The Super Fight That Never Happened: Tyson VS Foreman

[FinitoElDinamita]

The Superfight That Never Happened: Mike Tyson Vs George Foreman
By Geno McGahee

George Foreman when he started his second career in the game of boxing was considered a joke as he plowed through carefully selected opposition. At one time he was the indestructible and undefeatable heavyweight champion, destroying men that are still regarded as some of the best of all time in Joe Frazier, Ken Norton, and Ron Lyle. He ruled in the most difficult era for heavyweights, but that was the 1970s and after a loss to Jimmy Young in 1977, he was done with boxing, pursued his religion and faded away.

In 1987, he returned to the ring against Steve Zouski, a tough but limited journeyman, and ?Big George? would end it in four rounds. As the comeback continued, he began to improve, get sharper, use his willpower and toughness and a powerful jab to remain undefeated, knocking out nearly every opponent. In 1989, he knocked out Bert Cooper in 3 rounds placing him in line for a crack at Mike Tyson.

The goal of the Foreman return was money, of course, but also to regain the title and when he looked at Iron Mike, he saw Joe Frazier. Frazier could not dent George and fell victim to the most powerful punch in the Foreman *Censor*: the uppercut. It literally lifted Frazier off of the canvas in 1973, and when he looked at ?The Baddest Man on the Planet,? he saw the same fate. Not only would he be the oldest man to win the championship, but he would defeat the man that nobody thought could lose: Mike Tyson.

On January 11th, 1990, a wrench would be thrown into the works when 42-1 underdog, James ?Buster? Douglas knocked out Mike Tyson to take the World Title. Four days later, Foreman would record the biggest win of his comeback to date with a two round destruction of former contender, Gerry Cooney. Foreman became huge, and Tyson was set back several notches, making a non-title heavyweight bout a huge deal. It was so huge that Don King and Bob Arum were working together in harmony to try to make it happen.

On June 16th, 1990, HBO would present a double header of boxing. George Foreman would face Adilson Rodrigues, a fringe contender, while Mike Tyson would face the hapless challenge of Henry Tillman. Both ended in spectacular knockouts and the two promoters stated that the meeting between the two was eminent. The money was there to be made. The public would have made it the biggest bout in history, but it was not to be. The question was then: why?

I was informed that Mike Tyson did not want the fight with Foreman because of the style match up. Tyson actually feared ?The Punching Preacher,? and elected to pass on one of the biggest paydays that he would have ever received. That was one suggestion, but it is one that former Tyson Team member, Steve Lott dismissed in an interview that I conducted, stating that: ?George never ever moves his head, ever. Cus (D?Amato) would say that it was a lantern in a storm. I don?t think that Mike would be very intimidated or scared or worried about fighting Foreman at all.?

I can?t be sure of why this bout never took off, and perhaps it was a case of money with rival promoters insisting that they had the draw and deserved the bigger cut, or perhaps Don King and Bob Arum didn?t trust each other enough to get together again on a co-promotion, especially one of this magnitude. Whatever the case, the biggest fight in history perhaps never happened and both men went on to have prosperous careers.

The plan to make the fight seemed to be to have one more double header featuring the two heavyweights in against notable but not extremely dangerous competition, and then a bout would occur between the two on Pay Per View, breaking every record set by miles. Tyson would face Alex Stewart, a man that had given Evander Holyfield all that he could handle in their first encounter and Foreman was slated to fight Francesco Damiani for the WBO Heavyweight Title on the same card.

After a delay, Tyson would fight Stewart, and Foreman would not only back away from Damiani after some personal disagreements with the WBO, but would set his sights on Evander Holyfield and get his crack at the Undisputed Heavyweight Title. Mike Tyson would linger, facing Donovan ?Razor? Ruddock a couple of times before going away to prison. The event that everyone wanted to see was long gone?never to be, but RSR now presents a 1990 showdown between Mike Tyson, 38-1, 34 KO?s, against George Foreman, 67-2, 63 KO?s, in a twelve round contest.

First to make his way down to the ring is George Foreman. His typical smile has been replaced by a serious glare, as he realizes that this is a kill or be killed fight. As much as he thought that he had the edge in the fight, there was still that reminder of when he was much younger and backed down, intimidated by a reputation and what might just happen to him. Mike Tyson had used all of his intimidating lines and glares during the pre fight press conferences, stating that Foreman?s family had better ?make funeral arrangements.? Although Foreman played it off and tried to be the cheeseburger eating jokester, there was some of the old George left and he was going to come out to play in this bout.

George entered the ring and the sold out crowd at the MGM Grand erupts. He waves his right arm at the crowd and gives a brief smile. Although no championship is on the line, this is a 12 round event, against what most contend is still the man to beat. This was the People?s Heavyweight Championship and that was nearly as important. A win over Mike Tyson would also shut up the critics that were still dismissing Foreman as a product of hype. More sizzle than steak.

Mike Tyson wastes no time as he storms toward the ring, wearing his typical black trunks, black shoes, and towel with a whole cut through the middle draped over his head. He wants the world to know that he is still the man and sees a big threat but also a big target standing in the ring as he nears. He enters the ring and stares into the eyes of Foreman, and the crowd roars again. The arena is in an uproar, and when Michael Buffer uses his famous line: ?Let?s get ready to rumble,? the noise is deafening. The two biggest draws, arguably, in heavyweight history meet head on.

The crowd has not quieted down as the two combatants stand across from each other in their corners. Foreman weighed in at 250 pounds and seems to be carrying mostly muscle, standing there in white trunks and white shoes, while Tyson weighed in at 219 pounds, well trained and prepared. Referee Richard Steele seems to pause for a minute to take in the magnitude of the event before making the sign to the time keeper to ring the bell. Round one was ready to begin.

Round 1

Tyson storms, running right at the larger opponent and throwing his right cross and left hook combinations. The cross-armed defense is proving effective from Foreman but he cannot counter while in this stance. Tyson is landing to the body but has been yet unable to land effectively to the head. Foreman pushes Tyson off to get some room and gets immediately warned by Steele, who receives a chorus of boos from the crowd. Tyson resumes but gets hit with an uppercut that got his attention. That is the bread and butter of Foreman?s attack in this bout and he just landed it.

With only thirty seconds left in the round, Mike Tyson has completely controlled the action, working the body and being more aggressive. With only 10 seconds left in the round, Tyson lands with a picture perfect left hook that jolts Big George, wobbling the former champ and sending him into defense mode completely. The bell rings to end the first round and Tyson lands a punch after the bell, creating another chorus of boos.

Tyson?s round: 10-9

Round 2

Mike storms out of his corner again and tries to see if Foreman is still in trouble. He attacks but Foreman is now throwing hard punches as a means of survival, focusing mostly on the uppercuts and jabs. The jab of Foreman is beginning to be effective as he pumps it out there into Tyson?s face. The head movement of Mike has been long since gone and it is hurting him badly. Foreman is coming up short with his right hand, looping the cross behind the head of his smaller opponent and not being able to catch him flush on the chin.

The pace of the fight is beginning to slow down with Foreman dictating the round with his jab and Iron Mike slightly confused. Tyson attempts to duck a jab and gets cracked with a left uppercut that stuns him and backs him into the ropes. Foreman attacks, throwing a right-left hook combo to the body, but Tyson fights back, landing two hooks of his own, both to George?s head.

Foreman is a man possessed as he lands another uppercut and Tyson?s knees buckle. The crowd is going crazy as Foreman scores with a series of uppercuts and body shots. This does not look good for Tyson as he is backing up and not on steady legs. The bell rings to save Tyson, giving Foreman a very big round.

Foreman?s round: 10-9, (19-19, even at this point)

Round 3

Foreman doesn?t take his eyes off Tyson as he stands in his corner, looking at the smaller man as he sits and takes a drink of water. He knows that Tyson is fragile mentally and he is now employing the psychology. He is getting in Mike?s head as we enter the third round.

Tyson charges at Foreman but not nearly as feverishly as he did in the prior two rounds. He is eating hard jab after hard jab, and his countering left hook is coming up short. Tyson was told to ?jab your way in,? by his corner, but he is getting discouraged, and is trying to knock out George with one shot. Foreman is completely in control, using his jab to keep Mike at bay and landing an occasional right cross. He is employing some of the tactics that Douglas had to defeat Mike and is setting him up for the uppercuts. Another big round for Foreman.

Foreman?s round: 10-9, (29-28, Foreman)

Round 4

Tyson comes out to the middle of the ring and throws a jab at Foreman and then falls into a clinch. He is confused. Foreman pushes him off and jabs him, and then jabs him again. George is throwing what seems to be strictly jabs at this point, and Tyson?s left eye is swelling. Foreman makes that a target and is bouncing his jab off of it. Tyson tries a left hook but is short with it and gets countered with a right uppercut and crashes to the canvas. The crowd erupts?everyone on their feet as Richard Steele points to the neutral corner. Foreman walks over and stands, staring at Tyson who is now on his knees, looking at the referee. ??5-6-7-8?are you OK?? Tyson nods, but only knows one way to fight: straight ahead. With ninety seconds remaining, he walks right back into the minefield.

Foreman is now in finish mode, and lands a jab and two uppercuts on the inside as Tyson holds. A third uppercut on the inside, wobbles Mike again, and a right cross sends him back down to the canvas. Tyson is up at the count of two and the bell rings to end the round.

Foreman?s round: 10-7, (39-35, Foreman)

Round 5

Mike Tyson is on rubbery legs as he stares across the ring at Foreman as round five is about to begin. Tyson goes for broke throwing left hook after left hook, and throwing some vicious body shots as well, but he doesn?t have the sting in his punches that he had in the first round that actually hurt Foreman. He is desperate and Foreman is picking his spots. He times Tyson again, landing another left uppercut that sends Tyson down and crashing into the ropes. Steele begins the count again, and Iron Mike barely beats the count. Don King is visibly nervous at ringside as his meal ticket is flying away. Foreman forges ahead and starts unloading, with a left hook placing Mike on the canvas again. Richard Steele waves his arms to signify that it is over.

?Your winner by way of technical knockout at 1 minute 22 seconds of the fifth round, Big George Foreman!?

In boxing, styles make fights, and the style of Foreman will always beat a small aggressive fighter like a Joe Frazier or a Mike Tyson. With this victory, Foreman would face Evander Holyfield and lose a hard-fought unanimous decision, while Tyson would take some time off, regroup and defeat a bunch of average opponents before heading off to prison for what he may or may not have done.

In the end, this bout between two of the top heavyweights of all time would go down as one of the most memorable and most profitable. Both men got their shots in and both were stunned at one time or another, but it was the style and psychology that did Tyson in. With the head movement gone, he was a sitting duck for Foreman and although the ending surprised many, it shouldn?t have come as a shock at all. It was the most likely ending to this bout.

George Foreman and Mike Tyson both go down in history as top ten heavyweight greats and are two of my favorite fighters of all time. To see them in the ring together in 1990 would have been really special, but it wasn?t to be. Hopefully the next time that an event like this is rumored to be in the works, it actually happens. The world missed out on what could have been a great fight.

[crusader]

I think that Tyson would've won this fight. I definitely don't see him getting blown away in 5.

[IKSRTFO]

I don't see Tyson winning this, but he won't get blown out like that against an older Foreman. Foreman did have a lot of attributes in his favor that Tyson would be deathly afraid of. A big tall guy with a good 1 2 combo and a granite chin.

Tyson doesn't fair as well against guys with granite chins that aren't intimidated by him at all. Foreman was the ultimate bully for Tyson. Foreman gives him a worst beating than Buster Douglas did but he'll have to prove his chin is every bit of granite and that he really lost to Ali out of exhaustion.

[palooka]

Ouch

[RScarf1]

I remember there was a lot of talk about this fight happening. I think Tyson did not want to take the risk. Foreman went the distance with Holyfield in 1991 and surprised a lot of people. After so many years, he was considered a legitimate contender again. If Foreman and Tyson fought each other in their primes, it would be a great matchup. In 1990, Tyson would have to be more motivated than he was for Douglas in order to beat Foreman and he probably would have been because he took Douglas too lightly. Tyson was more prepared for Razor Ruddock in 1991, so he was capable of being better. I think a Tyson vs. Foreman fight in 1990 would go the distance assuming Tyson was focused and I believe Tyson would win a decision. If they fought in 1996, then I think either one of them could win.

[squiggy]

This is awfully generous to Big George in my opinion. That he'd been knocking out the Adilson Rodrigueses of the world doesn't mean he'd have downed 1990 Tyson. I personally think he'd have fared about as well as he did against Holyfield in '91.

[jamesmcdonnell]

I remember there was a lot of talk about this fight happening. I think Tyson did not want to take the risk. Foreman went the distance with Holyfield in 1991 and surprised a lot of people. After so many years, he was considered a legitimate contender again. If Foreman and Tyson fought each other in their primes, it would be a great matchup. In 1990, Tyson would have to be more motivated than he was for Douglas in order to beat Foreman and he probably would have been because he took Douglas too lightly. Tyson was more prepared for Razor Ruddock in 1991, so he was capable of being better. I think a Tyson vs. Foreman fight in 1990 would go the distance assuming Tyson was focused and I believe Tyson would win a decision. If they fought in 1996, then I think either one of them could win.

I have it on good authority, from someone who attended a meeting between Tyson and his people at that time (was it Shelley Finkel back then?), that Tyson absolutely point blank refused to fight Foreman - and went absolutely bonkers at the meeting.

He said something along the lines of 'You all think that he's some big cuddly old grandpa, but I know what he is, he's a destroyer, a monster.'

My belief is that Tyson was intimidated by Foreman's demeanour and his mean streak, and his former prowess.

[palooka]

I remember there was a lot of talk about this fight happening. I think Tyson did not want to take the risk. Foreman went the distance with Holyfield in 1991 and surprised a lot of people. After so many years, he was considered a legitimate contender again. If Foreman and Tyson fought each other in their primes, it would be a great matchup. In 1990, Tyson would have to be more motivated than he was for Douglas in order to beat Foreman and he probably would have been because he took Douglas too lightly. Tyson was more prepared for Razor Ruddock in 1991, so he was capable of being better. I think a Tyson vs. Foreman fight in 1990 would go the distance assuming Tyson was focused and I believe Tyson would win a decision. If they fought in 1996, then I think either one of them could win.

I'm not sure about that; he took everyone lightly s he saw everyone under him with their, 'primitive skills'. Back then Tyson was not on this earth or fullers earth. Foreman would have been bad for him anytime.

[jamesmcdonnell]

I remember there was a lot of talk about this fight happening. I think Tyson did not want to take the risk. Foreman went the distance with Holyfield in 1991 and surprised a lot of people. After so many years, he was considered a legitimate contender again. If Foreman and Tyson fought each other in their primes, it would be a great matchup. In 1990, Tyson would have to be more motivated than he was for Douglas in order to beat Foreman and he probably would have been because he took Douglas too lightly. Tyson was more prepared for Razor Ruddock in 1991, so he was capable of being better. I think a Tyson vs. Foreman fight in 1990 would go the distance assuming Tyson was focused and I believe Tyson would win a decision. If they fought in 1996, then I think either one of them could win.

I'm not sure about that; he took everyone lightly s he saw everyone under him with their, 'primitive skills'. Back then Tyson was not on this earth or fullers earth. Foreman would have been bad for him anytime.

I think the fact that Foreman had one hell of a chin, and the ability to hit back in adversity - spelt a potential meltdown for Mike.

[palooka]

I remember there was a lot of talk about this fight happening. I think Tyson did not want to take the risk. Foreman went the distance with Holyfield in 1991 and surprised a lot of people. After so many years, he was considered a legitimate contender again. If Foreman and Tyson fought each other in their primes, it would be a great matchup. In 1990, Tyson would have to be more motivated than he was for Douglas in order to beat Foreman and he probably would have been because he took Douglas too lightly. Tyson was more prepared for Razor Ruddock in 1991, so he was capable of being better. I think a Tyson vs. Foreman fight in 1990 would go the distance assuming Tyson was focused and I believe Tyson would win a decision. If they fought in 1996, then I think either one of them could win.

I have it on good authority, from someone who attended a meeting between Tyson and his people at that time (was it Shelley Finkel back then?), that Tyson absolutely point blank refused to fight Foreman - and went absolutely bonkers at the meeting.

He said something along the lines of 'You all think that he's some big cuddly old grandpa, but I know what he is, he's a destroyer, a monster.'

My belief is that Tyson was intimidated by Foreman's demeanour and his mean streak, and his former prowess.

The night that Foreman boxed Cooney I had gone out and taken some LSD. After the night we went to someones house and the bout was on SKY. Everyone else went to sleep as it was very late. I remember vividly that George was all smiles when he knew the camera was on him; when he thought the camera was not on him his expression changed. It was very plain that he was a very, very hard man and he was prepared to do some serious damage. The out of ring persona was gone and inside he was a terrible hitter and ruthless with it. Tyson was brilliant on the way up as a youngster but Foreman was an outright nightmare. Full stop.

[jamesmcdonnell]

I know quite a few people who met Foreman in his second incarnation, and they said the same thing, that when his guard was down, and he didn't need to put on the avuncular jolly old fat man - the mean streak was still there beneath the surface.

George just realised that he would make far more money being the jolly old giant, than a mean old man.

[funso banjo baby]

is this current ?

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I remember there was a lot of talk about this fight happening. I think Tyson did not want to take the risk. Foreman went the distance with Holyfield in 1991 and surprised a lot of people. After so many years, he was considered a legitimate contender again. If Foreman and Tyson fought each other in their primes, it would be a great matchup. In 1990, Tyson would have to be more motivated than he was for Douglas in order to beat Foreman and he probably would have been because he took Douglas too lightly. Tyson was more prepared for Razor Ruddock in 1991, so he was capable of being better. I think a Tyson vs. Foreman fight in 1990 would go the distance assuming Tyson was focused and I believe Tyson would win a decision. If they fought in 1996, then I think either one of them could win.

I have it on good authority, from someone who attended a meeting between Tyson and his people at that time (was it Shelley Finkel back then?), that Tyson absolutely point blank refused to fight Foreman - and went absolutely bonkers at the meeting.

He said something along the lines of 'You all think that he's some big cuddly old grandpa, but I know what he is, he's a destroyer, a monster.'

My belief is that Tyson was intimidated by Foreman's demeanour and his mean streak, and his former prowess.

King didn't want anything to do with it either. George was a bad style for Mike, he would have backed him up and his jab was a sledgehammer. I don't see it happening early like this sim. Tyson had a hell of a chin.

[BoxBuzz]

Foreman turned out to be a great student of life, and on a psychological basis he grew leaps and bounds in the wake of his losses to Ali and Young. (Or perhaps more to the point during his spiritual awakening.) And that which was done to Foreman by a mentally strong Ali would be usurped and utilized by Foreman to destroy Tyson....the MUCH smaller minded and literally ungrounded opponent.

[Ezzard]

In the comeback George was old and slow. He would seemingly sleepwalk through many fights. I guess his best moment in the comeback came against Holyfield.

Would this version of Tyson really have a problem in simply overwhelming George?

I can't believe James' account of the spooked Tyson... and yet I've heard this said many times before and know that James is a great poster. So I sort of disbelievingly accept that there's substance to it.

Tyson was rarely rational.

I didn't want this fight to happen because I honestly thought Tyson would massacre the large stationary target. On top of seeing George humiliated I'd have to listen to the same idiots telling me how Tyson KO'd Holmes and Foreman and was therefore the greatest ever...

[palooka]

Foreman wasn't a stationary target, he was THE hunter in any bout. In his comeback he would been a real handful for anyone shorter. Foreman had a terrific uppercut + he could fight off the ropes well (v Cooney). If he got 2 hard punches in then it was odds on that he'd cut it short.

[Idisagree]

I don't know why people here claim that Foreman had a granite chin. Did anyone here saw his fight vs Lyle? He was saved by the bell in one of the rounds, I don't recall exactly which one but he was all over the place in that fight. Tyson speed, timing, and power would give him a decent chance at getting to Foreman's chin. On the other hand, Foreman Jab and right hand could also give him a decent chance at getting to Tyson's chin. I dare to pick Tyson at the early stages but if the fight go past the first five rounds then I'll give the advantage to Foreman.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I don't know why people here claim that Foreman had a granite chin. Did anyone here saw his fight vs Lyle? He was saved by the bell in one of the rounds, I don't recall exactly which one but he was all over the place in that fight. Tyson speed, timing, and power would give him a decent chance at getting to Foreman's chin. On the other hand, Foreman Jab and right hand could also give him a decent chance at getting to Tyson's chin. I dare to pick Tyson at the early stages but if the fight go past the first five rounds then I'll give the advantage to Foreman.

Lyle was a huge puncher & this is Old Foreman anyway. He was never floored

[MEISINGER]

let me start by saying i am not a fan of tyson

but there is no way in hell an older foreman wins against tyson.
no way in hell!!!

post douglas mike was not the same fighter,but in no way was he
not able to launch one hell of an attack on an old slow foreman

mikes superior speed would lead to a very one sided ud over 12.
foreman would look like he was in a car accident with so much swelling
his 92 kids wouldn't recognize him.

[Idisagree]

I don't know why people here claim that Foreman had a granite chin. Did anyone here saw his fight vs Lyle? He was saved by the bell in one of the rounds, I don't recall exactly which one but he was all over the place in that fight. Tyson speed, timing, and power would give him a decent chance at getting to Foreman's chin. On the other hand, Foreman Jab and right hand could also give him a decent chance at getting to Tyson's chin. I dare to pick Tyson at the early stages but if the fight go past the first five rounds then I'll give the advantage to Foreman.

Lyle was a huge puncher & this is Old Foreman anyway. He was never floored

And Tyson was not a huge puncher? Lyle I believe had more brute force but he was not a better puncher than Tyson. Tyson had better technique, way more speed, and better timing.

[Goodnight, Irene]

I don't know why people here claim that Foreman had a granite chin. Did anyone here saw his fight vs Lyle? He was saved by the bell in one of the rounds, I don't recall exactly which one but he was all over the place in that fight. Tyson speed, timing, and power would give him a decent chance at getting to Foreman's chin. On the other hand, Foreman Jab and right hand could also give him a decent chance at getting to Tyson's chin. I dare to pick Tyson at the early stages but if the fight go past the first five rounds then I'll give the advantage to Foreman.

The only man to actually floor Foreman (& one of the very few to even wound him, in fact) through punching power was one of the best hitters of his generation. I should think it no exaggeration to call Foreman a great chin. Frazier, for one, could not dent him. He landed.

Besides, as Saad alluded to, it really was, in truth, a different fighter (rusted, & short on confidence) to the one we're discussing here. About the actual fight, I don't know if anyone agrees here, but I've never been comfortable picking the result. Foreman was glacier-slow & was there to be pummeled (Holyfield), & Tyson had a hell of a shot on him. At the same time, it's clear now in retrospect that Tyson was, in fact, scared of the man, & for such an unstable fighter to begin with, who knows?

It's always been hard for me to decide.

[yancey]

I don't know why people here claim that Foreman had a granite chin. Did anyone here saw his fight vs Lyle? He was saved by the bell in one of the rounds, I don't recall exactly which one but he was all over the place in that fight. Tyson speed, timing, and power would give him a decent chance at getting to Foreman's chin. On the other hand, Foreman Jab and right hand could also give him a decent chance at getting to Tyson's chin. I dare to pick Tyson at the early stages but if the fight go past the first five rounds then I'll give the advantage to Foreman.

The only man to actually floor Foreman (& one of the very few to even wound him, in fact) through punching power was one of the best hitters of his generation. I should think it no exaggeration to call Foreman a great chin. Frazier, for one, could not dent him. He landed.

Besides, as Saad alluded to, it really was, in truth, a different fighter (rusted, & short on confidence) to the one we're discussing here. About the actual fight, I don't know if anyone agrees here, but I've never been comfortable picking the result. Foreman was glacier-slow & was there to be pummeled (Holyfield), & Tyson had a hell of a shot on him. At the same time, it's clear now in retrospect that Tyson was, in fact, scared of the man, & for such an unstable fighter to begin with, who knows?

It's always been hard for me to decide.

Frazier landed?

When?

I don't recall any serious licks Frazier got in on George in the '73 fight.

In their second fight (which admittedly I've only watched once) I seem to recall the near completely shot Joe getting in a half decent hook or two that momentarily got the crowd excited, but I would definitely discount those. In 1976 that wasn't anywhere near the real Frazier.

I think Tyson most likely takes old Foreman, but not '73 George.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I don't know why people here claim that Foreman had a granite chin. Did anyone here saw his fight vs Lyle? He was saved by the bell in one of the rounds, I don't recall exactly which one but he was all over the place in that fight. Tyson speed, timing, and power would give him a decent chance at getting to Foreman's chin. On the other hand, Foreman Jab and right hand could also give him a decent chance at getting to Tyson's chin. I dare to pick Tyson at the early stages but if the fight go past the first five rounds then I'll give the advantage to Foreman.

Lyle was a huge puncher & this is Old Foreman anyway. He was never floored

And Tyson was not a huge puncher? Lyle I believe had more brute force but he was not a better puncher than Tyson. Tyson had better technique, way more speed, and better timing.

I never said Mike wasn't. But using Lyle as an example why George didn't have a granite chin is pretty silly. And George was even sturdier during his comeback from what I saw.

[NazNaci1]

Young Foreman beats Mike (hate to admit that, but true imo).

Old Foreman loses, as young Mike could fire in fast, powerful combo's. 'Vander wobbled Big George a few times with such salvo's. Mike does atleast as good as Evander.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Young Foreman beats Mike (hate to admit that, but true imo).

Old Foreman loses, as young Mike could fire in fast, powerful combo's. 'Vander wobbled Big George a few times with such salvo's. Mike does atleast as good as Evander.

Evander wobbled him with 10 or 12 clean shots in a row. Tyson was never able to put punches together like Holyfield and he couldn't fight backing up either.

Mike was about as capable of duplicating what Evander did against george as Chris arreola would be. But he was a bigger puncher and that isn't insignificant. I think Tyson would either rip him to shreds or lose. I don't think there is any middle ground.