Muhammad Ali once admitted he couldn't beat Mike Tyson in his prime. The late-great former undisputed heavyweight champion, who many regard as the greatest fighter in boxing history, shared his thoughts on facing "Iron Mike" in a hypothetical matchup.
Ali's career started with an impressive 31-fight unbeaten streak. He notched up victories against the likes of Sonny Liston, Floyd Patterson, and Ernie Terrell. But when asked about Tyson, Ali showed a different side.
In an interview, Ali said:
"I'm scared of him. He's a real champ. [Tyson would have won], I was a dancing master. You are that powerful and so fast, if he hit me [I would fall to the canvas]."
Ali's honesty about Tyson contrasts with his prediction for a fight between George Foreman and Tyson. In a 1990 interview with the Seattle Times, Ali boldly stated:
"George Foreman will knock out Mike Tyson. He will annihilate him. Foreman will knock Tyson out in four or five rounds. Foreman is taller, has more reach and Tyson comes right in. Foreman will use his reach and wait for Tyson to come right in. Then, Foreman will tag him. The longer it goes, the more chances Foreman will have to tag him."
Plans for a Foreman-Tyson fight in 1990 didn't materialize. However, Foreman did make history four years later. At 46 years and 299 days old, he became the oldest world heavyweight champion by defeating Michael Moorer for the WBA and IBF titles. This remarkable achievement cemented Foreman's legacy in the sport.
Ali's comments on these hypothetical matchups show his respect for both Tyson and Foreman. They also highlight the ongoing fascination with comparing heavyweight legends across different eras of boxing.
