Punching Power Debate : Mike Tyson v.s George Foreman

[StarshipTrooper]

No way Tyson punched harder than Foreman. Truth is though, Shavers hit harder than both of them.

Poet

[Brassangel]

This isn't asking about the hardest hitter in history, though. It's only asking the greater of the two.

Tyson's punches probably stunned a lot more people, because they were lightning fast, came from awkward angles, and were usually followed by many others. Foreman probably had more pure power, but Tyson's torso technique and spring-action gives him more snap.

George Foreman weighed in at 217 1/2 pounds for his fight with Joe Frazier, arguably one of his most powerful performances.

Mike Tyson weighed 218 pounds against Michael Spinks, a performance which some consider to be a night where nobody could have stopped Mike.

It's not that Foreman has lots of size on Mike, and height and reach don't necessarily translate into power. Plus, Mike's leverage comes from mid-to-short range, where George has to get those arms extended.

Mike fought a lot of taller guys, which takes something off of the punches. Tyson also was thrown into the title hunt much sooner, and was therefore fighting heartier fighters earlier than was Foreman.

It's tough to call. I did vote for Foreman, but a good case could be made either way.

[BKM-]

Tyson had the edge in speed, skill and accuracy, plus every punch he threw was effective wether it was an uppercut, left hook or right cross. Foreman probably had more natural power and he has longer arms, but he would punch himself out many times because he was missing too much, and was too much of a "natural puncher". A slugger, compared to the more skilled Tyson who would set up unbelievable combinations.

[DELETED ACCOUNT 06]

Some of you boys know Tyson alot better than me.. i know him well..but some of you boys followed his career like a hawk.

My humble opinion is...that Foreman and Tyson had the same awesome power than could knock any living thing out with one stike.

But Tyson had the higher fitness rate and was faster and technically skilled.

[ForemanCrossArm]

big george = more power
iron mike = more potent

[Brassangel]

That's a good way of seeing it, ForemanCrossArm. I think many of us agree that it was "different" power. One guy had big, scything swats, while the other fired fast, explosive punches in combination.

[phallus]

big george = more power
iron mike = more potent

tython was much more accurate with his punches than foreman, and threw combinations. big george would load up and throw one big shot at a time. i'd say foreman had more raw power, tython's power came more from skill

[Underboss]

This isn't asking about the hardest hitter in history, though. It's only asking the greater of the two.

Tyson's punches probably stunned a lot more people, because they were lightning fast, came from awkward angles, and were usually followed by many others. Foreman probably had more pure power, but Tyson's torso technique and spring-action gives him more snap.

George Foreman weighed in at 217 1/2 pounds for his fight with Joe Frazier, arguably one of his most powerful performances.

Mike Tyson weighed 218 pounds against Michael Spinks, a performance which some consider to be a night where nobody could have stopped Mike.

It's not that Foreman has lots of size on Mike, and height and reach don't necessarily translate into power. Plus, Mike's leverage comes from mid-to-short range, where George has to get those arms extended.

Mike fought a lot of taller guys, which takes something off of the punches. Tyson also was thrown into the title hunt much sooner, and was therefore fighting heartier fighters earlier than was Foreman.

It's tough to call. I did vote for Foreman, but a good case could be made either way.

in a interview they did to spinks's manager, he went to tyson's locker room to check on tyson and he saw mike punching holes in the wall before going to the ring and finish the fight in the first round. it was incredible.

[Verstyle]

in a interview they did to spinks's manager, he went to tyson's locker room to check on tyson and he saw mike punching holes in the wall before going to the ring and finish the fight in the first round. it was incredible.

I saw the pic of the wall awhile back.Pretty big hole.

[Underboss]

I saw the pic of the wall awhile back.Pretty big hole.

there's even a picture of it? wow.