Mike Tyson, a former heavyweight boxing champion, has honored the late great George Foreman.
“Big George” died over the weekend at the age of 76. After winning a gold medal at the 1968 Summer Olympics, George Foreman became a successful professional. He won his first heavyweight belts in early 1973 by devastatingly knocking out the famous Joe Frazier in three rounds. Foreman would face Muhammad Ali in the “Rumble in the Jungle” in Zaire just two years later.
“The Greatest” defeated George Foreman via knockout in the eighth round of one of the best bouts in boxing history. A few years later, “Big George” gave up fighting professionally after suffering yet another defeat to Jimmy Young. Instead, he took a 10-year hiatus from the sport and was ordained as a preacher. In 1987, he resumed fighting in an attempt to win another world championship. He did just that at the age of 45, defeating Michael Moorer via knockout.
The legendary boxer tragically died on Friday night. Following the news on social media by George Foreman’s family, condolences soon started to pour in. The former champion was honored by several fighters, including UFC heavyweight Derrick Lewis.Taking to X, the legendary Mike Tyson posted a tribute of his own alongside photos of himself and Foreman. ‘Iron Mike’ wrote that the heavyweight’s contributions to life will never be forgotten.
After “Big George” dies at age 76, boxer Mike Tyson honors George Foreman
While Mike Tyson never fought George Foreman in the ring, he respected the heavyweight legend a lot. The respect went both ways as well, with ‘Big George’ publicly admitting that he never wanted to face ‘Iron Mike’. In a 2019 interview with ESPN’s Max Kellerman, Foreman discussed his relationship with Tyson, as well as why the two never faced off.
“I call him Mike ‘Nightmare’ Tyson, that guy was a nightmare in the ring.” George Foreman stated in the interview. “I mean really. If he missed you with his left, then missed you with the right, he’d bite you. I didn’t want to have anything to do with that. I didn’t want him. I could really punch, and of course, I was an expert at punching downward… But Tyson was very smart. Cus D’Amato and Tyson were a smart team, period.”
He continued, “…“I love [Mike] because he’s strictly positive [now]. He’s got nothing to say negative about anything. He’s having fun with life, and that’s what it’s really about anyway. Have some fun, get out. Mike Tyson is a great guy to look at. Look at his life. What a book, when he’s ready to write his own book.”
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