Larry Holmes sees only one winner in a prime Mike Tyson vs George Foreman fight

Mike Tyson vs George Foreman is a battle of the big punchers that never was. Larry Holmes, who was stopped by ‘Iron’ Mike inside four rounds, once weighed in with a clear prediction.

In Foreman’s second coming he almost crossed paths with Tyson, but his ultimate goal was to regain the heavyweight title and Tyson’s shock loss to James ‘Buster’ Douglas in 1990 put him out of those plans.

‘Big’ George would instead — after failing to dethrone Evander Holyfield — beat Michael Moorer to become the division’s oldest champion in history. He would retire for good four fights later, making the Tyson bout firmly a fantasy to be debated for years to come.

In Holmes’ mind there is no debate. Speaking to Sky Sports on the match-up, he backed Foreman to win in double quick time.

“I ain’t knocking Mike Tyson, but no.. George Foreman would win in two seconds, he hit too hard.

Anybody come at George Foreman you got to box like I did, or Ali did, you can’t stay there and take those punches. They take your head off. Bam, bam, it’s like the kitchen sink he’s hitting you with.”

The prime for prime battle is an intriguing one to break down, particularly given Foreman’s granite chin versus the speed and ferocity of the smaller man. Tyson could become vulnerable when dragged deep by the top men in the division, and ‘Big’ George’s patience plus raw power may have been a style match-up that wasn’t suited to the Brooklyn puncher.

The pair had great respect for one another when reminiscing about a potential fight, but Tyson still regrets the clash not taking place, saying he would have liked to have pitted his power against Foreman’s.