"Big George" had an impressive career that spanned from 1969 to 1997. He first became world heavyweight champion in 1973 when he knocked out Joe Frazier in just two rounds. But it was his fight with Ali in 1974, known as the "Rumble in the Jungle," that became one of the most famous bouts in boxing history. Ali knocked out Foreman in the eighth round, taking the title.
Foreman retired in 1977 but made a comeback after a decade away from the sport. In 1991, he faced Evander Holyfield and lost by unanimous decision. But Foreman wasn't done yet. He knocked out Michael Moorer in 1994, becoming the oldest world heavyweight champion at the age of 45.
When asked about the better boxer between Ali and Holyfield, Foreman didn't hesitate to pick "The Greatest." He explained his choice:
"Muhammad Ali [was the best boxer I faced]. He was so gifted technically and his jab was the best I ever faced in the ring. Ali could jab going backwards or to the sides and that shot would always find you. He would catch me with the jab as I was coming forward and it was so difficult to counter that punch. He would spin that jab over and over."
Foreman's assessment highlights Ali's exceptional jabbing technique, which he found challenging to counter. Ali's ability to effectively use his jab from various positions made him stand out in Foreman's eyes.
Holyfield, known as "The Real Deal," has his own impressive list of achievements. He's the only four-time heavyweight champion and was undisputed champion in both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions. Recently, Holyfield claimed he should be called "The Greatest" instead of Ali, pointing to his own accomplishments.
It's worth noting that Oleksandr Usyk has now joined Holyfield as the second boxer to be undisputed champion at both cruiserweight and heavyweight.
Interestingly, Larry Holmes is the only other boxer besides Foreman to have fought both Ali and Holyfield. Holmes has his own thoughts on his controversial bout against Ali, though the details weren't provided in this context.
While debates about boxing's greatest will always continue, Foreman's firsthand experience with both Ali and Holyfield gives his opinion significant weight in this particular comparison.