George Foreman Circa 1973 Versus Mike Tyson Circa 1986

I think that the 1986 version of Mike Tyson had more speed but equal power than that of a plodding free swinging 1973 edition of George Foreman, who smothered his opponents with an avalanche of blows, often clubbing them to the canvas. But it was Tyson who had a better defense than Foreman. Foreman of 1973 had yet to touch the canvas as this was the pre Zaire version who was full of confidence and scowling conceit. Tyson is not a 1973 Joe Frazier, who was still suffering the after affects of his epic March 8 1971 match against challenger Muhammad Ali, this version of Tyson was a sharp punching peek a boo fighting champion with a killer instinct with an all star corner consisting of trainer Kevin Rooney, a desciple of legendary Cud D Amato while Foreman was trained by legendary champion Archie Moore and D. Saddler. This fight early on appears to be a chess match of will as both land punches at a very high rate, Foreman shoving Mike away when he attempts to close in on George. After a few shaking rounds by Mike, he sees an opening to land his right hand to the exposed jaw of Foreman, who connects to the jaw of Tyson, who staggers backwards, backing off at the urging of Rooney. Foreman's defense consists of an active offense as he continues to land on the arms of a bobbing Tyson for 6 rounds until an exhausted runs into a Tyson right hand which spills him to the canvas ala Ron Lyle in Jan 1976, only this time Foreman does not recover to keep a menacing Tyson off of him, the referee rescues an exhausted George Foreman in round 7. Did you hear that Sangria?

 

Mike was just a bit short of his peak in 86, but I think either way he doesn't make it out of the 3rd (and I'm being generous because I'm a big Mike fan). George would take a few ugly shots, but he would do what he was great at, namely running shorter swarmers into his big punches, landing that cement block jab and using both that and pushing techniques to keep them from getting set.

Prime Mike would have harmed George worse and made a definite impression (might have even knocked him down). But either way I just can't see Mike healthily absorbing that right uppercut. I don't see him coming back from it.

Just me, I adore both fighters.

 

Foreman KO round 5. Terrible matchup for Mike.

 

'73 Foreman blocked punches with his face and will be open to several vicious Tyson combinations. '73 Foreman didn't have the chin his older and more matured version did so I see Foreman struggling big time with Mike's power. Tyson will get tagged for sure, but we know Mike could take a punch very well (though an argument could be made that in '86 he was quite untested).

I see Tyson winning this via mid-round TKO in an action-packed war.

 

Foreman could take a punch a lot better than Mike. And he hit a lot harder than anybody Mike fought.

It's a good fight for as long as it lasts but stylistically it suits Foreman more than it does Tyson.

 

I disagree immensely. Young Foreman was reeled and rocked by nearly every clean punch Lyle landed. Tyson ate Ruddock's left hook/uppercut (the one that rendered Michael Dokes and Bonecrusher Smith unconscious) like grapes. Tyson had a great chin. Foreman's chin developed hugely during his comeback where he was seemingly undroppable, but during his younger years it wasn't nearly as good, in my opinion.

 

We'll have to agree to disagree.

Tyson didn't have a great chin at all (it was a very good chin but far from great) and in 1986 it was untested so it's hard to judge how he would have gone before he was cracked by Douglas, Lewis, Holyfield and later on by a couple of absolute bums.

I am not exactly sure what you are saying about Foreman's chin is accurate either. It's one thing to be "reeled and rocked" by one of the biggest punchers the game has seen but the fact still remains that Foreman has exactly one KO loss on his record and that was against Ali and that was more because of exhaustion than anything else.

Objectively both young Foreman and old Foreman have better chins than Tyson.

 

Foreman inside 5 rounds

 

Tyson UD

 

This is completely untrue and makes me question whether you've actually seen the fight. Their were actually clean punches Lyle landed after the initial knockdown that didn't even slow down Foreman's recuperation, let alone impede him further. Aside from that, Foreman was very clearly rusty, not having fought in a year and a half.

Both 70s Foreman and Tyson had ATG chins imo.

 

I'll take your word for it. I have seen the fight but it's been a while -- not my favorite fight as it's just crude and rugged slugging. Would you agree though that Tyson took Ruddock's bombs (which are arguably as hard if not harder than Lyle's punches) better than Foreman took Lyle's?

 

Perhaps but again Foreman was rusty, and trying to fight a style against his instincts, which ultimately made him far less effective. I don't think Foreman would've have nearly as much trouble 2-3 years prior.

Yes, I don't like that fight either to much, as both men's jabs, and defensive abilities just straight up went out the window. Didn't have much skill. I remember in the first round or so, Lyle threw a wild punch which Foreman easily slipped, and Lyle's head hit the turnbuckle. If someone like Wilder, did that we'd never hear the end of it today.

Both Liston and Williams in their brief fights displayed much more skill, and defense, than Lyle-Foreman imo. I enjoy those fights far more, but have to stop before the knock outs. To hard for me to watch as a Williams fan.

 

Mike loses with no hope of winning. The 86 version was good, but his limit was Tillis in most regards which spells bad news against Foreman who is on a tier above. Foreman is fast enough in 73 that he would definitely catch Mike with some big uppercuts and easily outmuscle him in the clinch.

I think Mike would wallop him with some good shots, but ultimately he has nothing to put Foreman down or discourage him. There's also a clip where he admits he can't match the kind of power someone of Foremans mass can generate so thats telling right there how he thinks about Foremans power compared to his own.

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