He’d Stop Him In Four Rounds

Muhammad Ali believes there was just one fighter that would gotten the better of ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson.

Best known as ‘The Greatest’, Ali often receives recognition for being one of, if not the greatest fighter to have ever laced up the gloves. He turned professional shortly after he captured an Olympic Gold Medal in 1960 and would go on to capture the world heavyweight championship on three occasions.

Perhaps the most famous victory of his entire career came against ‘Big’ George Foreman in ‘The Rumble In The Jungle’, one of the most significant moments in the history of the sport. Ali stopped Foreman in the eighth round of their battle to capture the world heavyweight championship for the second time.

Ali and ‘Big’ George went on to become very good friends in the later stages of their respective careers, and remained close right up until the tragic death of ‘The Greatest’ back in 2016. Foreman passed way in March 2025.

Speaking to the Seattle Times, Ali revealed Foreman as the one fighter who he feels would have ‘annihilated’ Tyson if they had ever fought, backing his former foe to make light work of the youngest heavyweight champion ever.

“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. The longer it goes, the more chances Foreman will have to tag him.”

‘Big’ George and Tyson never ended up crossing paths, although it was reported that they came extremely close to facing each other during the 90’s. Foreman pulled off an incredible upset in 1994 when he defeated Michael Moorer via tenth round stoppage to claim the WBA and IBF heavyweight titles, becoming the oldest world heavyweight champion in boxing history at the same time.