Despite being one of the most destructive men on the planet, it has been claimed that Mike Tyson was scared to fight one fellow heavyweight in his scintillating career.
The former heavyweight champion was typically unfazed by any opponent he faced during his career, often striking fear into them, but there was one man who he simply refused to get into the ring with.
In 1988, Tyson was set to face Michael Spinks, but after Spinks’ manager tried pre-fight tricks to delay the bout, Tyson became incensed and punched a hole in the wall so hard his opponent heard it from his own dressing room. The incident spooked Spinks so much he allegedly refused to leave his room, and when he eventually did, Tyson entered to no music and knocked him out after just 91 seconds.
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However, former boxing promoter Bobby Goodman has claimed that Tyson himself was scared of fighting one man during his career.
The Heavyweight Mike Tyson Refused to Fight
Despite there being talks over a potential bout, Iron Mike wanted none of it
George Foreman was the heavyweight champion twice, in 1973–74 and 1994–95, at the record oldest age of 45, but ultimately never faced Tyson. Big George had classic encounters with Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, but retired in 1977 after losing to Jimmy Young, in what he called ‘an experience with death’, before Tyson debuted in 1985.
When Foreman decided to return in 1987, Iron Mike was at the top of the sport and the Olympic gold medallist wanted to dethrone him. Negotiations for a fight between the two began in 1990 after Foreman went on a 20-fight winning streak, but Goodman stated that Tyson never really wanted the fight.
Goodman, in a 2005 Boxing Scene article, said: “Georgie, you’ll never believe this, but f***** Tyson is scared sh****** of Foreman and wants no part of him.
“I was there when Don [King] 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***** animal, if you love the m******** so much, you fight him!'”
After the negotiations fell apart, Tyson was arrested and sent to prison after being convicted of rape.
By the time The Baddest Man on the Planet was released from prison, Foreman had retired for good, after becoming heavyweight champion for the second time, beating Michael Moorer in 1994.
George Foreman Wanted None of Mike Tyson Either
Foreman once also admitted he didn’t want the fight
However, Big George shared Tyson’s feelings as he told ESPN that he didn’t want the fight either.
He said: “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.”
Tyson has, however, since stated that the biggest regret of his career was that he never fought Foreman, and boxing fans will share a similar sentiment.
