What strategy do you think Tyson would have implemented with Foreman?

[Scott9945]

How come? Is it because he didn't have a good experience dealing with him for his fight with Ali?

George was with King for much more than the Ali fight. So he knew how he did business. Apparently George had strong feelings about how his comeback would be managed/promoted, and he wanted nothing to do with King. And Foreman is known for being stubborn and inflexible.

You might compare it to how for years Mayweather said he wouldn't fight Pacquiao if Arum was his promoter. Of course eventually he got past that and everyone made a ridiculous amount of money.

[Mintcar923]

I'm not sure if I'm in the minority but I think old George would be more difficult for Mike than 70's George.. Being he had developed an awesome jab which he didn't previously have.. And, the added bulk may have worked to his advantage if it was an inside fight..

[juggernaut666]

I'm not sure if I'm in the minority but I think old George would be more difficult for Mike than 70's George.. Being he had developed an awesome jab which he didn't previously have.. And, the added bulk may have worked to his advantage if it was an inside fight..

You are exactly right...foreman at 250 plus was smarter/stronger and had stamina...what did young foreman have?Slight speed ,slightly faster...which matters little,as timed punches will beat faster ones....foreman in the 70's wouldnt last long at all with the real big George!

[Kilrain]

Tyson had problems, not terminal problems....but problems, with big strong opposition. Witness Bone crusher smith, Razor Ruddock for example. Thats just a stylistic problem. For example, when Mike fought an aged Holmes, he could chase Holmes around and not worry about being overcome by an overly physical opponent, or a big punch. In a sense Holmes was always on defense.

Mike likes this scenerio where he is the snake and the other guy the mouse. not that this scenerio always plays to the aggressor.... Tunney was the mouse to Dempsey but became the mongoose! But as a preference Mike always liked to set up his opponent to having to react to him and the threat of a big punch.

Foreman could not really be broken down and in reality Mike never was one for systematically breaking down an opponent, so much as working to set up a big punch at all times. And that is what he would attempt to do...try to catch George like he did Ruddock. Of course Razor Rudock was no George Foreman and one could also say that Sonny Liston, who taught Foreman much...was a lot more careful defensively and circumspect than big George! So Mike has a chance to nail Foreman....but its a bad match up for Tyson, very bad indeed. George can use his reach and power better than the big guys who gave Mike problems.

But at his best I wouldn't count Tyson, or Dempsey for that matter out for sure against any heavyweight...both guys knew how to use offense as a defense and could end a fight quickly if the opponent made any mistakes!

Great post.

As far as fantasy match ups go, this is one of my favourites. Foreman is a big imposing HW and Tyson sometimes struggled with those guys. I could see Foreman bullying Mike if he weathered the early onslaught. Look at the way Foreman pushed Frazier and Norton around, bringing them on to thunderous hooks. I can't see him doing that to a fresh Mike in rd 1 and 2 - Mike could be the one dishing out the punishment - but I could see him doing it in the middle rounds. Then again, George was very cumbrous, slow on his feet and mechanical with little head or upper body movement, while Tyson had very fast hands, great head movement and quick foot speed. So I can see Tyson bobbing and weaving, getting inside and unleashing combos. Foreman is pretty good at tying you up though..... man, what a fight this would be. The HW version of Hagler-Hearns. If pushed I'd probably lean slightly towards Tyson but it's a tough one.

[Kilrain]

Tyson had problems, not terminal problems....but problems, with big strong opposition. Witness Bone crusher smith, Razor Ruddock for example. Thats just a stylistic problem. For example, when Mike fought an aged Holmes, he could chase Holmes around and not worry about being overcome by an overly physical opponent, or a big punch. In a sense Holmes was always on defense.

Mike likes this scenerio where he is the snake and the other guy the mouse. not that this scenerio always plays to the aggressor.... Tunney was the mouse to Dempsey but became the mongoose! But as a preference Mike always liked to set up his opponent to having to react to him and the threat of a big punch.

Foreman could not really be broken down and in reality Mike never was one for systematically breaking down an opponent, so much as working to set up a big punch at all times. And that is what he would attempt to do...try to catch George like he did Ruddock. Of course Razor Rudock was no George Foreman and one could also say that Sonny Liston, who taught Foreman much...was a lot more careful defensively and circumspect than big George! So Mike has a chance to nail Foreman....but its a bad match up for Tyson, very bad indeed. George can use his reach and power better than the big guys who gave Mike problems.

But at his best I wouldn't count Tyson, or Dempsey for that matter out for sure against any heavyweight...both guys knew how to use offense as a defense and could end a fight quickly if the opponent made any mistakes!

Ruddock does everything better than Foreman outside of a jab ,better footwork ,speed and one punch k.o ability .....Foreman had the better chin ,that doesn't make him the better fighter.Had they fought Ruddock would be favored to win.

You really think Ruddock hits harder than Foreman did? I disagree, although Razor certainly could ****.

[juggernaut666]

You really think Ruddock hits harder than Foreman did? I disagree, although Razor certainly could ****.

Ruddock had more snap...foreman had heavier hands but very few one shot k.os...punch for punch I would rather have Ruddocks ability...Foreman basically pummeled you,round after round,he would also tire out his opponents by pushing and leaning on them......Ruddock knocked down Morrison ...foreman who out punched Morrison for the first 3 rounds was unable to do so.thats all the comparison we really have to go on besides film which I see Ruddock having the whip lash effect and foreman having the thudding one..Morrison was knocked down /out before however we all know he doesn't look past these two guys..if we are going by better puncher its definatly Ruddock...more speed and accuracy as well.Ruddocks power is why no one but Tyson sighned to fight him,while in his peak in 91.Slim Robinson worked with many fighters including being a sparring partner for liston and has stated Ruddock was the most powerful Hw hes ever worked with.not top mention Holmes fired this guy for hitting to hard as a sparring partner.....Ruddock can ****! and is a testament to Tysons chin...Ali and company never had to take punches from a 6'3 235 pounder like him....Tyson did ,and would have taken Foremans as well.

[billeau2]

You really think Ruddock hits harder than Foreman did? I disagree, although Razor certainly could ****.

Even if Ruddock did hit harder (he didn't) he was a one armed figher. He is better than most people give him credit for these days but not on the level of foreman. Tyson partially won that fight because he could stay away from Ruddock's weapon hand when he wasn't attacking. What got Tyson in trouble was not Ruddock's power so much as his tenacity. Its actually one of the few things Juggy gets right....namely Ruddock's size and weight behind his shots started to really get to Mike.

[Scott9945]

Even if Ruddock did hit harder (he didn't) he was a one armed figher. He is better than most people give him credit for these days but not on the level of foreman. Tyson partially won that fight because he could stay away from Ruddock's weapon hand when he wasn't attacking. What got Tyson in trouble was not Ruddock's power so much as his tenacity. Its actually one of the few things Juggy gets right....namely Ruddock's size and weight behind his shots started to really get to Mike.

Foreman was much more dangerous than Ruddock was. Can anyone imagine Ruddock walking through a prime Ken Norton like that? It's a lot more impressive than a KO over a faded Michael Dokes.

[Anthony342]

Whose that in your pic with Andre The Giant? I might have a guess, but don't want to say.

[juggernaut666]

Even if Ruddock did hit harder (he didn't) he was a one armed figher. He is better than most people give him credit for these days but not on the level of foreman. Tyson partially won that fight because he could stay away from Ruddock's weapon hand when he wasn't attacking. What got Tyson in trouble was not Ruddock's power so much as his tenacity. Its actually one of the few things Juggy gets right....namely Ruddock's size and weight behind his shots started to really get to Mike.

Ruddock had a left hook ,and right upper cut ,,Foreman had a jab and clubbing right,they were both two handed fighters ......funny everyone baeses Ruddock one hande because Tyson made him into one.