Would Tony Tucker have beaten Foreman?

[JAB5239]

Tucker proved he could go 12 rounds with a big puncher (Tyson) and he stood eye to eye with Big George, so it is unlikely Foreman could have bullied him around eg. Frazier.

I'd say he had a good shot of winning a decision but it is Foreman and that means one punch can end it.

He would never have stopped Foreman II, but maybe a decision win was within his grasp.

Losing his title during Tyson's run to the top, made a Tucker fight not worth Foreman's time.

Foreman II fought easy fights and waited for the big money fights to develop. Whether is was to be Tyson, or as it was Holyfield, after Tyson stumbled, Foreman had no cause to bother with any of the top fighters until he was at the very top. A title fight was his to have simply because he was George Foreman.

He handled himself brilliantly. Tough fights, with no title at stake were a waste of Foreman's time.

I don't believe Foreman II ever ducked anyone, but he also understood that he didn't need to prove he deserved a title shot, so he didn't bother.

I believed Foreman II was going to stop Tyson but I never got the chance to 'be right.'

Good logic to this post. But George thought differently about having to defend against Tucker at that point of their respective careers. Was Tucker a real threat at that point? George thought so and gave up the belt instead of fighting him. And would he have made less money against Tucker than little known Schultz?

I wanted to see Tyson-Foreman as well. At the time I though George could pull it off. Today I think Tyson would have been to fast and to hard hitting for George.

[JAB5239]

Wasn't Tucker pretty much done by that point? I would have picked the Tucker who fought Tyson to outpoint any version of comeback Foreman, but the Tucker who got beaten up by a green Lennox Lewis I'm kind of dubious.

I don't think he was washed up, but certainly not the fighter he use to be. And i wouldn't hold the Lewis fight against him considering how Lennox career turned out.

[Bronson66]

Tony Tucker was the WBA's mandatory challenger after Foreman beat Moorer for the title. George ducked Tucker to take on little known at the time Axel Shultz. Most thought Schultz was robbed and Geotge gave up his IBF title rather than rematch him. How would Tucker have done at that time against Big George had he been given the opportunity?

I'd say the prime version of Tucker would have had a good shot at it.I also think Tucker may have beaten Mike Spinks, who ducked him to defend against Cooney in a more lucrative fight. As has been pointed out Tucker was in decline by1994.

[Anomalocaris]

Tucker proved he could go 12 rounds with a big puncher (Tyson) and he stood eye to eye with Big George, so it is unlikely Foreman could have bullied him around eg. Frazier.

I'd say he had a good shot of winning a decision but it is Foreman and that means one punch can end it.

He would never have stopped Foreman II, but maybe a decision win was within his grasp.

Losing his title during Tyson's run to the top, made a Tucker fight not worth Foreman's time.

Foreman II fought easy fights and waited for the big money fights to develop. Whether is was to be Tyson, or as it was Holyfield, after Tyson stumbled, Foreman had no cause to bother with any of the top fighters until he was at the very top. A title fight was his to have simply because he was George Foreman.

He handled himself brilliantly. Tough fights, with no title at stake were a waste of Foreman's time.

I don't believe Foreman II ever ducked anyone, but he also understood that he didn't need to prove he deserved a title shot, so he didn't bother.

I believed Foreman II was going to stop Tyson but I never got the chance to 'be right.'

Spot on.

[Willie Pep 229]

Tucker proved he could go 12 rounds with a big puncher (Tyson) and he stood eye to eye with Big George, so it is unlikely Foreman could have bullied him around eg. Frazier.

I'd say he had a good shot of winning a decision but it is Foreman and that means one punch can end it.

He would never have stopped Foreman II, but maybe a decision win was within his grasp.

Losing his title during Tyson's run to the top, made a Tucker fight not worth Foreman's time.

Foreman II fought easy fights and waited for the big money fights to develop. Whether is was to be Tyson, or as it was Holyfield, after Tyson stumbled, Foreman had no cause to bother with any of the top fighters until he was at the very top. A title fight was his to have simply because he was George Foreman.

He handled himself brilliantly. Tough fights, with no title at stake were a waste of Foreman's time.

I don't believe Foreman II ever ducked anyone, but he also understood that he didn't need to prove he deserved a title shot, so he didn't bother.

I believed Foreman II was going to stop Tyson but I never got the chance to 'be right.'

[Biledriver]

Tony Tucker was the WBA's mandatory challenger after Foreman beat Moorer for the title. George ducked Tucker to take on little known at the time Axel Shultz. Most thought Schultz was robbed and Geotge gave up his IBF title rather than rematch him. How would Tucker have done at that time against Big George had he been given the opportunity?

Wasn't Tucker pretty much done by that point? I would have picked the Tucker who fought Tyson to outpoint any version of comeback Foreman, but the Tucker who got beaten up by a green Lennox Lewis I'm kind of dubious.

[JAB5239]

Tony Tucker was the WBA's mandatory challenger after Foreman beat Moorer for the title. George ducked Tucker to take on little known at the time Axel Shultz. Most thought Schultz was robbed and Geotge gave up his IBF title rather than rematch him. How would Tucker have done at that time against Big George had he been given the opportunity?