Evander Holyfield has picked George Foreman as the hardest hitter he faced in the ring, putting him ahead of Mike Tyson. The former heavyweight champion shared this surprising revelation in a recent chat with Dontaes Boxing Nation.
Mike Tyson, known as "Iron Mike," built a reputation as one of the most ferocious fighters in boxing history. He became the youngest heavyweight champion ever, snatching the WBC, WBA, and IBF titles. Tyson's power was on full display when he knocked out Trevor Berbick in the second round in Las Vegas.
But Tyson's career had its ups and downs. He lost to Holyfield twice, first in 1996 and then in the infamous "bite fight" of 1997. Despite these setbacks, many still considered Tyson the hardest puncher in the sport.
Holyfield, who spent 14 rounds in the ring with Tyson, has a different take. He told Dontaes Boxing Nation:
"The guy that hit me the hardest was George Foreman. He hit me one time in the eleventh round, and I came back to the corner and I said, 'Did he knock all my teeth out?'"
This punch happened during their 1991 bout when Holyfield was the undisputed heavyweight champion. Even though Foreman's punch left a lasting impression, Holyfield won the fight by unanimous decision.
Foreman's power stayed with him throughout his career. In 1994, at 45 years old, he shocked the boxing world by knocking out Michael Moorer in the 10th round in Las Vegas. With that punch, Foreman claimed the WBA and IBF titles, becoming the oldest heavyweight champion ever – a record that still stands today.
Foreman passed away recently, but his legacy as one of boxing's hardest hitters lives on, now confirmed by one of the sport's toughest champions.
