Why Prime Mike Tyson beats a 70s George Foreman

I agree with this 100%. Larry in his prime had a penchant for getting caught. It happened most famously against Shavers and Snipes, who didn't have the speed, finesse, combination ability, nor finishing skills of Tyson. I also think prime Frazier beats Holmes too, and I'm a Larry fan.

 

Same here.

I love Holmes. So glad he got his just do after beating Mercer and troubling Holyfield in the early 90's. Holmes fighting Joe Frazier is one of those ATG fantasy fights that would leave everyone satisfied had they actually fought. I go back and forth on a winner.

 

You'd have a good ally in Stonehands89 who used to post here regularly and has been writing some outstanding boxing books. We used to debate at length with me championing Holmes to beat Tyson and he Tyson to prevail. I don't shift camps very often and it took ages but he eventually got me there with some insights and views i hadn't been privvy to.

On the downside for a Tyson fan however he was very sure Liston would beat Tyson. He really liked Tyson stylistically against Larry while he really liked Liston mentally against Tyson.

Great days.

 

I mean Liston beat Williams who is a demi God worshipped in pagan corners of the world.

 

Oh yeah, Stonehands is tremendous. I believe it was the Prime Tyson vs Prime Lewis thread that brought me to this place and you two especially were some of the first great posters that welcomed me at the old ESB back in 2010. I miss that guy but I am friends with him on facebook so I get to see him post some really great stuff from time to time.

If I'm correct he also picks Tyson over Ali, which is shocking, and I'm sure you disagree with that pick. Have you debated with Stoney on that one?

And I like Liston a lot. Ali, Liston, Louis, Foreman, Holmes, Holyfield, Bowe and Lewis are the toughest Tyson foes out there. "The Devil and Sonny Liston" is one of a few books I come back to.

 

Foreman wasn't afraid of Tyson.

 

Jeez man i don't remember that hahaha. Great stuff. I have him on FB too mate.

Yeah i was genuinely trying to remember if he took him over Ali as well. Makes sense as i think i remember him throwing Ali into the stylistic bracket as well. Can't remember if we debated it TBH. I disagree but i respect his opinion. We didn't always agree particularly on Duran - Hagler and had some enjoyable exchanges of opinion. Our difference was that i believed Hagler's poor tactical choices and lack of adaptability during the heat of battle led to Duran's surprisingly good showing where as he wanted to hand all the credit to Duran. Man we spent some days on that one

It was all friendly stuff tho and he often used to oppose another guy in here and i enjoyed that more than i should have i reckon hahahaha

You've covered all the biggest threats to Tyson at his best IMO.

Don't take this the wrong way but you've really matured in here in recent years. Calmer gets one much further in a debate.

 

may i ask what books has Stonehands89 wrote please?

 

Springs Toledo, who posted here under the username Stonehans89, is the author of...

The Gods of War (Tora 2014, 2019)
In the Cheap Seats (Tora 2016)
Murderers' Row (Tora 2017, 2020)
Smokestack Lightning: Harry Greb, 1919 (2019)

 

Thanks mate. Im familiar with his work and am friends with him on FB. Didnt know he was Stonehands89. Thanks again

 

Why do people think everyone was afraid of Tyson. Foreman of all people. Foreman was looking for the Tyson fight after his Cooney fight and predicts a 1-2 round KO in this interview. He guarantees it. It's insane to think Foreman was scared of Tyson.

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Agree. If he was afraid of Tyson why would he launch a comeback when Mike held the title. It didn't look like Tyson was gonna be losing anytime soon. George wanted the title. Mike went off the radar.

 

Though I'm not positive at all that the Lotierzo-narrated situation took place (seems too third-hand to be sure), I wouldn't doubt in the least that Cus warned Mike away from Foreman. If you plan on going at Foreman (and Mike didn't know anything but that) you are going into a shredding machine. Anytime Mike got knocked down he ended up losing...bad. I'd be astonished if anyone wouldn't think Mike, considering his ONE STYLE, wouldn't suffer at least one knockdown against George...even the George of the Cooney fight.

Even Holyfield, who was more of a darting style of fighter than a mauler like Mike, was given serious trouble by old man George...he admitted himself he was out of his feet on two different occasions, and thought all his teeth got knocked out in the 10th round. If near-prime Holy could have THAT much trouble...

 

You probably already know Larry is my favorite fighter (George is a close second), but even I pick FOTC Joe to beat Larry, by a majority but clear-to-everyone decision. Joe was even more relentless than Norton, and his left was unquestionably heavier.

Though Joe didn't have a kryptonite-level right for Holmes, he did have that left which he'd punish Larry with. I see Larry actually knocking down Joe in the early rounds, however I think the former would get gun shy after eating that hook over his right hand over and over again, and Joe would simply outwork him in the last 6 rounds.

 

I don't think he was, so I'm not saying that. But I am saying Foreman's comeback benefitted from him not facing Tyson. I've explained why ad nauseum for the last decade on this forum. It's the one fight in my lifetime I've wanted to see more than any other in any weight class.