George Foreman Gives His Verdict On Facing Mike Tyson In A Best Of Three Series

George Foreman has given his verdict on who would win a best of three series between himself and Mike Tyson.

The duo have gone down as two of the greatest boxers of all time but never squared off in the ring.

'Big George' took part in a Twitter Q&A on Saturday with a fan asking who would come out on top if he squared off with 'Iron Mike' over three fights.

The 71-year-old replied with: I like the question; but remember when I came back; Tyson had not captured his stride; He beat [Larry] Holmes, and off he took; peaking at Buster Douglas. Then sliding as I did after Ali. By this time; a Foreman fight was Taboo. As I was sharp again. It's math. Mike was a spatular."

Tyson became world champion at the age of 20 after defeating Trevor Berbick in 1986 and his trademark brutality was on display.

It's the reason that Foreman, a two time world champion himself, didn't want to challenge 'The Baddest Man on the Planet' when he came out of retirement in 1987.

"That guy was a nightmare in the ring," the boxing legend told ESPN last year.

"If he missed you with his left, then missed you with his right, he'd bite you.

"I didn't want anything to do with that guy.

"He was sacred and I was glad of that.

"I didn't want a part of Mike Tyson."

However, Foreman has also speculated that Tyson was advised to not chase a fight with the Texas native.

He told On The Ropes Boxing:

"There were a couple of times, serious negotiations were going on with the Mike Tyson fight. Mike Tyson just didn't want to fight me. Not to say he couldn't have beaten me.

"I mean, this guy could punch. The bigger they are the harder they'd fall as far as Mike Tyson was concerned. I guess that I have a feeling, his first original trainer and manager, Cus D'Amato, must have told him about George Foreman's punching power as though I would never comeback.

"So sometimes when you come back and a guy remembers those stories, he says to himself, 'Look, leave that guy alone'. But I don't think I would have been that much problems to him. I had a good left jab and I'd always do better when guys come to me, but Tyson was pretty smart with his footwork and hand speed. That would have been a tough fight for me."

Who do you think would win a best of three series between Foreman and Tyson?

Let us know in the comments.

Featured Image Credit: PA Images

Topics: Mike Tyson, Boxing News, Boxing

Daniel Marland

Daniel is a journalist for SPORTbible and he has previous experience with Manchester United. He has spoken to some of the biggest names in sport including Rio Ferdinand, Peter Crouch, WWE COO Triple H and WWE legend The Undertaker. May or may not do a decent impression of Jamie Carragher.

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