Reasons

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Foreman displayed accuracy and devastating power in

 

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stopping Cooney. It wasn't until after Foreman's destruction

 

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of Cooney that he was taken as a serious title contender.

 

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Before the boxing world had time to digest Foreman's

 

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showing against Cooney, it was dealt an even bigger shock 26 days later.

 

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On February 10 1990, 42-1 underdog James "Buster" Douglas

 

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literally turned the boxing world upside down when he

 

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traveled to Tokyo and knocked out undisputed heavyweight champ Mike Tyson.

 

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Don King promoted Tyson

 

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at the time of his defeat.

 

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After Tyson's loss to Douglas

 

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King wanted to have Tyson fight in a high profile fight

 

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He figured a spectacular knockout win over a name opponent would get

 

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Tyson back on track to being the man in the heavyweight picture again.

 

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King thought he found the perfect opponent in Foreman

 

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who was all over television after beating Cooney

 

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Foreman never passed up an opportunity to take a shot at Tyson and throw out challenges to him while doing the talk show circuit.

 

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In the subsequent months following Foreman's victory over

 

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Cooney and Douglas' upset of Tyson, there was much talk of a Foreman-Tyson fight

 

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It was a potential fight that captured the public's imagination

 

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and not just the boxing public

 

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In fact, there were several reports

 

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that the fight was signed and about to be announced

 

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ESPN Sportscenter devoted numerous segments on the fight

 

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assuming it was going to happen

 

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Shortly thereafter, there was an announcement that Foreman and Tyson were going to fight on the same card.

 

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In late April of 1990, it was announced

 

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that Foreman and Tyson would be fighting a co-main event

 

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on June 16 to be broadcast on HBO

 

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Foreman's opponent was Adilson Rodrigues