Prime Mike Tyson vs Prime George Foreman?

[roccittymaj]

I want to take a poll of who you think would win and why?

[cultus]

prime foreman that i would say with confidence would eat up tyson

[jamesmcdonnell]

I can see either man winning. The main factor would be whether Foreman was able to intimidate Tyson or not. I never really saw Foreman spooked by anyone. Ali got under his skin, but only because of the interminable wait in Zaire, it was this more than anything that had Foreman out of sorts, he wasn't scared of Ali. I don't think it was possible to scare foreman.

Foreman seemed to scare the hell out of most people he faced, but so did Liston until he met Ali.

Either man had the power to hurt the other, both men had very good chins, Tyson's a little better in my opinion, it always took an absolute shellacking to put him away, even past his prime.

If we talk about both men meeting as unbeaten, I'd say a very close one to call, Tyson certainly had better skills, and had the style to give Foreman problems, Frazier was too small and not strong enough to do it, Mike was about the same height, but a significantly bigger, stronger man, and also one hell of a lot quicker.

[roccittymaj]

I can see either man winning. The main factor would be whether Foreman was able to intimidate foreman or not.

Foreman seemed to scare the hell out of most people he faced, but so did Liston until he met Ali.

Either man had the power to hurt the other, both men had very good chins, Tyson's a little better in my opinion, it always took an absolute shellacking to put him away, even past his prime.

If we talk about both men meeting as unbeaten, I'd say a very close one to call, Tyson certainly had better skills, and had the style to give Foreman problems, Frazier was too small and not strong enough to do it, Mike was about the same height, but a significantly bigger, stronger man, and also one hell of a lot quicker.

I agree, I think Tyson's speed, coupled with a power that was second to none would win it. He was so so accurate especially because he had tremendous power in his right hand! LOL

[jamesmcdonnell]

Another factor Also, Foreman demonstrated against Lyle he could recover from a beating - this is something Tyson was never able to do - every fight where he was put under the cosh, he lost. Tyson crumbled under fire, he almost, and actually probably should have won from the canvas against Douglas (having watched that a few times, had the count been accurate, I don't think Douglas would have been able to get up, he was in terrible trouble) but the point is, we never saw him actually do it.

Foreman was also arguably better over the long haul, Ali tricked him into punching himself out - but he had to endure a hellacious beating to do so, I don't think many fighters could have endured that terrible punishment to the body to win. He effectively had to turn himself into a heavy bag.

[InvalidUserID]

Close one.

I would have loved to see a Prime Tyson vs. Prime Frazier though.

[jezzamundo]

Tyson was a faster starter than Frazier, but I think Foreman takes him out in 5 rounds. Any swarmer who takes those uppercuts is going to be in for a rough night.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Close one.

I would have loved to see a Prime Tyson vs. Prime Frazier though.

Think Tyson was too quick. Frazier showed against Foreman he was vulnerable to a fast starter with power, that's Tyson all over. I think Tyson would have beaten him at his own game and broken him up in a few rounds. Styles make fights, they had similar styles, but Tyson was so much quicker, and had a better range of shots, that uppercut would have hurt Frazier bad.

[Hounddawg]

Close one.

I would have loved to see a Prime Tyson vs. Prime Frazier though.

Think Tyson was too quick. Frazier showed against Foreman he was vulnerable to a fast starter with power, that's Tyson all over. I think Tyson would have beaten him at his own game and broken him up in a few rounds. Styles make fights, they had similar styles, but Tyson was so much quicker, and had a better range of shots, that uppercut would have hurt Frazier bad.

IMO, this is a tough one, both are arguably the 2 biggest punchers in the history of Boxing. Both had great chins and both won the majority of there fights on intimadation alone.

Tyson had very quick feet and hands but never really faced that destroyer of a puncher like Foreman.

[ReggieDiggs]

I'll take Hangover Mike Tyson over Foreman Grill George by split decision. More LULZ. Foreman was always too corny with his humor.

[crusader]

Prime vs Prime

http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f ... 179&hilit=

http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f ... 64&start=0

Prime Tyson vs Comeback George

http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f ... 250&hilit=

http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f ... 124&hilit=

[Goodnight, Irene]

Foreman intimidates him before the bout and crushes him during it.

I would actually say Tyson was both more gifted and held better skills --- but the style and mental match-up are fatal for Tyson here.

Foreman anywhere between two and five rounds.

[observer1]

I really find it absurd that many feel Tyson would lose because he had a "weak mental make up".

Tyson's only weakness was that he was an idiot and young. He got too much too fast, and Boxing was only a job for him.

The Tyson-Douglas and Tyson-Holyfield bout was an upset at the time, but hindsight is a wonderful thing. More is apparent now that it was then.

It is clear now that Tyson was more focused on events out of the ring rather than in it. I mean we're talking about the same Tyson who sacked one of his coaches because he didn't want to go for running.

The sad thing about Tyson is that he is arguably both the most over-rated and under-rated boxer in the history of Boxing.

His fanboys downplay his weakness, and his detractors say he was mentally weak.

But as it stands if you're going to say "Prime" vs "Prime". I'd have to give it to Tyson. But had the bout actually happened, you'd probably see Tyson arrested 3 weeks before the bout for punching the paparazzi. Such is the case with this guy/

[gilgamesh]

The reason why people say Tyson had weak mental make-up is because win or lose, he almost always struggled against guys who weren't intimidated by him. Foreman wouldn't be intimidated of Tyson, that's for damn sure. Tyson bobs his head just like Frazier did coming inside, granted he's much faster than Frazier was, but it's not out of the question that Foreman could time him during one of those bobs and catch him with the uppercut just like he did Frazier and Tyson would be hurt no doubt. I could see Tyson hurting Foreman in the 1st as I could imagine him landing the first big shot and having a nice round, but once Foreman ever hurts Tyson. It's over with

[observer1]

The reason why people say Tyson had weak mental make-up is because win or lose, he almost always struggled against guys who weren't intimidated by him. Foreman wouldn't be intimidated of Tyson, that's for damn sure. Tyson bobs his head just like Frazier did coming inside, granted he's much faster than Frazier was, but it's not out of the question that Foreman could time him during one of those bobs and catch him with the uppercut just like he did Frazier and Tyson would be hurt no doubt. I could see Tyson hurting Foreman in the 1st as I could imagine him landing the first big shot and having a nice round, but once Foreman ever hurts Tyson. It's over with

It's not for us to say whether or not he was intimidated.

99% of boxers are intimidated when stepping into the ring, it's just how it us.

Just because Tyson didn't KO his opponent didn't mean he struggled because he was intimidated. There is not a single Boxer who comfortably won all his bouts.

[gilgamesh]

I didn't say Tyson struggled because HE was intimidated. I said he struggled when his opponents weren't intimidated by him.

[The Great John L]

I didn't say Tyson struggled because HE was intimidated. I said he struggled when his opponents weren't intimidated by him.

I think the very same thing could be said of Foreman as well.

[gilgamesh]

I didn't say Tyson struggled because HE was intimidated. I said he struggled when his opponents weren't intimidated by him.

I think the very same thing could be said of Foreman as well.

Yeah it could be said, but it was a lot less obvious than it was in Tyson's case.

[hhaehre]

I didn't say Tyson struggled because HE was intimidated. I said he struggled when his opponents weren't intimidated by him.

I don't think he was intimidated, he never froze or quit and he kept trying. He did struggle when he met top notch fighters who weren't intimidated by him for sure but I think it was more because he was so used to steam rolling opponents that he had no plan B when they didn't comply. He was the classic front runner.
Btw Tyson looses to Foreman 8 times out of ten imo.

[The Great John L]

I didn't say Tyson struggled because HE was intimidated. I said he struggled when his opponents weren't intimidated by him.

I think the very same thing could be said of Foreman as well.

Yeah it could be said, but it was a lot less obvious than it was in Tyson's case.

It's only obvious because George reinvented himself and carefully built a second career. After he lost to Young, it was a common feeling among many fans that he was nothing but a bully and he couldn't handle it when his opponent stood up to him.

And certainly Berbick showed no fear and got right in Tyson's face. That didn't work very well for him, so the whole theory that Tyson needed his intimidation to be successful is nothing more than a myth. It certainly helped him, as it did Foreman, but he could certainly win when his opponent wasn't intimidated.

[Goodnight, Irene]

The Lyle fight comprehensively proves Foreman had a substantially lesser reliance on intimidation and front running. I actually think Lyle had Foreman intimidated on a few occasions (theres some really good up-close shots of Foreman in that bout), but he prevailed in extrdme duress. Tyson could never have recovered from an identical situation. Never.

[BoxBuzz]

The Lyle fight comprehensively proves Foreman had a substantially lesser reliance on intimidation and front running. I actually think Lyle had Foreman intimidated on a few occasions (theres some really good up-close shots of Foreman in that bout), but he prevailed in extrdme duress. Tyson could never have recovered from an identical situation. Never.

When you're right, you're right.

[roccittymaj]

True, but the at there peaks, 87' Tyson and 73' Foreman, I dont believe intimidation would have been a factor. The mentality and ego of both fighters would have made that a non-factor. I believe that based on skill alone Tyson would have won it with speed and repeated power shots. Tyson had a good chin as did Foreman but look at the way in which Tyson Destroyed his competitors vs the Foreman beat his. I would have to go with Tyson

[Goodnight, Irene]

Leave the headgame out then.

Tyson still isnt overcoming the style clash. D'Amato agreed with me.

[roccittymaj]

Leave the headgame out then.

Tyson still isnt overcoming the style clash. D'Amato agreed with me.

Send me the link on that interview when you get it. I would like to see it.