George Foreman says Mike Tyson didn't want to fight him because he was scared. The former heavyweight champion shared his thoughts in a recent interview with ESPN.
Tyson made a name for himself as one of boxing's most feared fighters. He became the youngest world heavyweight champion and held the undisputed title from 1987 to 1990. His second-round knockout win over Trevor Berbick for the WBC heavyweight title happened 39 years ago. But Tyson's reign came to a dramatic end when he lost to James 'Buster' Douglas in Japan.
Around that time, fans wondered what would happen if Tyson fought George Foreman. Foreman, known for his powerful punches, later became the oldest ever world heavyweight champion.
In a recent interview with ESPN, Foreman claimed Tyson didn't want to face him in the ring. When asked if Tyson had any interest in fighting him, Foreman said:
"No way. one of us was scared and the other was glad of that. [He was scared and I was glad], amen."
Foreman explained why he thought Tyson avoided the fight:
"I could really punch. And of course I was an expert at punching downward, my manager would hold the bag and he was down there, so I learned to really develop power from punching guys that were down low. He [Tyson] was smart enough to understand that."
Foreman's claim adds an interesting twist to boxing history. While we'll never know what would've happened if these two boxing greats had met in the ring, it's clear that Foreman believes his power would've been too much for Tyson to handle.
