Thread: Hardest puncher in boxing history...

I know it's fruitless to compare generations, but Foreman in his prime was ONE HELL of a harder puncher then Mike Tyson, in his prime.

I'm surprised that all of you boxing experts failed to mention that Ali used his famed "Rope-A-Dope" strategy against Foreman. Why? Because he was scared to death of his punching power.

Here is an excerpt from Wikpedia:

Rope-a-dope is a boxing fighting style used most famously by Muhammad Ali in the Rumble in the Jungle against George Foreman. The idea is for the boxer to lay on the ropes of a boxing ring, conserve energy and allow the opponent to strike him repeatedly in hopes of making him tire and open up weaknesses to exploit for an eventual counter-attack.

Laying on the ropes had been, and still is, considered to be a "sin" in boxing, because it exposes a fighter to punishment because he cannot move away from his opponent.

Ali had used the style of leaning on the ropes in a handful of his previous fights, most famously in his first fight with Joe Frazier where Frazier landed heavy blows to Ali. This seemed to further demonstrate that laying on the ropes was a bad thing, and could only harm the fighter who tried to stay on the ropes.

This did not discourage Ali from using this strategy against George Foreman. Foreman was possibly the hardest puncher in boxing history, and many felt Ali would have to stay away from Foreman in order to beat him. Ali instead started to lay on the ropes towards the end of the 1st round, and used the ropes throughout the rest of the fight. Foreman's strategy for the fight was to cut off the ring and get Ali to the ropes so that he could hit Ali and try to knock him out, so since Ali was willingly laying on the ropes Foreman would plant himself in front of Ali and punch Ali as hard as he could. Foreman landed constant blows to the body, but had trouble landing punches to the head. Foreman began to tire from all the punches he threw at Ali to no effect, and with the punches he was taking from Ali, Foreman was visibly finished by the 5th round. Ali "played" with Foreman until the 8th round, and then knocked him out. Ali had regained the Heavyweight title with this strategy of laying on the ropes, and allowing the hardest puncher of all time to swing away at him.

foreman was wailing away on ali,s body and ali acted like he wasnt even hit,,that was the most impressive thing about that fight

naa jersey u got a bebop wrong... like aces said ali was taking foremans hits using the roope adope strategy exactly...ali couldnt of did that against tyson cuz if tyson get one semi clean shot ure on the canvas hearing the ref say 10

Originally Posted by JOHNYORK

naa jersey u got a bebop wrong... like aces said ali was taking foremans hits using the roope adope strategy exactly...ali couldnt of did that against tyson cuz if tyson get one semi clean shot ure on the canvas hearing the ref say 10

Ali wouldnt need to use the rope a dope on Tyson....Ali would just dance around him and blast him with jabs...then round 6 or 7 Ali would end Tyson for good.

false story

Originally Posted by ForemanRules

Ali wouldnt need to use the rope a dope on Tyson....Ali would just dance around him and blast him with jabs...then round 6 or 7 Ali would end Tyson for good.

I'm with Foreman Rules on this one. EVERYONE was scared of George Foreman in his prime. As were contenders against Tyson. The difference was once Evander Holyfield exposed Tyson's weaknesses, he was never the same.

No one ever exposed Foreman's weaknesses, except for punching too much

tyson is a fuckn pitbull, most feard fighter i have ever seen

Mickey Ward

Originally Posted by Goodfella9783

Mickey Ward

Mickey is the man!!

I think if Ali hung on the ropes Tyson would have beat him down quick. I think forman may put more weight behind a punch, but Tyson can throw a punch if not AS hard then ALMOST as hard as Foreman at a much faster spead. Tyson used to be quick and hard hitting. Tyson liked to rumble and if the fight lasts more than 5 rounds he doesn't have a prayer.

Originally Posted by TrojanMan60563

I think if Ali hung on the ropes Tyson would have beat him down quick. I think forman may put more weight behind a punch, but Tyson can throw a punch if not AS hard then ALMOST as hard as Foreman at a much faster spead. Tyson used to be quick and hard hitting. Tyson liked to rumble and if the fight lasts more than 5 rounds he doesn't have a prayer.

It's well known in the boxing world that Tyson would not fight George in the 90's.....he was scared to death of him

But Ail would use his mind to destroy his opponets.....and Tyson was a coward....Ali would win the fight with him before the first punch was thrown.

Originally Posted by ForemanRules

It's well known in the boxing world that Tyson would not fight George in the 90's.....he was scared to death of him

But Ail would use his mind to destroy his opponets.....and Tyson was a coward....Ali would win the fight with him before the first punch was thrown.

Would you lick Foreman on the butt?

Originally Posted by SuperFlex

Would you lick Foreman on the butt?

no

Originally Posted by SuperFlex

Lies, all lies...

The truth is Foreman was the one afraid to fight Mike. Mike did everything in his power to set it up. This was actually the point where Don King really stepped in. Even the devil himself couldn't through enough money at George to get him to fight...

This had those on the inside of the boxing world on the edge of their seats. They knew why George didn't want a piece of Mad Mike but they were bumfuzzled as to why even with being offered 37million dollars George still wouldn't fight Mike. Behind closed doors George was quoted as saying, "Sometimes you just gotta know when to tuck your tail between your legs and run home to your wife and kids."

This had Mike to his boiling point. Mike would constantly harrass ol George. He'd show up at George's grocery store and follow him around the aisles heckling him. Saying stuff like,"George you'd better make it two steaks. You're going to need the strength..." Or, "George forget the lucky charms. You're gonna need more than luck to fight me. Better go with the wheaties..." Rumor has it Mike even took a part time job as a bagger so he could heckle George at the check out lines. Many believe Mikes antics were the inspiration for George to create the lean mean grilling machine as an attempt to cut weight to fight Tyson.

Tyson also started going to his church(when he became muslim), gym, gas stations, you name it. Tyson was all over him like stink on doo doo... To make a long story short George simply refused. It was the real reason behind his first step away from boxing. Even when Mike banged his wife and treatened to eat his kids George tucked tail and ran.

True story...

I don't follow boxing much, but... what the fuck was a boxer doing working at a grocery store? lol

Originally Posted by TrojanMan60563

I think if Ali hung on the ropes Tyson would have beat him down quick. I think forman may put more weight behind a punch, but Tyson can throw a punch if not AS hard then ALMOST as hard as Foreman at a much faster spead.

you don't know that, the only way to prove it would be to measure the force of their punches.