Mike Tyson, widely regarded as one of the most ferocious boxers in history, was once the undisputed heavyweight champion in the late 1980s.
Known as the “Baddest Man on the Planet,” Tyson’s rise in the boxing world was nothing short of meteoric.
With his brutal knockout power and explosive speed, Tyson quickly became a force to be reckoned with.
Tyson’s Dominance in the Ring
During his prime, Tyson’s aggressive fighting style made him a feared opponent.
His first 19 professional fights were all victories by knockout, with 12 of them coming in the very first round.
At just 20 years old, he became the youngest boxer ever to claim the heavyweight title by defeating Trevor Berbick for the WBC belt.
Tyson seemed to fear no man in the ring, his reputation as a knockout artist solidifying his place as the most dangerous heavyweight of his era.
A Shocking Claim of Fear
However, a former associate of Tyson has now made a surprising claim: Tyson was reportedly terrified to face one of the greatest heavyweights of all time, George Foreman.
Bobby Goodman, who worked as Don King’s matchmaker, claimed that Tyson was so afraid of Foreman that he refused to entertain the idea of a fight with the boxing legend.
According to Goodman, Don King tried to persuade Tyson to face Foreman, arguing that it would be a lucrative match, with the aging Foreman being slow and easy to defeat.
But Tyson wasn’t convinced. In fact, he allegedly shouted at King, saying, “I’m not fighting that fing animal. If you love the motherf** so much, you fight him!”
George Foreman’s Unexpected Return
Foreman, who had retired from boxing after a loss to Jimmy Young in the 1970s, made a surprising comeback in 1987 at the age of 38.
Tyson, at the height of his career, was the most dominant figure in the sport at the time.
Foreman, having spent years focusing on religion and away from the sport, had no initial plans to fight Tyson.
However, by 1990, serious discussions about a potential match between the two were underway.
The Fight That Never Happened
Sadly, this dream match never materialized. Tyson’s conviction for rape in 1992, which led to a six-year prison sentence, derailed any chance of facing Foreman.
By the time Tyson was released from prison in 1995, Foreman had retired again, this time for good.
The much-anticipated clash between the two heavyweight legends was not meant to be.
Tyson’s Regret Over Missing Foreman Fight
Despite the claims made by Goodman years ago, Tyson has previously expressed regret over never facing George Foreman.
In an interview with The Ring last year, Tyson admitted that he would have loved the opportunity to fight Foreman, citing that fans often debated who was the bigger puncher.
Tyson expressed his desire to put that discussion to rest once and for all, stating, “I would have liked to fight George Foreman.”
Although Tyson’s career has been filled with triumphs and controversies, the chance to face Foreman remains one of the biggest “what-ifs” in boxing history.v