Muhammad Ali Said He Couldn’t Beat Mike Tyson But Named The One Heavyweight Who Would Destroy Him

Boxing legend Ali reigned as world heavyweight champion during the 1960s and 1970s, taking part in some of the most iconic fights in the history of the sport before finally retiring at the age of 39 in December 1981.

Less than four years later in March 1985, Tyson then made his professional debut, becoming the youngest world heavyweight champion in history in 1986 at the age of 20, before holding world honours at various points until the mid 1990s.

Tyson and Ali became close friends over the years, and whilst appearing on a talk show together, Ali once revealed that he didn’t think he would have been able to defeat ‘Iron Mike.’

“I’m scared of him. He’s a real champ. [Tyson would have won], I was a dancing master. You are that powerful and so fast, if he hit me [mimics falling over].”

Back in 1990 though, Ali said there was one fighter that would have ‘annihilated’ Tyson, as he told The Seattle Times that George Foreman would have stopped ‘Iron Mike.’

“George Foreman will knock out Mike Tyson. He will annihilate him. Foreman will knock Tyson out in four or five rounds … Foreman is taller, has more reach and Tyson comes right in. Foreman will use his reach and wait for Tyson to come right in. Then, Foreman will tag him. The longer it goes, the more chances Foreman will have to tag him.”

Ali fought Foreman in the legendary ‘Rumble In The Jungle’ in 1974, defeating ‘Big George’ by eighth round knockout to become world heavyweight champion for the second time.

Foreman retired in 1977 but then returned after a decade away from the sport, and was linked to a fight against Tyson in 1990, prompting the comments from Ali.

The fight didn’t materialise for one reason or another, but Foreman would go on to defeat Michael Moorer in November 1994 to become the oldest world heavyweight champion in history.