Iron Mike vs Big George in the 1990s: Did Mike Tyson Ducked George Foreman?

[elmersalsa]

I remember back in the 90s about a possible matchup between the great heavyweights Mike Tyson and George Foreman was in the negotiations or something, circa 1990-94. It would have been an explosive matchup between two of boxing's history greatest punchers.
What happened?
Who would have won that match?

[Cutman Scabbers]

Around the time Foreman fought Cooney:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFEpL775faE

I'd have picked Foreman to win.

[Dart340]

One guy wanted the fight. The other guy didn't. And turned down big money to avoid it. That's all you need to know.

[gilgamesh]

I think Mike would've probably won a decision against this version of George, but it wouldn't be out of the question for George to get a knockout late in the fight. Mike usually wasn't one to succumb to one big knockout punch though, you usually had to kick his ass pretty good to stop him, and I don't think George would've been able to fight at the kinda pace to break down Tyson enough for the stoppage. I think Tyson would've taken a UD 8 rounds to 4 or something like that, but would have to endure some hard shots along the way.

[Controversial]

Foreman was quite protected in his comeback. He fought a lot of stiffs and basically got himself a title shot by not really fighting anyone decent. Most were coming off a defeat, some former cruiserweights and Cooney was dragged out of retirement to add a bit of credibility to the comeback. Tyson would've been too fast I think and would've won by a wide decision.

Qawi actually soaked up many big punches from Foreman and he was supposedly used as practice Foreman's planned fight with Tyson, as he was short too. Considering Qawi was only 5'7" tall, a cruiserweight who hadn't fought at HW before and went into the fight well overweight (over 30lbs heavier than his previous fight) and with 2-3 weeks notice Foreman actually struggled and was behind on points after a few rounds if I remember rightly. Foreman ended up stopping Qawi but couldn't drop him.

On a side note its interesting that Foreman in his first career also actually fought a lot a small guys, many weighing under 200lbs.

[foxdog1923]

After Buster Douglas, Tyson mightve ducked Foreman. His confidence would've taken a slight drop as the whole WORLD felt Tysons upset.

If you asked Tyson back in the day if he ducked anyone he'll most like say no, to say the least. Nowadays Tyson is more chilled out, a changed man. It's a good question to ask him now? But just stay outta range cos Tysons bound to drop an interviewer one of these days.

[littleton.barry]

George Foreman knocked Dwight Muhammad Qawi down a couple of times in their fight. Qawi told Roy Foreman afterwards he had retired because he had seen Death in the ring.