Muhammad Ali Named 1 Heavyweight That Would Have ‘Annihilated’ Prime Mike Tyson

 

Muhammad Ali training

 

Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson would make the Mount Rushmore of most boxers and boxing fans, especially when it comes to the heavyweight division.

The two heavyweight stalwarts ruled their weight division, with Ali’s dominant chapter concluding just a few years before Tyson burst onto the scene in 1985. Ali revolutionised what it meant to be a heavyweight, bringing an unseen athleticism to the ring during his rule in the 1960s and 1970s.

Tyson, who debuted just four years after Ali retired in 1981, became the youngest world heavyweight champion in 1986, at just the age of 20. With their respective eras coming almost back-to-back, it has naturally led to ceaseless debates about who would beat who in a fight between Ali and Tyson in their prime.

 

Boxing, as well as other combat sports, is known for its popularisation of trash-talking and confident, often arrogant, personas. The promotional tactics and psychological warfare of many boxers led to many intense, longstanding feuds, and this is especially prevalent in the top tiers of the sport. These rivalries sometimes exceed generations and eras too. Given the perceived bravado of Ali and Tyson, it would be no surprise if they consistently disagreed over who would beat who. But actually, it’s quite the opposite.

Muhammad Ali & Mike Tyson’s professional boxing records

Muhammad Ali
Mike Tyson

Fights
61
59

Wins
56
50

Losses
5
7

No contests
0
2

Muhammad Ali Backed Mike Tyson Against Himself

Ali honestly claimed that Iron Mike would’ve won a superfight between the pair

Ali and Tyson developed a close friendship over the years, appearing on talk shows and at various boxing events together. Appearing on The Arsenio Hall Show with Tyson and Sugar Ray Leonard, Ali was confident that Tyson would’ve beaten him in a fight.

“I’m scared of him. He is a real champ,” admitted Ali. “I was a dancing master. I wasn’t that powerful, but I was so fast.” Ali then went on to comment about Tyson’s considerable power. He also suggested that if Tyson had caught him with a clean punch, the fight would’ve been over very quickly.

For many, Ali’s admission might be enough to settle the GOAT debate. However, The Greatest threw another spanner in the works by naming the one fighter that could go toe-to-toe with a prime Tyson, and even knock him out.

Muhammad Ali Revealing Heavyweight Who Would Have Beaten Mike Tyson

He didn’t back himself, but he backed a fellow heavyweight

In an interview with The Seattle Times in 1990, Ali claimed that George Foreman was more than capable of downing Tyson.

“George Foreman will knock out Mike Tyson. He will annihilate him. Foreman will knock Tyson out in four or five rounds. Foreman is taller, has more reach and Tyson comes right in. Foreman will use his reach and wait for Tyson to come right in. Then, Foreman will tag him.”

George Foreman

At the time of the interview, Foreman was deep into his impressive comeback, having initially retired in 1977. He was on a 21-fight winning streak since making his return to the ring in 1987, and his remarkable return set negotiations in motion for a superfight with Tyson, but sadly the fight never came to fruition.

Foreman lost his 100% record at the hands of Ali in the famous ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ in 1974. KO’d in the eighth round, it brought an end to his 40-fight winning streak and made Ali heavyweight champion for the second time.