Could prime Foreman have beaten Wladimir?

[rjj tszyu]

Depends on what night they catch each other on...if Wlad got the Foreman that lost to Jimmy Young then hell yes Wlad would win because Wlad is a hell of a lot better fighter than Jimmy Young ever thought about being. But I rate George really high, he was a devistating puncher, awkward, strong, yet fast and pretty light on his feet for a big slugger (see how he moved vs Frazier) and if Wlad even got the Foreman that got knocked down by Ron Lyle he'd have his hands full. Wlad let's shots to the body land too often, if he let that hammering right hook land it would stand him up straight, drop his guard and George would chop him down.

Wlad would hold his own though, "china chin" or no, Wlad is a hell of a boxer and I can't tell you how tired I am of people dissing him or not giving him the respect he deserves. Saying shit like "Well all you have to do to Wlad is catch him" that's bullshit for the vast majority of fighters out there right now if it's Lennox Lewis or Earnie Shavers or Mike Tyson or Ron Lyle or whoever maybe you're right but for the guys out there right now...I think the Sam Peter fight showed that even a psychologically weak Wladimir is still a very difficult fighter to beat, saying "all you have to do is catch him" is like saying "all you have to do to beat Joe Frazier is outbox him"....it's a lot easier said than done.

I would say based purely on styles it's a toss up fight I see it probably out of 100 60-40 for Foreman just based on his power, relentlessness, and mindset. Mind you I see Wlad doing a hell of a lot better vs Foreman than I see Tyson doing vs Foreman just because of the style match up and how Tyson's style can be compared to Frazier's just in where they liked to fight (inside), their footwork (not used to getting out of the danger zone), and mental make up.

I agree Lyle. Tyson was tailor made for a tanking off Foreman.

[El Kabong]

Boxer Dude, I can't remember the last time Wlad got hit with a left hook that landed clean. However I reckon Joe Frazier is probably more dangerous to Wlad with his workrate and stamina rather than just the 1 left hook. This would be more of a 60-40 split for Frazier

Well I think I speak for a lot people when I say I'm tired of every time someone says something bad about the damn Klitschko brothers, you jump down their throat and attack them and have a damn hissy fit Lyle.

You seem to be a Klitschko fan first and a boxing fan second.

I have not once seen you concede that either brother would lose to an all time great like Foreman or Holmes or whomever it may be at the time.

I just said Foreman would beat Wlad more times than not...what more do you want me to do? I don't think it would be an easy fight for either fighter because for one Big George wasn't too fond of catching power punches face first either sure he had some whiskers and could get back up but a certain group of people seem to think that if you put Wladimir in with someone who has power he apparently loses all knowledge of what he does best which is inflict punishment and don't get hit.

60-40/70-30/80-20 100 fights may go in that range with Foreman winning the most but Wladimir is a skilled boxer and he does posess enough power to hurt Foreman so I figure he wouldn't lose 100% of the fights.

You see Hulk it's not that I am a Klitschko fan first because by all means I'm a huge George Foreman fan too. The deal is instead of making a snap judgement and saying "This whole thread is ridiculous" I took my time and looked at what both fighters do well and saw that by the way their styles contrast that it's not implausable that Wlad could catch Foreman and end it or it's not implausable that Wlad would outbox Big George just like it's not that far fetched that Foreman would stop Wladimir.

Hulk I'm not mad when people don't like the Klitschko's I'm mad when a "boxing fan" such as yourself just downplays everything they have ever done or will ever do, I think it does a disservice not only to them as fighters but to the sport.

[Gandalf]

Foreman would have knocked Wlad out and have him out in a rather unpleasant way. Wladimir is dominating an extremely lacklustre division and doing it in a style that bores the life out of me. Wlad might be okay for a few rounds, but once Foreman starts to walk him down and crack him hard Wlad will wilt. Wlad was knocked down repeatedly by a shitty Sam Peter, Foreman is leagues above any of that nonsense.

[rjj tszyu]

Foreman would have knocked Wlad out and have him out in a rather unpleasant way. Wladimir is dominating an extremely lacklustre division and doing it in a style that bores the life out of me. Wlad might be okay for a few rounds, but once Foreman starts to walk him down and crack him hard Wlad will wilt. Wlad was knocked down repeatedly by a shitty Sam Peter, Foreman is leagues above any of that nonsense.

I'm not in any way rubbishing the fact that you think Foreman would KO Wlad because I agree, but Wlad is a different fighter these days from the man who got floored 3 times by Sam Peter. If they were to rematch now I think Wlad would score a late KO without any trouble coming his way!

[Gandalf]

Foreman would have knocked Wlad out and have him out in a rather unpleasant way. Wladimir is dominating an extremely lacklustre division and doing it in a style that bores the life out of me. Wlad might be okay for a few rounds, but once Foreman starts to walk him down and crack him hard Wlad will wilt. Wlad was knocked down repeatedly by a shitty Sam Peter, Foreman is leagues above any of that nonsense.

I'm not in any way rubbishing the fact that you think Foreman would KO Wlad because I agree, but Wlad is a different fighter these days from the man who got floored 3 times by Sam Peter. If they were to rematch now I think Wlad would score a late KO without any trouble coming his way!

I also think Wlad would be a number on Peter, but it is also because Peter has slipped too. Wlad is just so cautious these days, he seems really scared to get hit. That might help him last longer against Foreman, but Foreman wouldn't be fighting the strange defensive fight that people keep producing against Wlad. Wlad has it pretty easy in this division, there are too many limited blobs stepping up for the payday. Nobody seems to be up for the fight.

[SEANIE]

Wlad wouldn't last two rounds with a peak Foreman. Vlad isnt any good, so a prime Foreman would kick the fuck out of the china chinned muppet.

[littlebif]

A prime Forman ko's Wladimir in 3 rounds soon as George landed a head shot Wlads legs would turn to jelly.Sam peters was a big puncher but very limited boxer he had Wlad all over the place soon as he landed.Forman was a beast he came into ring wanting to smash you to pieces i just see him getting to Wlad very early and ko'ing him imo.

[Dadi Astthorsson]

[DaxxKahn]

A prime Forman ko's Wladimir in 3 rounds soon as George landed a head shot Wlads legs would turn to jelly.Sam peters was a big puncher but very limited boxer he had Wlad all over the place soon as he landed.Forman was a beast he came into ring wanting to smash you to pieces i just see him getting to Wlad very early and ko'ing him imo.

Peter is/was a big puncher but nothing on the level of Foreman....Other then Shavers I don't think there has ever been a HW with that much power in his fist....Hell remember Foreman had one thing that was a flaw in his punching...He used his upper body mostly...He did not throw everything into it with leg pivots etc...Take the damage he caused with his upper body style and imaging if he was a guy who used every bit of leverage he could....He would have decapitated people

[denilson200]

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.

Are you serious ? If a prime Foreman fought Wlad. Wlad would have two chance SLIM and NONE........and SLIM just left town !!! Let's break it down here. A 45 year old Foreman won the world title. A 43 year old Foreman fought a peak Holyfield and went the distance with him. So even when Foreman was way past his best he was still able to mix it with the best of there day. So given these facts one can only shudder in awe as to how good he must have been when he was 25 and as a side note. How good must have Ali been to beat him and not only that but knockout him out (Foremans only knockout loss and knockdown) and Ali was 32 when he beat Foreman. So how good must have Ali been when was 25 ?

Anyway I digress. Getting back to the subject. I think the question should be NOT if Wlad would have beaten a peak Foreman (Because that's just silly) a more accurate question would be if Wlad would have beaten a peak Tommy Morrison, Ray Mercer, Tony Tucker or Frank Bruno because that's more his level.

[Zilla]

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.

Are you serious ? If a prime Foreman fought Wlad. Wlad would have two chance SLIM and NONE........and SLIM just left town !!! Let's break it down here. A 45 year old Foreman won the world title. A 43 year old Foreman fought a peak Holyfield and went the distance with him. So even when Foreman was way past his best he was still able to mix it with the best of there day. So given these facts one can only shudder in awe as to how good he must have been when he was 25 and as a side note. How good must have Ali been to beat him and not only that but knockout him out (Foremans only knockout loss and knockdown) and Ali was 32 when he beat Foreman. So how good must have Ali been when was 25 ?

Anyway I digress. Getting back to the subject. I think the question should be NOT if Wlad would have beaten a peak Foreman (Because that's just silly) a more accurate question would be if Wlad would have beaten a peak Tommy Morrison, Ray Mercer, Tony Tucker or Frank Bruno because that's more his level.

So your argument is because Foreman beat Moorer and went the distance with Holyfield then he would have beaten Klitschko, a fighter who is taller, bigger and stronger than either. I would say smarter than what Moorer was that night too considering he didn't listen to his corner and Wlad always listens to Steward. Foreman wasn't infallible and the elder version was completely different than the younger considering what he gained in ring smarts he lost in reflexes and mobility. Wlad would test Foreman's chin after the 2nd round or so with the straight right so Foreman definitely wouldn't just be able to walk in. The version that beat Sam Peter is a lot more polished now and if Sam were in his prime Wlad would easily dismantle him. Everybody has off nights and that was Klitschkos as he was adjusting to a new style instead of straight up brawling until the other guy dropped or he did.

[piye]

Funny thing is Wlad is not a bad fighter i find him boring but he can fight. But Foreman wins this so easily it's mad.

[El Kabong]

I also think Wlad would be a number on Peter, but it is also because Peter has slipped too. Wlad is just so cautious these days, he seems really scared to get hit. That might help him last longer against Foreman, but Foreman wouldn't be fighting the strange defensive fight that people keep producing against Wlad. Wlad has it pretty easy in this division, there are too many limited blobs stepping up for the payday. Nobody seems to be up for the fight.

OK Wladimir isn't the same fighter he was 5 years ago (which is an eternity in boxing). Sure Wlad is cautious but even while he is cautious (because apparently he's trying to protect that chin that everyone complains about) Wlad is never not inflicting punishment, the jab is ALWAYS doing damage, the left hook is doing damage, and the right cross well not many fighters survive that.

Another complaint I have about people's judgement of Wladimir is that they "know for a fact" that he's chinny and then proceed to take shots at him for being "cautious"....I mean if you have a weakness you don't put it right out there for anyone and everyone to exploit. Ali was quick on his feet, nobody demanded he stand toe to toe with anyone, Foreman had loads of power and nobody expected him to outbox anyone, nobody expected Joe Frazier to fight like Pernell Whittaker.....but why do people want Wlad to just throw like a wild man? Wlad isn't Mike Tyson he isn't Lennox Lewis he's Wladimir Klitschko and that's how he fights and it's been pretty damn effective thus far.

[El Kabong]

SEANIE, you've made a post on this thread but you've managed to #1 not add anything to the conversation and #2 make it apparent to everyone that you're a moron.

littlebif, I suppose Foreman's superior defense makes him impervious to anything Wladimir would throw or is Wlad allowed to punch back in this hypothetical match up?

Anyway I digress. Getting back to the subject. I think the question should be NOT if Wlad would have beaten a peak Foreman (Because that's just silly) a more accurate question would be if Wlad would have beaten a peak Tommy Morrison, Ray Mercer, Tony Tucker or Frank Bruno because that's more his level.

Yes Wladimir would beat all of them and fairly easily....maybe Mercer COULD give him trouble but the style matchups with the rest all favor Wladimir.

The fighter I think beats Wlad more often than not is a Prime Evander Holyfield, solid defense, good boxing pedigree, good handspeed, a granite chin, a high workrate, and he had good enough power to hurt anyone...it wasn't 1 punch KO power but he'd rough a fighter up. That constant pressure round after round and perhaps Wlad wouldn't be able to either land clean or really hurt Evander would really wear on Wlad.

[piye]

wlad is not and never will be an atg i do not think it's fair to compare him to one. every atg beats him.