Mike Tyson reveals the one opponent he wished he had fought to prove who was the biggest puncher in boxing

Mike Tyson fought almost every single heavyweight great from his era.

During an illustrious professional career that saw Tyson become the youngest heavyweight champion of all time at 20 years, 4 months, and 22 days old, 'Iron Mike' fought 19 top-10 ranked Ring Magazine heavyweights and beat 16 of them.

Among the long list of upper-echelon fighters he faced are Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis, Michael Spinks and Larry Holmes.

However, one name that didn't make it onto his résumé was 'Big' George Foreman.

“I would have liked to fight George Foreman,” Tyson told The Ring about the fight that got away.

“There have been many fans who wondered who was the bigger puncher.

"I would have liked to put an end to the discussion – one way or the other.”

In 1987, following a 10-year hiatus, Foreman shocked the boxing world by announcing his return to the ring at the age of 38.

In his autobiography, he wrote that his primary motivation for coming back was to raise money to fund the youth centre he had erected in Houston, Texas.

Another stated ambition was to fight Tyson, who Foreman felt he could beat even at his advanced age.

In 1990, there were serious talks about Tyson vs Foreman after 'Big George' strung together a 20-fight winning streak on his comeback trail.

ESPN Sportscenter devoted multiple segments to the fight while Tyson's promoter Don King stuck them both on the same April card in separate bouts in the wake of his client's upset defeat to Buster Douglas.

Tyson knocked out Henry Tillman, who had beaten him twice in the 1984 Olympic trials, while Foreman flattened Adilson Rodrigues.

Despite both men getting their hands raised on the same bill the fight never came to fruition and talks quickly died.

Two years later, Tyson was put behind bars for six years after being convicted of rape in Indiana.

By the time he got out, Foreman had retired for a second time following a legendary final stretch that saw him knockout Michael Moorer at 45 years old to become the oldest heavyweight champion of all time.

King's former matchmaker Bobby Goodman would go on to reportedly claim that the only reason Tyson and Foreman didn't fight was that 'Iron Mike' was 'scared'.

"Georgie, you'll never believe this but, f***** Tyson is scared sh***** of Foreman and wants no part of him," a 2005 article from Boxing Scene quotes Goodman as saying.

"I was there when Don was trying to make the fight.

"He was telling Tyson that Foreman represented huge money, plus he was old and slow and would be no problem.

"Tyson got up and screamed at King saying, 'I'm not fighting that f***** animal, if you love the motherf***** so much, you fight him!'"