I don't get why people think a 70's Foreman beats a prime Tyson

I think they see the similarities of Tyson and Frazier and think that Foreman's style is all wrong for Mike. The two of them are similar levels of fighter with similar power, similar chins, but Foreman has reach and height advantages. He'd probably smash Tyson at mid-range or whenever Mike tried to close the distance and punch inside.

 

Partly because Cus put it in Mike's head that Forman feasted on shorter guys with a similar style to his. I disagree, as Joe Frazier was no Tyson. Tyson was far more explosive, and quicker than Frazier was. He was also more powerful. His headmovement was more refined and advanced as well.

 

Dude, Big Man Game.

I wouldn't say one way or another definitely, but I would say yes George could win.

bit of a 50/50 Mike's speed vs George's chin.

 

All respect to Mike but Big George is thee best ever, the numbers and story speak for themselves. I know I know fake news media has brainwashed the sheep that its Ali but even though George got kod by Ali I dont think George would have been floored by that bald 172 pound weakling that Ali needed the illegal smelling salts to survive or I dont think Foreman gets floored by Wepner either plus all the Tom Brady and New England Patriots type of judging and refereeing always went his way. Ali got lucky against Big George too and you guys all know it. Big George was so good he avenged that loss 1/4 century later in the same trunks that he wore against Ali.

Big George the best ever

 

Tyson would do far better than Frazier did, his speed alone would see him get to Foreman in a way Frazier never could, this would not be one way traffic.

But Foreman was a special fighter like Tyson. He won Olympic gold within 2 years of first putting on gloves, was undisputed champion 5 years after that and was the oldest champion ever.

Tyson was used to being the bully, they guy pushing his opponent back, they guy who was the bigger puncher but in Foreman he's up against a bigger bully, a bigger puncher a guy that can force him back. When Holyfield did that we saw how ineffective Tyson became. Foreman was physically bigger and stronger and had a very physical style where he pushed his opponent around the ring. I think Tyson would have problems against Foreman as Foreman wouldn't fold easily and would be able to physically manhandle Tyson while throwing heavy shots back in volume. That along with Foreman's sledgehammer of an uppercut makes me favour Foreman.

Tyson would have his moments early, might even drop Foreman, but trading with Foreman is not a smart move. Would be a war but Foreman comes out on top in the end.

 

Who says george could hit tyson? Good chance 1988 tyson could make george look awkward like he did against bonecrusher. We know tyson could hit george, his defense in his prime was basically just holding his arms out and pawing.

George has slight advantages in power and maybe chin, but tyson has better stamina and far better speed, technique, footwork, combination punching, defense, ring IQ.

Tyson doesnt have to just go straight in, dont forget prime tyson could box and even use lateral movement if he wanted to. He could even still move in 2006 in that exhibition he did. Tyson was a smart guy, no reason why at 21 years old, he couldnt adjust and work on getting in and out with footwork and speed for a few months in training camp for foreman.


A young tyson had more dimension to his game than frazier and foreman put together. Thats a fact.

 

Agree.

Both Tyson and 70's George were about the same weight. But 80's George beats him.

 

There´s nothing wrong with it. Sometimes, i can´t see it either. Most of the time, i.e vs Gullick, he looks wide open, barely responding to punches, maybe due to bad reflexes.
In fact its his greatest trademark: Just going through punches and banging away. Just watch precisely what happens vs Norton, who wasn´t that bad of a puncher. Foremen is just not bothering what came at him, going through Norton like a knife though butter, its scary.
I think his attitude backslided when meeting a first class puncher in Lyle.

How did Tyson fare with class punchers? He fought Bonecrusher, Bruno 2x and Ruddock 2x and handled them pretty well. What had Foremen, what the others did not have? He was more durable than those 5 and put his punches better together. I see Tyson - Foremen pretty even, the Frazier comparison is just nonsense. Tyson was no Frazier. H2H he was just better than Frazier anyway.

 

Once Tyson's forward movement is consistently arrested he's vulnerable and stuck without a plan B. Not that many in history would be able to do this but Foreman is sure as heck one of them. By taking away his forward momentum you are also taking away his balance and power. Unbeaten Foreman KO3. If we went the version intent on pacing himself post Ali Tyson would be able to come forward as Lyle did and probably stop him.

 

This.

 

Prime foreman might be the only man that could have beat prime Tyson, foreman is a legendary fighter that has a huge stylistic advantage over Tyson. I think cus even said that no man ever could beat foreman by coming foward and slugging with him, hes got hands of iron and a chin of steel.

 

I agree Tyson was not a Frazier he was naturally more powerful, faster, stronger and just thicker.....the advantage Foreman had on Frazier was Frazier leaned in bobbing and weaving and could not fight standing up...he wasn't outboxing/jabbing anyone he was either steamrolling once he got smoking or he was winning by attrition....Frazier never displayed the chin and did not have a 20" neck shock absorber or near the upper body strength and power of Tyson...he had heart in spades but did not have the strength to take Foreman into deep waters had he had Tysons natural physical strength he no doubt would have taken Foreman into deep waters and stopped him faster than Ali.....Fraziers issue stylistically with Foreman? Foreman was big and would grab the shoulders every time Frazier leaned in to attack and stand him up while pushing him back....Tyson was a Pitbull and more powerful than Frazier he could fight standing up and slip side to side instead of bobbing and weaving IMO if Lyle can nearly stop Foreman there is no reason to think a 220lb faster, harder puncher, more elusive fighter in Tyson would not have finished Foreman. If Foreman with his size and power was known for beating fighter through attrition by taking them into deep waters and drowning with heart I would reconsider but in this fight I am looking at the superior schooled powerhouse

 

Houston's 5th Ward, where Foreman grew up, was as tough as anything Tyson had seen. Foreman was undefeated, an Olympic Champ, had bounced Frazier & Norton off the canvas, and was heavyweight champ. Foreman said no one but Liston in sparring, when Foreman was 19-20 years old, had ever backed him up.
Whether the story is true or not, supposedly Cus D'amoto told Tyson to avoid Foreman.

"Boxing Seen"
9/20/2016

Foreman: We Had Serious Talks, Mike Tyson Didn't Want To Fight

By Edward Chaykovsky

According to former heavyweight champion George Foreman, there were serious negotiations - more than once - to have a fight with Mike Tyson, but Big George is claiming that Iron Mike never wanted to follow through with the match.

When Foreman snapped a 10 year layoff in 1987, he was knocking out the competition with ease. But he was never able to get division ruler and undisputed world champion, Tyson, in the ring.

Foreman racked in 24 wins and 23 by knockouts before he was able to secure a world title shot at Evander Holyfield in 1991. Holyfield was a better man that night, and it wasn't until 1994 when Foreman pulled off his historic knockout to beat Michael Moorer for the IBF/WBA heavyweight crown.

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Updated at 03:32 AM EDT, Tue Sep 20, 2016 Read More By : Edward Chaykovsky

This content is protected

Foreman: We Had Serious Talks, Mike Tyson Didn't Want To Fight


By Edward Chaykovsky

According to former heavyweight champion George Foreman, there were serious negotiations - more than once - to have a fight with Mike Tyson, but Big George is claiming that Iron Mike never wanted to follow through with the match.

When Foreman snapped a 10 year layoff in 1987, he was knocking out the competition with ease. But he was never able to get division ruler and undisputed world champion, Tyson, in the ring.

Foreman racked in 24 wins and 23 by knockouts before he was able to secure a world title shot at Evander Holyfield in 1991. Holyfield was a better man that night, and it wasn't until 1994 when Foreman pulled off his historic knockout to beat Michael Moorer for the IBF/WBA heavyweight crown.

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Foreman believes Tyson's original trainer, Cus D'Amato warned him with stories of Foreman's power from when Big George was blasting out guys like Joe Frazier.

"There were a couple of times, serious negotiations were going on with the Mike Tyson fight. Mike Tyson just didn’t want to fight me. Not to say he couldn’t have beaten me. I mean, this guy could punch. The bigger they are the harder they’d fall as far as Mike Tyson was concerned," Foreman told On The Ropes Boxing Radio.

"I guess that I have a feeling, his first original trainer and manager, Cus D’Amato, must have told him about George Foreman’s punching power as though I would never comeback. So sometimes when you come back and a guy remembers those stories, he says to himself, ‘Look, leave that guy alone’. But I don’t think I would have been that much problems to him. I had a good left jab and I’d always do better when guys come to me, but Tyson was pretty smart with his footwork and hand speed. That would have been a tough fight for me. "