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.