Why didn't Tyson fight Foreman before Douglas

Foreman was seen as a Butterbean-esque circus act around the time of Tyson vs Douglas. People enjoyed seeing a smiley obese grandpa brutally knocking out professionals half his age but most didn't even consider him a part of the division, he was just a side-show. It wasn't until he broke Holyfield's KO streak and actually gave him a fight that people started noticing that he might have more to give than entertainment.

Had Foreman and Tyson fought back then I imagine many people would be pretty upset at the idea of the most talented, destructive and popular fighter in the division wasting his time with a fat old man from two generations ago that was more or less a freak-show.

 

Douglas was suppossed to be a tune up for the Holyfield fight, Foreman was given no chance of beating Tyson until he did well vs Holyfield, before Tyson was beaten by Douglas he was viewed as being unbeatable.

 

Because Foreman was not yet highly ranked nor taken. Very seriously.

 

TOKYO FOREMAN! How great would that have been?

 

Was foreman working with don King?

 

Also, Foreman fought Gerry Cooney a month before Tyson fought Douglas, and although Foreman was still in his comeback stage, Cooney was seen as a very real threat to Foreman due to his punching power, Foreman vs Cooney was a very marketable fight at the time.