The story of Tyson and Foreman

Who was that in the first clip, Peter McNeely? Was that apollo creed in the third? I would shakin in my boots if I saw that. Tyson really looks scared of foreman in this clip

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSi2Ws576JE&feature=related[/ame]

 

Tyson looks like a scared boy.

 

George didn't even want to fight Mike Weaver. He took no risks during his comeback.
As I see it, he wanted the Tyson fight as quickly as possible because it would have earned him an ablsolute fortune. Besides, he also had nothing to lose.
Get bombed out - collects his millions and rides off into the sunset.
Make a fight of it - maybe get a rematch in addition to the millions from the first fight.
Win - the sky is the limit.

George wanted to jump to the front of the queue by shouting "I want Tyson!" a scant 5 fights into his comeback. He was a master salesman.

 

I give George credit for his comeback. He took a lot of beatings, and he was tough. Just the fact that he was willing to get in there with Tyson showed a lot of balls, but like someone said it was all for the money. As soon as his grill took off, he dropped boxing like a sack of rocks. Tyson would have made him a lot of money, but he would have taken a serious beating for it.

 

It's gotta be bull****. Tyson ducked no one in his prime.

 

Foreman was pretty greedy. He admitted later on how broke he was when he got back into boxing. He wanted those millions of dollars, and he wasn't going to let a loss early on in his comeback derail a big money fight against the champion.

 

Yet he fought all the way till 1997, which unfortunately makes your reasoning non-viable. He didn't want to go the hard way to get a title shot... most fighters don't. Especially 40 year old ex HW champs. He thought he deserved that respect. He proved he deserve some of it by 1991 against Holyfield.

Dropped like a brick from boxing. Did you want him to continue into his 50's? :nut

 

This thread can now officially be retired.

 

No benifit to fight Foreman he wanted Holy who Foreman lost to and he did not need to get knocked into next year like the buster fight

 

But look at the type of purses he was earning Pete. 5 Million for Alex Stewart? What did Alex get for that fight? Who wouldn't stick around for that sort of money?

The thing is though, despite his rep as a former champ, he hadn't fought in 10 years. It's not like he took two or three years off and made a comeback. He was out for an entire decade. He had completely faded from people's minds...he needed to prove himself as a viable contender and not a disaster waiting to happen.
The fact that he did end up becoming a legitimate contender (and champ, eventually) isn't really the point.

I respect the man for what he achieved during his second career, don't get me wrong. I just feel some people are losing their perspective on what the 'climate' was like those days.

 

Sure he was getting money. But you said he rode at once his grill hit big. How long did you really think he should of kept on fighting for? Till he was in his 50's? Alex Stewart was a well-regarded contender so him taking these shots dismissed the one title shot and leave theory.

Foreman might not have done enough to prove he deserved a title shot but he didn't enough to prove he was legit. His KO comeback streak, and his dispatchment of Cooney was enough for some of the public to go on board. And public opinion is what matters most in reality.

I still think he could've beaten Tyson, and I think he knew this. He prepared for him and he was like "He's going to come into my power." If Tyson beats Douglas, the fight would've happened eventually. Or Tyson would've been forced to duck because Foreman was going to buzzsaw him in the press and keep on fighting better comp.

 

Seems as though you have a laundry list of 2nd tier fighters who could have beaten Tyson.

C'mon this is 2nd career Foreman were talking about.


You know the funny thing about this story and how it shaped the opinions of some boxing fans, makes me wonder whether or not in 10-15 years time people are going to come out the woodwork and claim that Hashim Rahman scared Vitaly Klitschko into retirement. From the looks of this its likely going to happen and you'll have people swearing up and down that Rahman would have beaten Vitaly by KO.

 

Nope, not me.

 

I said that and it was true. Foreman left boxing because he was pissed at the snow job he got against Briggs, and the fact that his grill starting to take off.
George was paid 137 million in early 1999 for his grill. He stopped boxing in late 97 and after the Briggs fight wanted to continue.

 

Really, if that's the way it seems give me your take on who I think beats Tyson. I'm waiting...

Yes, this is quite the same situation. Because Rahman is the same threat, and would be a huge payday. :roll: