Mike Tyson, the fast and ferocious boxer who seemed untouchable in his prime, reportedly had a hidden fear. The man who stormed through 37 fights undefeated and became the youngest heavyweight champion in history was allegedly afraid of facing George Foreman.
This surprising revelation comes from Hall of Fame matchmaker Bobby Goodman, who worked with promoter Don King for over 20 years. Goodman claims Tyson was "scared sh**less" of Foreman, a statement that challenges the self-belief Tyson was known for.
The story goes that Don King tried to set up a fight between Tyson and Foreman. King argued that Foreman, who was older and slower, would be an easy opponent and represented a huge payday. But Tyson's reaction was unexpected.
Tyson got up and screamed at King, "I'm not fighting that f***ng animal, if you love the m******er so much, you fight him!"
This outburst paints a different picture of the usually confident Tyson. It's worth noting that Foreman had retired in 1977 but made a comeback in 1987 with the goal of becoming champion again. He achieved this goal in 1994, beating Michael Moorer to become the oldest heavyweight champion in history.
Tyson's career took a different path. He turned pro in 1985 and dominated until 1990 when Buster Douglas shocked the world by defeating him. This loss changed the dynamics of a potential Foreman-Tyson matchup.
The fight fans wanted never happened. Tyson's alleged fear, the timing of their careers, and Tyson's loss to Douglas all played a part in this missed opportunity.
Later in life, Tyson expressed regret about not facing Foreman. He wanted to find out who had the bigger punch. This admission adds a bittersweet note to what could have been one of boxing's most thrilling matchups.
