MIKE TYSON might have been the Baddest Man on The Planet – but even he knew his limits.
According to promoter Don King’s former matchmaker Bobby Goodman, Tyson was afraid to fight George Foreman.
Mike Tyson was said to be scared of fighting George Foreman[/caption]
A 2005 article from Boxing Scene quotes Goodman as saying: “Georgie, you’ll never believe this but, f***ing Tyson is scared s***less of Foreman and wants no part of him.
“I was there when Don was trying to make the fight.
“He was telling Tyson that Foreman represented huge money, plus he was old and slow and would be no problem.
“Tyson got up and screamed at King saying, ‘I’m not fighting that f***ing animal, if you love the motherf***er so much, you fight him!’”
Foreman initially retired in 1977 but he returned after a ten-year hiatus from the ring at the age of 38.
By that time, Tyson had become the youngest heavyweight champion of all time at just 20 years old.
In 1990, controversial promoter King tried to pit the pair together by having them fight on the same card.
Tyson knocked out Henry Tillman while Foreman beat Adilson Rodrigues – but talks collapsed quickly soon after.
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS
Iron Mike was later sent to prison in 1992 for a rape conviction – serving three years in jail.
Meanwhile, Foreman became the oldest heavyweight champ of all time at 45 when he knocked out Michael Moorer in 1994 while Tyson was behind bars.
Tyson returned by 1995 – becoming champion that year – he retired in 2005 following two dismal defeats.
Foreman was also retired by 1997 and ironically admitted he too did not want to fight Tyson either.
He once told ESPN: “That guy was a nightmare in the ring. I didn’t want anything to do with that guy.
“I didn’t want a part of Mike Tyson. He was a monster. If he missed you with his left, then missed you with his right, he’d bite you.
“Those are the kind of guys you see in a nightmare. You want to wake up and say, ‘so glad that’s a dream’.
“I didn’t want any part of Mike Tyson – no way.”
After boxing, Foreman launched a successful line of cooking grills.
And Tyson returned for a controversial fight last November against YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, 28, losing on points.
Foreman was boxing’s oldest heavyweight champ at 45[/caption]
Jake Paul beat Mike Tyson on points[/caption]
