Mike Tyson wishes he'd fought George Foreman. The former undisputed heavyweight champion recently told The Ring Magazine he regrets not facing the legendary big puncher during his career.
Tyson, now 58, started boxing professionally in March 1985. He quickly made a name for himself, becoming the youngest world heavyweight champion in history when he knocked out Trevor Berbick in the second round to win the WBC title in 1986.
'Iron Mike' went on to unify the heavyweight division, holding all the belts from 1987 to 1990. He beat some of the best in the business, including Larry Holmes, Frank Bruno, and Michael Spinks.
But Tyson's reign came to a shocking end in 1990. James 'Buster' Douglas knocked him out in the 10th round at the Tokyo Dome in Japan, pulling off one of boxing's biggest upsets.
Even with all his success, Tyson feels he missed out on a big opportunity. He told The Ring:
"I would have liked to fight George Foreman. There have been many fans who wondered who was the bigger puncher. I would have liked to put an end to the discussion – one way or the other."
Foreman had his own impressive comeback story. He returned to boxing in 1987 after a 10-year break. In 1994, at 45 years old, he knocked out Michael Moorer to win the WBA and IBF heavyweight titles. This made him the oldest world heavyweight champion in boxing history.
A fight between Tyson and Foreman almost happened in the late 1990s. The two camps got close to an agreement, but for some reason, it never materialized.
Tyson's admission shows that even the biggest names in boxing can have regrets about fights that didn't happen. It leaves fans wondering what might have been if these two heavy hitters had met in the ring.
