Mike Tyson, despite being a boxing legend, carries a regret: refusing to fight an opponent he feared. Even though he is one of the most intimidating boxers in history, he felt afraid to face one of his colleagues.
The heavyweight champion became one of the greatest in boxing history. He accumulated 44 knockouts in his 50 victories, leading many analysts and experts to consider him the most dangerous man in the sport. So why was he afraid at that moment? With that record, anyone would think Tyson wasn’t a fearful person.
Two great boxing legends from different eras
Believe it or not, there was someone Mike Tyson feared. In fact, he has regretted never fighting him. This heavyweight faced other top-tier boxers like Larry Holmes, Lennox Lewis, and Evander Holyfield. So, who was missing?
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It was none other than another boxing legend: George Foreman. Tyson himself admitted: “I would have liked to fight George Foreman… Many fans have wondered who the greatest puncher was… I would have liked to settle the debate, one way or another.”
However, one factor made that fight unlikely: the significant age difference between Foreman and Mike Tyson. There was only one real chance for this fight in 1990, when Foreman had won 20 consecutive fights.
In fact, reports confirm that negotiations for a fight between Mike Tyson and Foreman did take place. Don King, the heavyweight champion’s promoter, pushed for it, but it never happened. Apparently, Tyson was afraid.
King explained what happened: “You won’t believe this, but damn Tyson is *********** scared of Foreman and wants nothing to do with him.” Bobby Goodman, King’s former matchmaker, added: “I was there when Don was trying to make the fight… He was telling Tyson that Foreman meant a lot of money, plus he was old and slow, so he wouldn’t be a problem.”
At that moment, “Tyson stood up and yelled at King: ‘I’m not fighting that damn animal! If you love the m********** so much, you fight him!'”**
