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George Foreman, one of the most naturally gifted fighters in history

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    #1

    George Foreman, one of the most naturally gifted fighters in history

    His style might not make you think so but check this out:


    "Won his first amateur fight on January 26, 1967"

    "Foreman had a 16�4 amateur boxing record going into the Olympics. He knocked out the Soviet Union's Jonas Čepulis to win the Olympic Games Heavyweight Gold Medal." Oct. 26, 1968

    "In one corner was 29-year-old Ionas Chepulis of the Soviet Union. In the other corner, standing 10 years his junior, was George Foreman, representing the United States."





    He had only 20 amateur fights going into the olympics and knocked out a 29 year old soviet (for all intents and purposes full time fighter) only 21 months after his first amateur boxing fight. That is insane, if that isnt natural athletic ability then I dont know what is.
    #2
    Originally posted by el*** View Post
    His style might not make you think so but check this out:


    "Won his first amateur fight on January 26, 1967"

    "Foreman had a 16�4 amateur boxing record going into the Olympics. He knocked out the Soviet Union's Jonas Čepulis to win the Olympic Games Heavyweight Gold Medal." Oct. 26, 1968

    "In one corner was 29-year-old Ionas Chepulis of the Soviet Union. In the other corner, standing 10 years his junior, was George Foreman, representing the United States."





    He had only 20 amateur fights going into the olympics and knocked out a 29 year old soviet (for all intents and purposes full time fighter) only 21 months after his first amateur boxing fight. That is insane, if that isnt natural athletic ability then I dont know what is.
    not so much natural ability as size and pure punching power.

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      #3
      Originally posted by just the facts View Post
      not so much natural ability as size and pure punching power.
      punching power and the ability to deliver it is a natural ability, especially with that little experience to win a gold medal. This was basically like plucking kimbo slice off the miami streets, giving him 20 amateur fights and he wins a gold medal, thats absurd because skill and experience overcome size and punching power alone, but they were helpless with george foreman, even a 29 year old soviet professional "amateur" olympic member.

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        #4
        I still find the most amazing thing about him not his punching power but that he was only 220-225lbs in his prime when he looked that big and was that physically strong. He was in great shape but his bodyfat % wasn't that low.

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          #5
          He had punching power and admirable whiskers. I do not see where he was a great natural athlete, outside of strength and punching power. I like Foreman in some sports of strength, however. But he was no more natural than Liston, for instance, to my eyes. George might have made a great linebacker. What else? Not much.

          Leonard was a great natural athlete with all the needed qualities. I would have expected him to become famous at any sport he tried, from table tennis to gymnastics.

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            #6
            Originally posted by The Old LefHook View Post
            He had punching power and admirable whiskers. I do not see where he was a great natural athlete, outside of strength and punching power. I like Foreman in some sports of strength, however. But he was no more natural than Liston, for instance, to my eyes. George might have made a great linebacker. What else? Not much.

            Leonard was a great natural athlete with all the needed qualities. I would have expected him to become famous at any sport he tried, from table tennis to gymnastics.
            George was a natural fighter with heavy handed ability, a knack to cut off the ring and deceptive speed. He certainly wasn't one of the most naturally gifted fighters in my opinion. He made the most of what he had.

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              #7
              We often look at athletes with speed and reflexes (the Alis, the Leonards etc) as "natural" athletes but someone like Foreman, who could punch with tremendous power (didn't exactly have teh straightest punches of the best form in his early career) with minimal effort is also a "natural" athlete.

              The uppercuts he delivered to Frazier are ingrained into my mind and he did so without the usual swivel and push off that fighters get taught...yet he lifted a pretty big man off his feet. Just remarkable.

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                #8
                He's one of the rare examples of punching power being able to trump skills.

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                  #9
                  Foreman was tremendous at putting his weight behind his punches and his follow through.I always thought that combined with his natural strength gave him that numbing power.

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                    #10
                    when we speak of athleticism quickness should not always trump strength. the importance of each trait depends on the nature of each sport though. Stamina is an important asset as well.

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