Greatest Heavyweight Of All-Time, Semi-Final: Mike Tyson vs. George Foreman

The final awaits the winner.

I hate to say this, but I think Tyson would end up catching and finishing off Foreman. Not to say Tyson was greater than Foreman (who I believe is a top 5 of all time HW), but styles make fights and I think a guy with the power, speed and accuracy of prime Tyson would be tough for a guy like Foreman who was much slower and didn't have the greatest defense back in his prime.

It's 100% George Foreman....too strong too tough and mentally stronger as well....it took HUGE haymakers to drop either guy but only George beat greats!

George's wins over Joe Frazier seal the deal for me....that's a dominant heavyweight right there, Frazier was not only undefeated but some considered him unbeatable at the time and George walked through him.

Tyson never fought and beat a guy as tough or as dangerous as Joe Frazier....unless you count Bruno or Rudduck and even then it's a BIG stretch to compare those guys to Frazier

....and when I bring up Foreman-Frazier it's not just the result it's HOW George handled Frazier.

Frazier needed to get on the inside, he needed to get the hook off and the right to the body off, and George was the matador and Joe was the bull and Foreman did an excellent job of eluding Frazier and in my opinion he could do the same thing to Tyson.....move and get in position then start bullying.


We all know George was the baddest man on the planet....if there is a fighter in the history of boxing that I would NOT want to face it's George Foreman......then Mike Tyson.....I'd rather fight Mike Tyson right now than George Foreman right now....George is a freak of nature

Would be a great fight while it lasted. Tyson had a great chin and so did George and while Tyson has the handspeed he didn't have the foot movement or height to outbox George.

George wins by about the 6th round in a bloody war.

What a war this would be ..... two devastating finishers with granite chins and underrated technique.

For me, Tyson's key to victory would be to get in close (at his optimal punching distance, which would be within George's optimal punching distance), but avoid being tied up or leaned on by Foreman. Foreman's key to winning would be to keep Tyson at arm's reach where his long, clubbing haymakers were so devastating.

I see Foreman as too big and powerful to be bullied by Tyson, and he would certainly not have been intimidated by him. Watch round 1 of Frazier/Foreman I, and see how George uses both hands to push and manhandle Joe away from him into 'no mans land', where he unloads the heavy artillery.

A great great matchp and full of intangibles, but for me, Foreman wins more often if they fought 10 times.

This one would never go the distance, either way

Tyson because he had better technique, size, speed, timing and power than Frasier. Foreman would not have time to set up his punches. In a strange way it could go to points if no-one was knocked out early similar to the Rudduck fight where both just absorb the bombs and Tyson had better conditioning at his best.

Explosive vicious power (Tyson) vs. Brutal Raw strength (Foreman)

Big George for me, capable of taking tysons onslaught at the start and weathering the storm.
Tyson had not enough skill to resist georges power tho.

Hmm, does this mean we're having a rematch of the rumble in the jungle ??? :o

Mike is my All time favorite fighter but, i think i'm gonna have to go with George on this one. :( Tyson never handle real big fighters too well so i think George would take him out by at least the 8th, because Mike has a great chin but eventually he would go down.

I had to go for Tyson. He was just unstoppable in his prime.

this is a hard one to decide but i picked tyson because of his hand speed , head movement and of course power

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Originally Posted by Master

Tyson because he had better technique, size, speed, timing and power than Frasier. Foreman would not have time to set up his punches. In a strange way it could go to points if no-one was knocked out early similar to the Rudduck fight where both just absorb the bombs and Tyson had better conditioning at his best.

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Tyson had the size? Do you know who Joe Frazier is? ::** ;D

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Originally Posted by ds91

this is a hard one to decide but i picked tyson because of his hand speed , head movement and of course power

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George hit the harder of the 2. The only head movement Tyson would be doing is when his head comes straight off his shoulders.

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Originally Posted by bzkfn

I had to go for Tyson. He was just unstoppable in his prime.

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You need to watch some old Foreman fights!

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Originally Posted by Master

Tyson because he had better technique, size, speed, timing and power than Frasier. Foreman would not have time to set up his punches. In a strange way it could go to points if no-one was knocked out early similar to the Rudduck fight where both just absorb the bombs and Tyson had better conditioning at his best.

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Foreman stood up to Ron Lyle, Joe Frazier, and when he was 40 plus years old he took punches from Holyfield that knocked out Mike Tyson......George took those when he was 40.....AND he hurt Holyfield some in the fight too....more than Tyson ever did and don't bring up this PRIME stuff George was 40 freaking years old when he fought Evander so Mike has NO EXCUSES!

Tyson was smaller than Joe Frazier

Joe Frazier had good head movement too and look what it got him....KNOCKED THE FUNK OUT....twice

Prime Tyson. No heavyweight threw combinations at such speed combined with power.

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Originally Posted by miles

Prime Tyson. No heavyweight threw combinations at such speed combined with power.

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But anyone who could take his punches and didn't fight scared completely whipped his ass.....which is why I choose Foreman.

George was like Tyson but bigger, meaner, and he hit harder....sure his hands weren't super fast but his hands weren't slow either...I mean if they were slow punches more than 68 people would have gotten out of the way of those punches.

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Originally Posted by Lyle

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Originally Posted by miles

Prime Tyson. No heavyweight threw combinations at such speed combined with power.

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But anyone who could take his punches and didn't fight scared completely whipped his a**.....which is why I choose Foreman.

George was like Tyson but bigger, meaner, and he hit harder....sure his hands weren't super fast but his hands weren't slow either...I mean if they were slow punches more than 68 people would have gotten out of the way of those punches.

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Which is why I specified Prime Tyson. Tyson circa 1988. He had no reason to fear anybody. You use hindsight to assist your argument. But hindsight is summing up a completely revised fighter.

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Originally Posted by miles

Prime Tyson. No heavyweight threw combinations at such speed combined with power.

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Ali, Holmes, Holyfield, ;D

....yeah but look at PRIME Foreman and tell me he feared anyone

Foreman has right style to beat Tyson just look at Frazier vs Foreman yes they are bit different Tyson is faster ect but they both need to get close both use the bobbing and weaving tactic no one stands toe to toe with Foreman and survives the only style Foreman struggled with was stick and move fighters.

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Originally Posted by ICE COLD BOXING

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Originally Posted by miles

Prime Tyson. No heavyweight threw combinations at such speed combined with power.

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Ali, Holmes, Holyfield, ;D

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Nonsense. Tyson threw with a devastation none of those fighters possessed.

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Originally Posted by miles

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Originally Posted by ICE COLD BOXING

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Originally Posted by miles

Prime Tyson. No heavyweight threw combinations at such speed combined with power.

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Ali, Holmes, Holyfield, ;D

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Nonsense. Tyson threw with a devastation none of those fighters possessed.

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Notice my smiley face at end Miles meaning i was being a bit sarcastic but still all 3 threw pretty good combos not hard but still good.

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Originally Posted by Lyle

....yeah but look at PRIME Foreman and tell me he feared anyone

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He feared noone but he still lost.

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Originally Posted by ICE COLD BOXING

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Originally Posted by miles

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Originally Posted by ICE COLD BOXING

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Originally Posted by miles

Prime Tyson. No heavyweight threw combinations at such speed combined with power.

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Ali, Holmes, Holyfield, ;D

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Nonsense. Tyson threw with a devastation none of those fighters possessed.

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Notice my smiley face at end Miles meaning i was being a bit sarcastic but still all 3 threw pretty good combos not hard but still good.

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Each of those fighters in their primes threw great combos, thats right. But Tysons freakish power makes him stand out for me.

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Originally Posted by miles

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Originally Posted by Lyle

....yeah but look at PRIME Foreman and tell me he feared anyone

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He feared noone but he still lost.

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and Mike Tyson had trouble with Frank Bruno....and Mike Tyson didn't fear Buster Douglas but he got the shit kicked out of him.

There is no shame in losing to Ali dude....Mike Tyson didn't lose to Ali he loses to bums and he had trouble with fighters he should have.

Both Foreman and Tyson are devistating punchers and were feared so either way you can't lose but I side with Foreman.

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Originally Posted by Lyle

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Originally Posted by miles

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Originally Posted by Lyle

....yeah but look at PRIME Foreman and tell me he feared anyone

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He feared noone but he still lost.

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and Mike Tyson had trouble with Frank Bruno....and Mike Tyson didn't fear Buster Douglas but he got the S*** kicked out of him.

There is no shame in losing to Ali dude....Mike Tyson didn't lose to Ali he loses to bums and he had trouble with fighters he should have.

Both Foreman and Tyson are devistating punchers and were feared so either way you can't lose but I side with Foreman.

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I know your arguments and you know much of what I have to say so as usual on threads of this nature that are impossible to resolve we shall just have to agree to disagree.

Im sure Tyson got hit with only one big punch from Bruno. The outcome was never in doubt! Anyways, I respectfully wish to disagree with you. ;D

Watch Tyson amateur fight with Winston bent and tell me he could not out box George, ppl seem to 4 get the Tyson was very hard to hit when he wasn't being careless and it wasn't because people feared him. ppl feared George foreman and he got hit all the time as well as Frazier and Liston. Tyson had excellent footwork,Masterful head movement, and use angles (unlike Frazier).

But it is what it is and the reality is no one knocks out George foreman unless George foreman tires out and Tyson body assault would of help George tire

The end all of end all Tyson gets a late stoppage (Rounds 7,8,9) due to defense and heavy body shots leading george foreman to exhaustion eventually putting him down.

But other than that Foreman will eventually catch Tyson cuz Tyson Defense begins to fade around round 7 so hopefully Tyson has already drained foreman by than.

Tyson is the whole reason I got into boxing and his training regime was sick when he was young so I am a Tyson fan but all boxing purist know That Foreman had the power to stop Tyson but Tyson did not have the Power to stop Foreman. If Tyson wants the victory he would of had to relied on his other assets and the power would of naturally took its toll later in the fight

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Originally Posted by Souljah

Watch Tyson amateur fight with Winston bent and tell me he could not out box George, ppl seem to 4 get the Tyson was very hard to hit when he wasn't being careless and it wasn't because people feared him. ppl feared George foreman and he got hit all the time as well as Frazier and Liston. Tyson had excellent footwork,Masterful head movement, and use angles (unlike Frazier).

But it is what it is and the reality is no one knocks out George foreman unless George foreman tires out and Tyson body assault would of help George tire

The end all of end all Tyson gets a late stoppage (Rounds 7,8,9) due to defense and heavy body shots leading george foreman to exhaustion eventually putting him down.

But other than that Foreman will eventually catch Tyson cuz Tyson Defense begins to fade around round 7 so hopefully Tyson has already drained foreman by than.

Tyson is the whole reason I got into boxing and his training regime was sick when he was young so I am a Tyson fan but all boxing purist know That Foreman had the power to stop Tyson but Tyson did not have the Power to stop Foreman. If Tyson wants the victory he would of had to relied on his other assets and the power would of naturally took its toll later in the fight

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So your basing it on amateur fight that he could outbox Foreman ??

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Originally Posted by Lyle

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Originally Posted by bzkfn

I had to go for Tyson. He was just unstoppable in his prime.

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You need to watch some old Foreman fights!

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Originally Posted by Master

Tyson because he had better technique, size, speed, timing and power than Frasier. Foreman would not have time to set up his punches. In a strange way it could go to points if no-one was knocked out early similar to the Rudduck fight where both just absorb the bombs and Tyson had better conditioning at his best.

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Foreman stood up to Ron Lyle, Joe Frazier, and when he was 40 plus years old he took punches from Holyfield that knocked out Mike Tyson......George took those when he was 40.....AND he hurt Holyfield some in the fight too....more than Tyson ever did and don't bring up this PRIME stuff George was 40 freaking years old when he fought Evander so Mike has NO EXCUSES!

Tyson was smaller than Joe Frazier

Joe Frazier had good head movement too and look what it got him....KNOCKED THE FUNK OUT....twice

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I find it comical that you ALWAYS try to compare Frazier to Tyson,

#1 Frazier was slow and plodding with limited handspeed

#2 Frazier Bobbed and weaved which played into Foremans bludgeoning upper cut style, Tyson had superb head movement and was side to side like a windshield wiper

#3 Tyson was a combination concussive puncher and had the ability in his prime to put 4-5 combos together and had terrific footwork and could close the distance as good as most welterweights cause of his coordination and athleticism... Frazier was as graceful as a Hippo and lacked even the smidge of the footwork Tyson had.

I will say this, unless this fight takes place PRE-PRISON and got to be around the 9th round I dont think Tyson could hold it together mentally he might quit.

This is gonna sound like a farce but Tyson could absorb 10 fights worth of punishment in the 1st 7 rounds and still stand and fight with all the heart in the world, but around 9-10th round unless he KO's George Mike would pack it in

Tyson Tko by round 6

good topic! i said tyson...tough decision though

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Originally Posted by JT Rock

I find it comical that you ALWAYS try to compare Frazier to Tyson,

#1 Frazier was slow and plodding with limited handspeed

#2 Frazier Bobbed and weaved which played into Foremans bludgeoning upper cut style, Tyson had superb head movement and was side to side like a windshield wiper

#3 Tyson was a combination concussive puncher and had the ability in his prime to put 4-5 combos together and had terrific footwork and could close the distance as good as most welterweights cause of his coordination and athleticism... Frazier was as graceful as a Hippo and lacked even the smidge of the footwork Tyson had.

I will say this, unless this fight takes place PRE-PRISON and got to be around the 9th round I dont think Tyson could hold it together mentally he might quit.

This is gonna sound like a farce but Tyson could absorb 10 fights worth of punishment in the 1st 7 rounds and still stand and fight with all the heart in the world, but around 9-10th round unless he KO's George Mike would pack it in

Tyson Tko by round 6

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#1 if Frazier's handspeed was so limited I guess Ali wasn't all that fast....besides it's the PRESSURE Joe applied that resembles Tyson's style


#2 Frazier bobbed up and down....good for missing hooks, bad for missing uppercuts.....Tyson went side to side and at times tried to tie up on the inside (yes even in his freaking Prime he had spells where he did nothing on the inside) It didn't matter where Tyson ducked because Foreman used his extended arms to push his opponent into place and then unload.....DODGE A PUSH and maybe you'll have a chance at dodging the punch but since he'd be off balance to begin with then countering would be impossible.

#3 Tyson threw combinations but I just can't see George sitting there and eating those up without doing something about it.


You say Tyson could stop George with speed but honestly Mike Tyson never saw ANYONE close to the talents of George Foreman whereas Foreman fought in the best era ever and totally demolished a fighter with a somewhat similar style and with TWICE the heart of Mike Tyson.





How was Frazier similar to Tyson....he applied pressure, he had massive power, he had a very good chin.

How was he different....Frazier looked to land 1-2 punches....Tyson could do that but also 3-4 punches at times....don't act like ALL Tyson did was throw combos, he threw 1 at a time a lot as well but the point is he was a better combination puncher. Frazier's defense was a cross block/shell with head movement up and down Tyson's defense was a peek-a-boo with side to side headmovement......would that matter? Probably not because George just aimed to hit you it didn't matter where....but go on believing in the Mike 'The Perfect Fighter' Tyson.


FYI Tyson fans.....Mike Tyson didn't just lose because he stopped training, sure it didn't help vs Douglas but HONESTLY would a well trained Tyson have beaten him??? If you believe that you're just dillusional and probably still thinking "if only Kevin Rooney trained Tyson he could still win a title"

Every time Tyson has been stopped it is when he cant stop someone early and he starts to move his head less and less as the rounds go on. There is no way Tyson could KO Holyfield imo and definately not early in the fight. Foreman is a master at the simple 1-2 combination and when that right hand lands on the smaller Tyson its good night in around the 10th or 11th round.

Lyle.

Mike Tyson never saw ANYONE close to the talents of George Foreman

Is that some kind of a joke ???



If it wasnt for Foremans Power he would be less than mediocre.. He wasnt a good technically sound boxer, he was slow and had no defense whatsoever unless getting punched in the head is considered a defensive style as well as having dodgy stamina..

Foreman was intimidating and powerful that was it

as far as Frazier go's
he would get beat by Tyson 7 days a week and 5x on Sunday, its as simple as that!!!!

I would give 40 year old George a better chance against a Prime Tyson than I would in George's Prime

In his 40's he was a special person and fighter, he was willing to walk thru hell and back to win, I swear God Protected his chin every fight, he would absorb helacious punches and keep coming forward and hung on despite the adversity, that George had a better shot of weathering the Tyson storm and gutting out a war of attricion. I value Old George anytime over his 1st career he had the will and determination that was something majestic and stuff of legend. the heart he displayed in his 2nd career alone made him an alltime great

No JT I am not joking.....tell me 1 fighter Tyson fought in his prime that was either close to Foreman's status OR that could beat Foreman



Get off your Mike Tyson high horse and admit he was a Dead Man Walking vs Foreman either in his 20's or in his 40's!

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As for Tyson-Frazier...don't be so sure Tyson would win that one either!

there is nothing in that clip that would change my mind other wise..... Tyson would all over George like stink on shiit, for every one Foreman would land Tyson would snap off 2-3... Not to mention along with his chin his uppercutting was grossly UNDERRATED..

I never said Tyson was greater than Foreman or Frazier, just that it is an ideal matchup for Mike that would favor him OVERWHELMINGLY ;)

listen i dont know why you hold Tyson so high all he did during his prime is beat bums and a 36 year old Holmes and then got knocked out by buster Douglas which i dont care what people say he was not past it when he fought Douglas and if he faced forman he get knocked out because George chin was better then Tyson and he was stronger and would catch Tyson at some point and knock him out cold

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Originally Posted by JT Rock

there is nothing in that clip that would change my mind other wise..... Tyson would all over George like stink on shiit, for every one Foreman would land Tyson would snap off 2-3... Not to mention along with his chin his uppercutting was grossly UNDERRATED..

I never said Tyson was greater than Foreman or Frazier, just that it is an ideal matchup for Mike that would favor him OVERWHELMINGLY ;)

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Dude....the way Foreman fought Frazier would be a great way to beat Tyson.

People say what a phenom Tyson was but he had been boxing since he was like 13....George Foreman on the other hand learned to box, a year later he won the gold medal in Mexico City in 1968 and in 1973 he was undefeated undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.

Mike Tyson could even get to the Olympics, he needed 4 rounds to take out an OLD Larry Holmes and he never fought a GREAT fighter in his Prime.....Old Larry Holmes and Michael Spinks at heavyweight don't count as Michael Spinks was a great LIGHT heavyweight and Larry Holmes was great at the end of the 70's and start of the 80's.

Now Tyson was a Great fighter but he wasn't near what Foreman was....he KO'd people but not like Foreman.

Foreman would have thumped Tyson within 3 rounds. I do think a prime Tyson has become underrated because of the freak show he became after he got out of prison, and I think there are some all-time greats he would have beaten. But his style was tailored made for Foreman. It was slick guys like Ali and Young who gave George problems. A short, inside pressure fighter will get thumped by a prime Foreman 10 times out of 10.

bravo, have a cool click