Evander Holyfield, the former undisputed cruiserweight and heavyweight champion, has shared his thoughts on the punching power of his past opponents. In a recent chat with Fight Hype, 'The Real Deal' compared the hitting force of two boxing legends.
When asked who hit harder between George Foreman and Mike Tyson, Holyfield didn't hesitate. He told Fight Hype:
"George Foreman. A lot harder, a lot bigger too though."
Holyfield's 57-fight career saw him face off against some of boxing's biggest names. He fought Lennox Lewis, Riddick Bowe, James Toney, Mike Tyson, and George Foreman. His unique experience of becoming the first undisputed champion at both cruiserweight and heavyweight gives weight to his opinion.
The Georgia native's fight with 'Big George' happened back in 1991. Holyfield won by unanimous decision, keeping his WBA, WBC, and IBF heavyweight titles. Despite the loss, Foreman left a lasting impression on Holyfield.
In a separate interview with Ring Magazine, Holyfield praised Foreman's chin as well as his power:
"George Foreman had the best chin. I hit him and I hit him a lot of times, a lot of times, 17 punches one time!"
Holyfield also gave a nod to Lennox Lewis' chin, noting it was great but could be vulnerable when Lewis underestimated his opponents. He pointed to Lewis' losses against Oliver McCall and Hasim Rahman as examples.
At 61, Holyfield's boxing insights are still valued. His achievements in the ring have only recently been matched by Oleksandr Usyk, who also became undisputed at cruiserweight and heavyweight.
Holyfield's comments remind us of the incredible punching power in heavyweight boxing's past. They also show how fighters' reputations can change over time, with Foreman's power seemingly overshadowing Tyson's in Holyfield's memory.
