Mike Tyson And George Foreman Admit One Heavyweight Would Beat Them Even At Their Best

Foreman first became world heavyweight champion in 1973 when he knocked out then-undefeated Joe Frazier, before going on to have a legendary fight against Muhammad Ali in the ‘Rumble in the Jungle.’

Ali won that by eighth round knockout, with Foreman then initially retiring in 1977. He returned after a ten-year absence, and went on to become world heavyweight champion again when he knocked out Michael Moorer in 1994.

That win saw Foreman become the oldest world heavyweight champion in history at the age of 46 years and 169 days old, before he finally retired in 1997.

Another heavyweight icon during the 90s was Tyson, who had first become world champion in 1986 at the age of 20 years and 145 days old, making him the youngest heavyweight champion ever.

Tyson became undisputed after wins over the likes of Tony Tucker, Larry Holmes and Michael Spinks, before a shock defeat to Buster Douglas in 1990.

‘Iron Mike’ became world champion again when he stopped Frank Bruno in March 1996, but back-to-back defeats to Evander Holyfield, along with a loss to Lennox Lewis a few years later led to Tyson’s career eventually come to an end.

While Foreman and Tyson may have never fought each other, they were both in agreement when it came to naming one man who would have beaten them both in their prime, with Foreman stating that Muhammad Ali would have always defeated him.

“Once in the ring with the great Ali was enough for me. If I’d changed my approach back then he’d [have] another plan. Nothing beats some fighters but time.”

That was a sentiment shared by Tyson, who says there is ‘no way’ that he would have been able to beat the boxing legend.

“There is no man like him, there just isn’t. Everything we have he supersedes us in. He was an animal, he looked more like a model than a boxer.

He’s like a Tyrannosaurus Rex with a pretty face, he’s just mean and evil, he’ll take you to deep waters and drown you. He’s very special. The best. Nobody beats Ali. I can’t beat that man, hell no. No way.”

Before passing away in 2016, Ali made his prediction for who he thinks would have come out on top between Foreman and Tyson.