Heavyweight legend George Foreman gave a shock answer when naming the greatest fighter he ever shared a ring with.
Foreman had an outstanding professional boxing career of his own, winning the world heavyweight championship on several occasions along the way.
The Texas-native locked horns with many of the greatest heavyweights of all time, including the likes of Joe Frazier, Evander Holyfield and the legendary Muhammad Ali, who he faced in ‘The Rumble In The Jungle’ back in 1974.
Perhaps the greatest achievement of Foreman’s career came in November of 1994 when he defeated countryman Michael Moorer to capture the WBA and IBF titles and become the oldest world heavyweight champion of all time at 45-years and 299-days old.
Despite his memorable showdown with Ali, Foreman spoke to The Ring Magazine and credited Ron Lyle with being the best fighter he faced during his career, as he claims his showdown with his fellow countryman was the ‘hardest fight of his life’.
“I have to say Lyle because he gave me the toughest fight of my career. He hit me so hard, knocked me down, got knocked down and picked himself up. That was the hardest fight I ever had in my life.”
“With Muhammad Ali I could do whatever I wanted, but I got tired and he was able to knock me down. If I had been more respectful of Ali I could have coasted at stages in that fight, and preserved energy, but I couldn’t coast with Ron Lyle because he would have killed me.”
Lyle is often regarded as being one of the greatest heavyweights to have never won a version of the world title, challenging unsuccessfully on one occasion when he was defeated by Ali back in 1975.
The Colorado-native was known for his thunderous punching power, producing no less than 31 knockout victories throughout the course of his 24-year professional career.
