The Superfight That Never Happened: Tyson VS Foreman
The Superfight That Never Happened: Mike Tyson Vs George Foreman
By Geno McGahee
George Foreman when he started his second career in the game of boxing was considered a joke as he plowed through carefully selected opposition. At one time he was the indestructible and undefeatable heavyweight champion, destroying men that are still regarded as some of the best of all time in Joe Frazier, Ken Norton, and Ron Lyle. He ruled in the most difficult era for heavyweights, but that was the 1970s and after a loss to Jimmy Young in 1977, he was done with boxing, pursued his religion and faded away.
In 1987, he returned to the ring against Steve Zouski, a tough but limited journeyman, and ?Big George? would end it in four rounds. As the comeback continued, he began to improve, get sharper, use his willpower and toughness and a powerful jab to remain undefeated, knocking out nearly every opponent. In 1989, he knocked out Bert Cooper in 3 rounds placing him in line for a crack at Mike Tyson.
The goal of the Foreman return was money, of course, but also to regain the title and when he looked at Iron Mike, he saw Joe Frazier. Frazier could not dent George and fell victim to the most powerful punch in the Foreman *Censor*: the uppercut. It literally lifted Frazier off of the canvas in 1973, and when he looked at ?The Baddest Man on the Planet,? he saw the same fate. Not only would he be the oldest man to win the championship, but he would defeat the man that nobody thought could lose: Mike Tyson.
On January 11th, 1990, a wrench would be thrown into the works when 42-1 underdog, James ?Buster? Douglas knocked out Mike Tyson to take the World Title. Four days later, Foreman would record the biggest win of his comeback to date with a two round destruction of former contender, Gerry Cooney. Foreman became huge, and Tyson was set back several notches, making a non-title heavyweight bout a huge deal. It was so huge that Don King and Bob Arum were working together in harmony to try to make it happen.
On June 16th, 1990, HBO would present a double header of boxing. George Foreman would face Adilson Rodrigues, a fringe contender, while Mike Tyson would face the hapless challenge of Henry Tillman. Both ended in spectacular knockouts and the two promoters stated that the meeting between the two was eminent. The money was there to be made. The public would have made it the biggest bout in history, but it was not to be. The question was then: why?
I was informed that Mike Tyson did not want the fight with Foreman because of the style match up. Tyson actually feared ?The Punching Preacher,? and elected to pass on one of the biggest paydays that he would have ever received. That was one suggestion, but it is one that former Tyson Team member, Steve Lott dismissed in an interview that I conducted, stating that: ?George never ever moves his head, ever. Cus (D?Amato) would say that it was a lantern in a storm. I don?t think that Mike would be very intimidated or scared or worried about fighting Foreman at all.?
I can?t be sure of why this bout never took off, and perhaps it was a case of money with rival promoters insisting that they had the draw and deserved the bigger cut, or perhaps Don King and Bob Arum didn?t trust each other enough to get together again on a co-promotion, especially one of this magnitude. Whatever the case, the biggest fight in history perhaps never happened and both men went on to have prosperous careers.
The plan to make the fight seemed to be to have one more double header featuring the two heavyweights in against notable but not extremely dangerous competition, and then a bout would occur between the two on Pay Per View, breaking every record set by miles. Tyson would face Alex Stewart, a man that had given Evander Holyfield all that he could handle in their first encounter and Foreman was slated to fight Francesco Damiani for the WBO Heavyweight Title on the same card.
After a delay, Tyson would fight Stewart, and Foreman would not only back away from Damiani after some personal disagreements with the WBO, but would set his sights on Evander Holyfield and get his crack at the Undisputed Heavyweight Title. Mike Tyson would linger, facing Donovan ?Razor? Ruddock a couple of times before going away to prison. The event that everyone wanted to see was long gone?never to be, but RSR now presents a 1990 showdown between Mike Tyson, 38-1, 34 KO?s, against George Foreman, 67-2, 63 KO?s, in a twelve round contest.
First to make his way down to the ring is George Foreman. His typical smile has been replaced by a serious glare, as he realizes that this is a kill or be killed fight. As much as he thought that he had the edge in the fight, there was still that reminder of when he was much younger and backed down, intimidated by a reputation and what might just happen to him. Mike Tyson had used all of his intimidating lines and glares during the pre fight press conferences, stating that Foreman?s family had better ?make funeral arrangements.? Although Foreman played it off and tried to be the cheeseburger eating jokester, there was some of the old George left and he was going to come out to play in this bout.
George entered the ring and the sold out crowd at the MGM Grand erupts. He waves his right arm at the crowd and gives a brief smile. Although no championship is on the line, this is a 12 round event, against what most contend is still the man to beat. This was the People?s Heavyweight Championship and that was nearly as important. A win over Mike Tyson would also shut up the critics that were still dismissing Foreman as a product of hype. More sizzle than steak.
Mike Tyson wastes no time as he storms toward the ring, wearing his typical black trunks, black shoes, and towel with a whole cut through the middle draped over his head. He wants the world to know that he is still the man and sees a big threat but also a big target standing in the ring as he nears. He enters the ring and stares into the eyes of Foreman, and the crowd roars again. The arena is in an uproar, and when Michael Buffer uses his famous line: ?Let?s get ready to rumble,? the noise is deafening. The two biggest draws, arguably, in heavyweight history meet head on.
The crowd has not quieted down as the two combatants stand across from each other in their corners. Foreman weighed in at 250 pounds and seems to be carrying mostly muscle, standing there in white trunks and white shoes, while Tyson weighed in at 219 pounds, well trained and prepared. Referee Richard Steele seems to pause for a minute to take in the magnitude of the event before making the sign to the time keeper to ring the bell. Round one was ready to begin.
Re: The Superfight That Never Happened: Tyson VS Foreman
Round 1
Tyson storms, running right at the larger opponent and throwing his right cross and left hook combinations. The cross-armed defense is proving effective from Foreman but he cannot counter while in this stance. Tyson is landing to the body but has been yet unable to land effectively to the head. Foreman pushes Tyson off to get some room and gets immediately warned by Steele, who receives a chorus of boos from the crowd. Tyson resumes but gets hit with an uppercut that got his attention. That is the bread and butter of Foreman?s attack in this bout and he just landed it.
With only thirty seconds left in the round, Mike Tyson has completely controlled the action, working the body and being more aggressive. With only 10 seconds left in the round, Tyson lands with a picture perfect left hook that jolts Big George, wobbling the former champ and sending him into defense mode completely. The bell rings to end the first round and Tyson lands a punch after the bell, creating another chorus of boos.
Tyson?s round: 10-9
Round 2
Mike storms out of his corner again and tries to see if Foreman is still in trouble. He attacks but Foreman is now throwing hard punches as a means of survival, focusing mostly on the uppercuts and jabs. The jab of Foreman is beginning to be effective as he pumps it out there into Tyson?s face. The head movement of Mike has been long since gone and it is hurting him badly. Foreman is coming up short with his right hand, looping the cross behind the head of his smaller opponent and not being able to catch him flush on the chin.
The pace of the fight is beginning to slow down with Foreman dictating the round with his jab and Iron Mike slightly confused. Tyson attempts to duck a jab and gets cracked with a left uppercut that stuns him and backs him into the ropes. Foreman attacks, throwing a right-left hook combo to the body, but Tyson fights back, landing two hooks of his own, both to George?s head.
Foreman is a man possessed as he lands another uppercut and Tyson?s knees buckle. The crowd is going crazy as Foreman scores with a series of uppercuts and body shots. This does not look good for Tyson as he is backing up and not on steady legs. The bell rings to save Tyson, giving Foreman a very big round.
Foreman?s round: 10-9, (19-19, even at this point)
Round 3
Foreman doesn?t take his eyes off Tyson as he stands in his corner, looking at the smaller man as he sits and takes a drink of water. He knows that Tyson is fragile mentally and he is now employing the psychology. He is getting in Mike?s head as we enter the third round.
Tyson charges at Foreman but not nearly as feverishly as he did in the prior two rounds. He is eating hard jab after hard jab, and his countering left hook is coming up short. Tyson was told to ?jab your way in,? by his corner, but he is getting discouraged, and is trying to knock out George with one shot. Foreman is completely in control, using his jab to keep Mike at bay and landing an occasional right cross. He is employing some of the tactics that Douglas had to defeat Mike and is setting him up for the uppercuts. Another big round for Foreman.
Foreman?s round: 10-9, (29-28, Foreman)
Round 4
Tyson comes out to the middle of the ring and throws a jab at Foreman and then falls into a clinch. He is confused. Foreman pushes him off and jabs him, and then jabs him again. George is throwing what seems to be strictly jabs at this point, and Tyson?s left eye is swelling. Foreman makes that a target and is bouncing his jab off of it. Tyson tries a left hook but is short with it and gets countered with a right uppercut and crashes to the canvas. The crowd erupts?everyone on their feet as Richard Steele points to the neutral corner. Foreman walks over and stands, staring at Tyson who is now on his knees, looking at the referee. ??5-6-7-8?are you OK?? Tyson nods, but only knows one way to fight: straight ahead. With ninety seconds remaining, he walks right back into the minefield.
Foreman is now in finish mode, and lands a jab and two uppercuts on the inside as Tyson holds. A third uppercut on the inside, wobbles Mike again, and a right cross sends him back down to the canvas. Tyson is up at the count of two and the bell rings to end the round.
Foreman?s round: 10-7, (39-35, Foreman)
Round 5
Mike Tyson is on rubbery legs as he stares across the ring at Foreman as round five is about to begin. Tyson goes for broke throwing left hook after left hook, and throwing some vicious body shots as well, but he doesn?t have the sting in his punches that he had in the first round that actually hurt Foreman. He is desperate and Foreman is picking his spots. He times Tyson again, landing another left uppercut that sends Tyson down and crashing into the ropes. Steele begins the count again, and Iron Mike barely beats the count. Don King is visibly nervous at ringside as his meal ticket is flying away. Foreman forges ahead and starts unloading, with a left hook placing Mike on the canvas again. Richard Steele waves his arms to signify that it is over.
Your winner by way of technical knockout at 1 minute 22 seconds of the fifth round, Big George Foreman!?
In boxing, styles make fights, and the style of Foreman will always beat a small aggressive fighter like a Joe Frazier or a Mike Tyson. With this victory, Foreman would face Evander Holyfield and lose a hard-fought unanimous decision, while Tyson would take some time off, regroup and defeat a bunch of average opponents before heading off to prison for what he may or may not have done.
In the end, this bout between two of the top heavyweights of all time would go down as one of the most memorable and most profitable. Both men got their shots in and both were stunned at one time or another, but it was the style and psychology that did Tyson in. With the head movement gone, he was a sitting duck for Foreman and although the ending surprised many, it shouldn?t have come as a shock at all. It was the most likely ending to this bout.
George Foreman and Mike Tyson both go down in history as top ten heavyweight greats and are two of my favorite fighters of all time. To see them in the ring together in 1990 would have been really special, but it wasn?t to be. Hopefully the next time that an event like this is rumored to be in the works, it actually happens. The world missed out on what could have been a great fight.
Re: The Superfight That Never Happened: Tyson VS Foreman
This would have been a truly epic match up of good vs. evil. Old vs. young. Power vs. power.
Its a damn shame it never happened.
I've heard conflicting reports that either Tyson was scared of George Foreman, actually telling Don King "I'm not fighting that fuckin animal ! If you love him so much, you fight him"
And I've heard that Tyson's face used to light up when he was matched up against a big stationary target like Foreman.
Heard more reports that Tyson was afraid of Foreman than he wasn't, but the facts are that in 1990, Tyson had tremendous physical advantages over Big George.
Still, part of me wants to believe that Foreman, being the former baddest man on the planet himself, and hitting like a freight train, would stand up to Tyson, absorb his punishment, and then return it in spades.
I say Big George by mid round KO/TKO.
Re: The Superfight That Never Happened: Tyson VS Foreman
Tyson would have boxed his ears off, Foreman didn't have the work rate to bother Tyson and would eat more clean leather than ever before. Tyson either stops him or realises that he can't and outworks Foreman for the decision.
Re: The Superfight That Never Happened: Tyson VS Foreman
Quote:
Originally Posted by
miles
Tyson would have boxed his ears off, Foreman didn't have the work rate to bother Tyson and would eat more clean leather than ever before. Tyson either stops him or realises that he can't and outworks Foreman for the decision.
What happens when Tyson can't get him outta there and Foreman hits him back very very hard ?
I'd venture to say a similiar thing to what happened when he hit Bert Cooper.
Only it would last into the middle to late rounds.
Re: The Superfight That Never Happened: Tyson VS Foreman
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Hulk
Quote:
Originally Posted by
miles
Tyson would have boxed his ears off, Foreman didn't have the work rate to bother Tyson and would eat more clean leather than ever before. Tyson either stops him or realises that he can't and outworks Foreman for the decision.
What happens when Tyson can't get him outta there and Foreman hits him back very very hard ?
I'd venture to say a similiar thing to what happened when he hit Bert Cooper.
Only it would last into the middle to late rounds.
Tyson had a very good chin, nobody could take him out without serious accumulation. Foreman could hit hard, but not sustain it enough. A pre-jail Tyson is just too good. The Douglas loss was a freak one and a result of not training as his comeback showed.
Tyson was just too young and quick for the big old Mummy.
Re: The Superfight That Never Happened: Tyson VS Foreman
Quote:
Originally Posted by
miles
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Hulk
Quote:
Originally Posted by
miles
Tyson would have boxed his ears off, Foreman didn't have the work rate to bother Tyson and would eat more clean leather than ever before. Tyson either stops him or realises that he can't and outworks Foreman for the decision.
What happens when Tyson can't get him outta there and Foreman hits him back very very hard ?
I'd venture to say a similiar thing to what happened when he hit Bert Cooper.
Only it would last into the middle to late rounds.
Tyson had a very good chin, nobody could take him out without serious accumulation. Foreman could hit hard, but not sustain it enough. A pre-jail Tyson is just too good. The Douglas loss was a freak one and a result of not training as his comeback showed.
Tyson was just too young and quick for the big old Mummy.
That is all true. Tyson had one of the greatest chins in heavyweight history. It took one HELL of an ass whipping to finally stop him.
However, call me idealistic, but Foreman hit very hard, and I believe Tyson would be intimidated by Foreman's nightmareish reputation. And Foreman would not be scared of Tyson at all, I see Foreman as the bully in this fight. Also, Foreman could take an even greater ass whipping than Tyson !
It would have been a thrilling fight.
Most would favor Tyson, but I would have to go with Big George.
Re: The Superfight That Never Happened: Tyson VS Foreman
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Hulk
Quote:
Originally Posted by
miles
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Hulk
Quote:
Originally Posted by
miles
Tyson would have boxed his ears off, Foreman didn't have the work rate to bother Tyson and would eat more clean leather than ever before. Tyson either stops him or realises that he can't and outworks Foreman for the decision.
What happens when Tyson can't get him outta there and Foreman hits him back very very hard ?
I'd venture to say a similiar thing to what happened when he hit Bert Cooper.
Only it would last into the middle to late rounds.
Tyson had a very good chin, nobody could take him out without serious accumulation. Foreman could hit hard, but not sustain it enough. A pre-jail Tyson is just too good. The Douglas loss was a freak one and a result of not training as his comeback showed.
Tyson was just too young and quick for the big old Mummy.
That is all true. Tyson had one of the greatest chins in heavyweight history. It took one HELL of an ass whipping to finally stop him.
However, call me idealistic, but Foreman hit very hard, and I believe Tyson would be intimidated by Foreman's nightmareish reputation. And Foreman would not be scared of Tyson at all, I see Foreman as the bully in this fight. Also, Foreman could take an even greater ass whipping than Tyson !
It would have been a thrilling fight.
Most would favor Tyson, but I would have to go with Big George.
Foreman didnt hit as hard in the 90's as he did in the 70's. How could he? Its a myth about the last thing to go being power. Ok, a big puncher will always have a big punch but when usain bolt is in his 40's he will still be fast but he wont be competing on the level he was. Once you start slowing the punches lose steam and the opponent can see them more.
If that had been the young Foreman in with Holyfield, some of those punches would have ripped his head off. Mike had a better chin than Holyfield and didnt get hit as much.
The fight would have gone about 7 rounds and George would have been pulled out after being used as a punch bag. Tysons original team would have jumped on this fight. An opponent that is there to be hit and massive money.
If Mike had never fought Holmes and someone said on here, who wins in 88 Holmes or Tyson. We would have all sorts of equations, looking at how Buster beat Mike and how Holmes beat Mercer. We would never have any coming to the conclusion that Mike wins in 4 rounds, bouncing Holmes off the canvas. Well the same goes for George, maybe no one else would have done it to him but Mike would have beaten him stupid.
Re: The Superfight That Never Happened: Tyson VS Foreman
Foreman would do to Tyson what he did to Frazier in about 4 rounds.
Re: The Superfight That Never Happened: Tyson VS Foreman
The old George would not have beaten Tyson, even the one after the Douglas defeat. George did come back to fight Tyson but tyson still had too much for old George who was way too slow. Remember Tyson fought Rudduck so Big George would have been a Sunday stroll compared to rudduck.
Re: The Superfight That Never Happened: Tyson VS Foreman
As stated in the article, Tyson was psyched about big George's myth as a monster after what Custa mato told him. Tyson may have been a beast back then but it was a matter of time before his mental weakness got exposed. With that in mind, I dont think he would have fared too well against Foreman.. This would have been a classic example of a bully being intimidated by a bigger bully.. Big George would not have been intimidated at all by Tyson and he definitely would have had the psychological advantage over him..
Tyson would have went into the bout with some doubts in mind and I just dont see things turning out good for him..
Re: The Superfight That Never Happened: Tyson VS Foreman
Quote:
Originally Posted by
FinitoElDinamita
As stated in the article, Tyson was psyched about big George's myth as a monster after what Custa mato told him. Tyson may have been a beast back then but it was a matter of time before his mental weakness got exposed. With that in mind, I dont think he would have fared too well against Foreman.. This would have been a classic example of a bully being intimidated by a bigger bully.. Big George would not have been intimidated at all by Tyson and he definitely would have had the psychological advantage over him..
Tyson would have went into the bout with some doubts in mind and I just dont see things turning out good for him..
A 42 year old Foreman against Tyson is not a contest. Prime George would be but not the old one.
