Foreman/Tyson - Is There Any Doubt That...

While Foreman was probley the strongest HW in history except for Sonny Liston (probley) he wasnt that good of a puncher. He clubbed you to death while Tyson was a precision puncher with all the natural ability in the world. I disagree with Tyson's style being wrong, people are basing that on Fraizer. I dont think Fraizer and Tyson were anywhere close to being the same fighter. Tyson hit harder and was quicker. he wouldve been able to get inside of Foreman quicker and landed his shots and got outside quick enough to avoid those wild shots.

 

And Mike Tyson's own comeback wasn't all about the dough? C'mon, get real, Tyson fought a lot of cans himself...Tyson fought Steve Zouski in his 19th professional fight and stopped him in 3 rounds while George fought Zouski is his first comeback fight and stopped him in four rounds. They both faced Zouski within one year of each other 1986/87.

Also, Foreman did what Tyson failed to do twice...go the distance with Evander Holyfield.

As for Foreman landing a lucky punch against Moorer...watch the last round of the fight...Foreman was landing on Moorer...the first round where George was actually outlanding him. That was no lucky punch...sorry, there is no such thing as a 'lucky' punch...if it happens to land it's the same as any other punch.

So your logic is flawed.

P.S. Foreman would have withstood whatever Tyson dished out and ground him down with his constant forward advance and power. The fighters who beat Tyson had no fear and George as much as any of those who defeated Tyson had no fear.

 

Tyson at least was fed better and better fighters as he progressed towards his title shot against Berbick in 1986. And after Tyson won the title, he cleaned out the heavyweight division and unifed all the belts.

George did have some good moments against Moorer before he knocked him out in the 10th round, but he was way behind on points, and Moorer was in control up until that last minute or so.

And for the life of me, I just can't see how George Foreman would have been able to do any better against Mike Tyson than Razor Ruddock did. Ruddock was faster, busier, and he probably hit harder than George did, but he was still outgunned by Tyson. But old slow George Foreman is going to trouble Tyson? Beat him?

No Way! Tyson landed a lot of Razor Ruddock, and he would land a lot more on slow, immobile George! And if Tyson could avoid most of Ruddock's big bombs, he would definitely get away from George's!

 

I barely listen to what fighters say anymore because they contradict themselves all the time.
Counterpoint - Alex Stewart (who also fought both) said nobody had Tyson's power...so who do you believe?

Foreman had amazing power, but it was a clubbing type of power. He rarely starched guys with one punch like Tyson did. (Tubbs, Berbick, Botha, Williams etc.)

I'd say Tyson was more destructive with his punches.

 

I've never got why beating Donovan Ruddock was such a great achievment for Tyson anyway.

Sure he hit hard but aside from his two losses to Tyson his only wins of note were Dokes and Bonecrusher Smith(unless you count squeaking past Mike Weaver),his whole reputation is based on two losses to Tyson.

We got a better sense of his true standing amongst the elite Heavies of the time when he met a young Lennox Lewis.

Foreman definately hit harder with a single shot imo.Go watch the left hand he finished Gerry Cooney with.He punched straight through Cooneys arms when he was covering up and took his legs straight out from under him,and this is when George was old,slow and fat.He hit damned hard even then.

 

Foreman had more strength while Tyson had more power, if you guys know what I mean.

 

Very good post, I agree on your summation. PLus I'd pick Tyson in a head-to-head matchup based on styles, more compact punching and superior defence.

 

Ruddock was a flawed fighter for sure, but he was a dangerous flawed fighter. Any guy that hits like he could and was as durable as he was was dangerous. There were a lot of heavyweights who didn't want to fight Ruddock back then - including Foreman, Bowe, and Holmes - so he must have had something with which to concern other fighters.

I don't see how any punch from Foreman(comeback Foreman) was more powerful than any punch from Ruddock, except maybe the left jab. Ruddock, Morrison, Lewis, Tua - those are all guys who I would say hit harder, punch for punch, than George Foreman!

 

There is a theory y Tex Cobb about power punchers and it kind of makes sense ... Tex said there is only so hard any human being can hit ... he said when he fought Earnie Shavers, Shavers hit him as hard as anyone ever did, just more often. He said Ken Norton once hit him in their bout as hard as Earnie Shavers ever did ... it's kind of interesting when measuring these tremendous hitters ..

 

Right. Tyson way too fast foreman. That, and his granite chin and incredible defense.

 

Foreman hit harder than any Heavy-wgt besides Gerry Cooney's left hook..