GEORGE FOREMAN branded Mike Tyson a “monster” as he revealed why he did not want to step into the ring with his rival.
The two-time heavyweight champion was tipped to fight the Baddest Man on the Planet when he made his comeback in 1987.
But Foreman, 71, has admitted he “didn’t want anything to do” with the hard-hitting American, 54, during his career.
He told ESPN: “That guy was a nightmare in the ring. I didn’t want anything to do with that guy.
“I didn’t want a part of Mike Tyson. He was a monster.
“If he missed you with his left, then missed you with his right, he’d bite you.
“Those are the kind of guys you see in a nightmare.
“You want to wake up and say, ‘So glad that’s a dream.’
“I didn’t want any part of Mike Tyson – no way.”
Foreman revealed the feeling was mutual as he admitted Tyson was not keen on fighting him either.
He added: “He was scared and I was glad of that.”
The 71-year-old told On The Ropes boxing: “There were a couple of times, serious negotiations were going on with the Mike Tyson fight.
“Mike Tyson just didn’t want to fight me. Not to say he couldn’t have beaten me.
“I mean, this guy could punch. The bigger they are the harder they’d fall as far as Mike Tyson was concerned.”
Tyson, who offered a zoo keeper £9,000 to fight a silverback gorilla, was crowned the youngest heavyweight world champion in 1986, aged 20.
He claimed the only opponent that could handle his power was little-known heavyweight Jose Ribalta.
The American superstar hung up his gloves with a remarkable record of 50-6 with 44 knockouts.
Foreman, who struggled to get over his Rumble in the Jungle loss to Muhammad Ali, retired with a record of 70-5 with 68 knockouts.
News
Kanye West’s wife Bianca Censori responds to lawsuit claiming she sent porn to Yeezy staff, including minors
Kanye West‘s wife Bianca Censori has denied claims she sent porn to Yeezy staff, including minors. A federal lawsuit filed in California claimed that Censori, 29, sent an employee a link to ‘hardcore’ sexual content after her husband announced the launch of his adult film business,…
Franck Bruno says the ‘best fighter’ he faced is Mike Tyson: ”Mike Tyson had it all, the hunger to win the belts, to fight, to move and determination to take anybody down that crossed him at his peak. He knew the quicker he could get rid of his opponent the less chance he would get caught and he was determined to get rid of his opponents quickly.”
Former heavyweight world champion and British fan-favourite, Frank Bruno, revealed the best fighter that he has ever stepped into the ring with after a forty-five fight career that spanned over fourteen years. Bruno was recognised as one of the division’s…
Iron Mike’s Secret: The Fear That Lurked Behind Boxing’s Most Intimidating Entrance
Mike Tyson is an enigma is every sense of the word. The guy once known as The Baddest Man on the Planet shot to fame after becoming the youngest ever heavyweight champion in history at just 20 years old. With…
Mike Tyson’s five most incredible knockouts revealed including destroying undefeated Michael Spinks in 91 second blitz
MIKE TYSON was so dangerous in the ring that even he is scared of the man he used to be. The American, 54, dominated the world of boxing after he was crowned the youngest heavyweight world champion in 1986, aged…
Mike Tyson believes a normal person can take his punches if they ‘don’t fear death’ and says he was a ‘nervous’ fighter
BOXING legend Mike Tyson has revealed how a “normal person” could take one of his punches if they had no fear of death. Iron Mike was considered one of the most brutal and hardest hitters in the sport after being…
Mike Tyson claims he’s ‘greatest fighter since conception of God’ and claims ‘if I fail, I’m gonna d.i.e’
MIKE TYSON insists he is the greatest boxer “since the conception of God”. The American heavyweight’s blistering speed and power – plus wild lifestyle – could be seen as the work of the devil. But the 54-year-old reckons his talent…
End of content
No more pages to load
