George Foreman has shared a surprising revelation about Muhammad Ali's advice during Foreman's comeback in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The former heavyweight champion said Ali warned him not to fight Mike Tyson due to Tyson's exceptional punching power.
Foreman and Ali have a long history in boxing. They faced each other in the famous "Rumble in the Jungle" in 1974, where Ali pulled off a huge upset victory. Ali used his 'rope-a-dope' tactic to tire out Foreman and won by knockout in the eighth round.
After initially retiring in 1977, Foreman made a comeback in 1987 at the age of 38. His goal was to win back the heavyweight title. During this period, he faced notable opponents like Evander Holyfield and Gerry Cooney. Foreman's perseverance paid off in 1994 when he defeated Michael Moorer to become the oldest heavyweight champion at 45 years and 299 days.
In a recent interview with TMZ Sports, Foreman revealed Ali's warning about facing Tyson. He recounted Ali's words:
"George, that Mike Tyson can hit."
Ali repeated the warning more emphatically:
"George, Mike Tyson hits so hard."
Foreman interpreted Ali's concern as brotherly advice, saying, "It was a caution like my big brother." He added that Ali's message was clear: "Don't do that George."
Taking Ali's warning to heart, Foreman decided against fighting Tyson. He respected Ali's assessment of Tyson's punching power and chose not to put himself in harm's way.
Tyson's power has remained legendary throughout his career. He recently made a return to the ring in 2023, facing Jake Paul in his first professional fight in 20 years. Despite losing on the scorecards, Tyson's reputation as one of boxing's hardest hitters remains intact.
Foreman's decision to heed Ali's advice shows the respect and camaraderie that existed between these boxing legends, even years after their own historic bout.
