Prime Mike Tyson ('88.) VS Prime George Foreman ('73.)

Joe Frazier was Iron chinned until he fought Foreman. I think if a guy ducks into one of George's uppercuts square their going down or staggering severely. Down low was Foreman's wheelhouse. Tyson could maybe avoid getting drilled that cleanly, his defense was not the same style as Joe's.

 

When people get past the common narrative on Foreman being nothing but a crude slugger, with only brute strength and power at his disposal, a Foreman victory over Tyson looks more favorable.

Early finish. Foreman W KO.

 

I live to be called a no-brained moron. Only, I was hoping it would be moneytheclown doing the honors, as he's so much more practiced at it.

 

I and several others do not think you are a moron, you were not just banned. You are a very talented poster in my book.

 

That's how it would go, and Tyson himself knew this too

 

Agreed.

 

Kevin Rooney and Mike Tyson could not intimidate a fighter like George Foreman, who emulated Charles Sonny Liston, even sparred with him. George in 1973 was a very menacing fighter, looking to walk through his opponents, he shoved them as a bully would shove a weaker adversary in the streets. He smothered his adversaries with non stop punching that was meant to decapitate, rendering his opponents helpless or unconscious. I do not see Mike Tyson surviving that version of George who did not have his Psyche damaged by Muhammad Ali in 1974. George is not a 1988 blown up light heavyweight Michael Spinks, who was severely intimidated, nor was Foreman a Tony Tucker, who could not really crack an egg, even going 15 rounds with Mike.

 

Tyson blasts Frazier out as well. My point above was that everyone picking Foreman is calling him nothing less than a super beast who destroys and kills. What iron chinned fighter has he beaten? Frazier had a solid chin but he had been down in a couple fights prior if I'm not mistaken. And I know that doesn't mean he had a poor chin, just giving you an example. Where someone like Ali has beaten iron chinned fighter after iron chinned fighter.

Saying that, Tyson has flattened guys with solid beards, some who had never been down. Overall Tyson was tested against better variety of fighters and some really good boxers who can bang as well. Power isn't something that will overwhelm him. You need to stunt his offense, tie him up, frustrate him etc. Foreman doesn't do this. He'll push Tyson back and then measure him coming in, but he'll leave himself open.

Foreman can hope to land single, flush bombs at a time but not enough in succession to keep Tyson honest and wary of coming in. Tyson can fire from way out of range and doesn't need to get inside like Frazier or Marciano. Speed kills and it's a major factor when Tyson can land combinations to the body, to the head. Speed may be the deciding factor in a battle between the 2.

 

The Super Beast Who Destroys And Kills sounds like a very awkwardly translated title of a foreign rip-off of 1950s monster movies playing at an American drive in theater.

 

I sympathize with your arguments, they're well made and certainly have validity. To me it has nothing to do with "superhuman Foreman", my friend. More about styles. George was really good at manipulating shorter or crouching/swarming opponents to do his will. He was so good at spinning, clubbing, pushing/pulling swarmers into his punches and keeping them too off balance to land with full weight. He did it to both Frazier and Norton and it looked quite easy for him. He also took nice shots from both of those guys, and even though Norton doesn't rank with Frazier or Iron Mike as a puncher he was no joke in that department. George just kind of walked through those punches.

I have absolutely no denial that Iron Mike could floor George, if Lyle could do it then a man with faster hands (and better defense) like Mike could. I just don't see George staying down in his prime. I see him bullying the hell out of Mike (and yes, I'm fully aware Mike was not easily bullied), beginning with the stare down.

But again, I completely feel your points and I honestly can't argue your conclusion. This is all just my own conjecture.

 

Spot on! I'm taking it back to the B movies of yesteryear where giant ants and bug eyed monsters made it hell for our parents!!

 

You make great points and I can envision this happening to Tyson. I just don't see this happening enough to keep him from landing in the sweet spots.

I used to think the same way you did, sans the bullying part. And just to add that Tyson was around the 215-221 lbs mark and Foreman was around the 220-230 lbs mark in both their primes. So the weight difference isn't that overwhelming and if we go by height and reach, well Tyson has fought bigger guys than Foreman.

I just think Foreman needs more than pushing and bullying to get the job done. He's got the power, the chin, the size advantage but Tyson was just so good at countering guys that left themselves open.

 

The faster hands and superior defense Iron Mike had in his prime would definitely be factors against Foreman, and they in particular make my picking the latter with utter certainty impossible.

Prime Mike almost wholly dominated big guys like Tucker and Smith...shoot, even Thomas was bigger than him and had a jab about the level of Foreman's and he went down...hard.

I guess I lean toward George while seeing perfectly well the Hell that prime Mike was capable of unleashing on him.

 

It's a joke. don't be soft.

Everyone knows how I feel about Foreman I was just playing it up for giggles.

 

Man-Killer the thing from beyond the earth!