Heavyweight icon George Foreman has surprisingly overlooked legendary rival Muhammad Ali when naming the biggest puncher he faced during his career.
Foreman, who was known as ‘Big George’, is widely considered to be one of the greatest heavyweights of all time, winning the world heavyweight championship on two occasions during his tenure.
He captured world honours for the first time back in 1973 when he dethroned WBC and WBA champion Joe Frazier in spectacular fashion, although his reign was brought to an end when he was defeated by Muhammad Ali in ‘The Rumble In The Jungle’ just one year later.
Foreman’s second world title reign began in November 1994 when he produced a record-breaking win over Michael Moorer to become the oldest heavyweight champion ever, a record that remains unbroken to this very day.
Speaking to The Ring Magazine, Foreman shunned Ali when asked to reveal the biggest puncher he crossed paths with, naming none other than world title challenger Ron Lyle.
“This guy hit me so hard that it didn’t even hurt. Joe Frazier caught me with the left hook but he couldn’t hit like Lyle and although Muhammad knocked me down I was exhausted and still got to my feet.
“Lyle was the hardest hitter. The thing about Lyle was he was complete unafraid and challenged me at ring center. Nobody, other than Sonny Liston in sparring, stood and punched it out with me with any success.
“Joe Frazier only tried once and even the great Muhammad Ali couldn’t back up quick enough. Ron Lyle would not back up.”
Foreman got the better of Lyle when their crossed paths back in January 1976, stopping his countryman in the fifth round of their non-title clash at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
Lyle fell short in his only world title challenge in May of 1975 when he suffered an 11th round stoppage defeat to Ali, despite giving a great account of himself against arguably the greatest boxer to have ever lived.
