Mike Tyson vs George Foreman 1988

Tyson would fight his normal fight against Foreman. He would not use any movement and he definitely wouldn't vacate the area the way Tommy Morrison did quite often. Even turning his back to Foreman. He would rather lose then fight like that. Remember were talking about Mike Tyson. The Badest Man on the Planet.
He has no choice but it come at Foreman and try to get off his big shots without getting smothered, and pushed backward. He will be in range of Foreman's return fire. Sneaky uppercuts and hooks that George had good timing with.
That is why George has a chance. It's not even complicated.

 

How would Tyson handle being forced back on his heels? Would he lose some of the steam on his punches? Would it drain him of confidence? Who is gonna be expending more energy? George is gonna walking forward teeing off while Tyson trying to tie him up and get rest.

 

He did exactly that against Ruddock. Stepping back or stepping to the side, avoiding punches, be in range to shoot back or beeing in the clinch. You are talking about a human being with two feet.

 

Ruddock? A one handed fighter with no jab? No ability to set up his power. A guy who telegraphed everything he did? Foreman forgot more about boxing than Ruddock ever learned. George knew how to deliver shots to a guy standing right in front of him. He didn' t back up against Ruddock anyway.

 

I strongly agree with two basic points here:

1) Tyson's peak was brief, and crucially relied on a number of factors remaining aligned.

2) Tyson, Ali, and Lewis all have a realistic chance of beating any other fighter, and each at his peak is never worse than a live underdog.

 

This is a tough fight to pick. Tyson against most guys would win at this time and Foreman would not, but the style of Foreman is so bad for Tyson's style, it is what gives him hope. I would think Mike would land a quick combination on George, but George was so big that he might take it and land when Mike is coming forward and stop Mike in 3... I always picked George against Mike, not because he was greater, I think Mike might be greater in history of heavyweight, but the style matchup for George is so good.

 

Awe, yes, the usual "I don't hate Tyson, just his fans, so I'll go on a tirade to diminish his accomplishments and highlight his shortcomings to establish my love for him" Tyson fan. HATER aint the word...O.B.S.E.S.S.E.D. is.

Hmmmm, you have an alias running amok in these parts. I know who you are. You can run - but you can't hide...

This post should be held in the pantheon of the greatest misinformed Tyson Hating Hall of Fame.

 

Tyson fought bigger guys than Foreman. He handled being pushed back just fine. In fact, tying him up and frustrating Tyson by not giving him a chance to respond is the way to go. Foreman could NEVER replicate this. Not in a million years and hundreds of thousands of reincarnations.

 

Great post Primo. I appreciate you weighing in on such a touchy subject, without being so blinded by your admiration for Tyson. A young Tyson was truly a marvel, the likes of whom we will never again see...a 20 year old HW champ, not titleholder.

That said, I think the world owes Tyson’s presence solely to Cus. For better or worse, Cus knew Tyson better than anyone, including Tyson himself. Given Cus’s blind obsession with having a HW champion under his charge, I’ve always considered Tyson to be “Frankenstein in boxing gloves.” If Cus had lived to guide Tyson’s entire career, AND had Tyson remained obedient to Cus, I believe he could’ve retired undefeated as Cus would’ve known who to steer him clear of, namely Holyfield and Lewis.

In Tyson’s peak, he would be hell for any HW that ever fought. However, I still think with all my heart that he loses 10 out of 10 to Holyfield.

 

You should lay off the Sangria.

 

Watch the Weaver fight and tell me that man had no jab. Telegraphed his power, one handed? Who do you think had more hand speed and was more dangerous, Ruddock or Foreman?

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Foreman bounces Mike off the canvas like Joe Frazier

 

Foreman was like 250-260 lbs in his comeback, bigger and stronger than any opponent Tyson faced.

 

He was certainly heavier in his second incarnation but can you say with any real certainty that he was physically stronger than the likes of Frank Bruno, Bonecrusher Smith or Razor Ruddock who you could say were all in their physical peaks when they faced Tyson?

 

Bruno was jacked 247 lbs in the second Tyson fight so he was close, but a lot weaker mentally with a bad chin.