silly comment at the end, about Foreman only defending twice. Yeah, what kind of bum loses to Ali?!? Much more impressive to get outboxed and knocked out by James Douglas. What did Ali ever do that was so great?!?

Dont forget 213lb Jimmy Young

[Mr140]

I think Hw is hardest division to stay on top of reason being is the lower weights have maybe bit more skill and speed but at hw a gatekeeper has the power to put a legend to bed. To me if you are heavyweight champ your best there is because no one can beat you fuck pound for pound.