Tyson vs Ali

[Jdoug312]

Who would win if they both fought in their primes?

Just trying to get a little intelligent boxing discussion going here at the os!

[JerzeyReign]

Re: Tyson vs Ali

If Ali sat on the ropes the whole time and let Tyson dig in those ribs, Tyson would win. If Ali used his reach advantage and speed, he would win easily.

[acts238shaun]

Re: Tyson vs Ali

I take Tyson simply because of one thing - Tyson's left hook. That was Ali's bane and at times he waded right into one. Tyson's was one of the best all time. Ali was knocked down by Henry Cooper - left hook. Same with Sonny Banks and Joe Frazier. Tyson was so fast with his punches, and when he wasn't always trying to KO people is when he Ko'd nearly everyone. When his MO was search and destroy he suffered. The Tyson with Cus and Rooney wins.

Remember, Ken Norton fought a similar style, head movement and hooks, and beat Ali once, and nearly did again.

[Complex]

Re: Tyson vs Ali

In their Prime, Ali. Many remember the **** fights of Ali but lots of those when he was past his prime. Many fighters feared Tyson, Ali would not have. The speed and heart of Ali outweighs the strength of Tyson. Not saying it would be an easy fight, Ali would not be able to take around off.

[boxtrev]

Re: Tyson vs Ali

Are we talking a twelve or fifteen round fight? I think that would make a big difference as one of Tyson's major weaknesses was his stamina (partly because his fights seldom went into the later round). If you look at the two fights Tyson lost while in his prime (Douglas and Holyfield), both fighters were able to defeat Tyson by weathering the early storm and then systematically breaking him down over the course of the fight before putting him away in the late rounds.

I'm not saying Ali wouldn't win a twelve round fight. I think Ali wins in either case, but I think that if it is fifteen rounds, Ali wins hands down. I think if it is twelve rounds, Tyson paces himself better and puts forth a more respectable showing. Either way, Ali's footwork, speed, and stinging left jab are enough to frustrate, annoy, and disillusion Tyson en route to an 8th round TKO when the Baddest Man on the Planet refuses to leave his stool.

Another thing that I think we have to remember is that just like Tyson, Ali often beat fighters before even entering the ring. Yet Ali won the psychological match in a much different way than Tyson. He convinced Liston he was a madman, he called Joe a gorilla, he mocked Foreman. In short, Ali studied his opponents until he discovered where they were mentally weak and then proceeded to tear them down. I imagine that much the same would happen with Tyson and that Ali would have already won the fight before the fight began by toying with Iron Mike.

In a way, I think we already have a version of Ali-Tyson in the form of Ali-Liston. Though they are not carbon copies, Tyson and Liston share a lot of resemblance.

[Jdoug312]

Re: Tyson vs Ali

In a way, I think we already have a version of Ali-Tyson in the form of Ali-Liston. Though they are not carbon copies, Tyson and Liston share a lot of resemblance.

This is VERY true, and does somewhat give a prediction of how the fight could go.

[DeceptiveBlaze]

Re: Tyson vs Ali

you cant really go by their fights because alot of people think it was rigged. Liston owed alot of money to the mob at that time, you should check out his movie with ving rhames. I think if you have tyson in his prime with cus d'amato then i would take tyson but without cus im taking ali

[jmarcguy]

Re: Tyson vs Ali

Tyson was one of the most talented fighters ever! I remember getting Ring Magazine in the 80s & every month the topic came down to who can give Tyson a decent fight. He was that dominate. Most exciting boxer I ever watched. However, he really doesn't have many good wins on his record. The guys he beat in the 80s were all past their prime ex champions. I never saw him win a tough fight. It's alwas tough to count him out because of his talent though. Ali by late stoppage or decision.

[fistofrage]

Re: Tyson vs Ali

I'd take Ali if I had to take a bet, but Tyson could easily win too. No way do I think Tyson gets beat 10 out of 10 times, so if they only fought once, it could easily be Tyson's night.

As far as the technical aspect, if Ali could run from him for the 1st half of the fight, he would pull away but Ali would most likely get cornered. Ali was knocked down 4 times in his career and I believe Tyson had more power than all of them.

I guess the real question here is who do you think would win between Frazier and Tyson and go from there.......

[phillyfan23]

Re: Tyson vs Ali

I don't think ANY fighter beats Ali in his prime.

Like someone said, people remember Ali vs Foreman and Frazier.....that was the seasoned veteran Ali, not his prime. The fights just prior to his jail time....I don't think anyone could beat that Ali. Just by judging at heart, smarts, strategy , accuracy, speed and a small mix and dose of power. He was just so complete.

Also people misjudge Tyson. Tyson vs Douglas , Tyson was at his prime years, but he had no focus and no drive , so that wasn't even CLOSE to the best Tyson. You have to go back to his earlier fights to see the real Tyson , the Tyson that I believe would have dispatched Holyfield and Lennox.

I judge boxers not only who they fought but their overall physical package and abilities. Tyson had a lot of the intangibles also, he had tremendous heart and I will dispute anyone who says otherwise. Tyson probably only realized HALF of his potential too....sad.

But back on topic....if anyone fought Ali 10 times, I don't think I can see any boxer in history winning 3 times against him.

[Po Pimp]

Re: Tyson vs Ali

People mention Ali's speed vs. Tyson's strength, but fail to realize Tyson had speed too! With that said, I think Ali was one of the SMARTEST fighters who ever lived, and for that reason, I'd give him the edge. Not to mention, Tyson was only 5'11 with a short reach whereas Ali stood 6'3" with like an 84 reach.

And while Joe Frazier and Sonny Liston are legends, Tyson was a different animal. You can't look at Ali's fights against them and predict that's how the fight would go.

[Complex]

Re: Tyson vs Ali

Tyson is the definition of boxing power. He had one punch power but even more so punishing power that when he hit you, you always felt it. He wasn't measuring you for distance or setting up a combo. He was going to punish you. Still doesn't change my prediction though.

[jmarcguy]

Re: Tyson vs Ali

Holmes commented when he fought Tyson that it was his speed rather than his power that gave him trouble. He felt Earnie Shavers hit harder. He never hit me so I don't know but I think it was the combination of speed & power that was the key rather than pure power like Foreman. Plus the way he came out of that crouch made his attack really deadly.

I mention this because when his speed faded, his power seemed to also indicating that his quickness was a big factor in his ko's. Foreman was dirt slow but could still hurt guys.

[ChampN252]

Re: Tyson vs Ali

People mention Ali's speed vs. Tyson's strength, but fail to realize Tyson had speed too! With that said, I think Ali was one of the SMARTEST fighters who ever lived, and for that reason, I'd give him the edge. Not to mention, Tyson was only 5'11 with a short reach whereas Ali stood 6'3" with like an 84 reach.

And while Joe Frazier and Sonny Liston are legends, Tyson was a different animal. You can't look at Ali's fights against them and predict that's how the fight would go.

I'm with you. I don't think Ali would win. I feel Tyson was faster when he gets inside and fast enough to keep up with Ali running around. He would be dropping bombs repeatably, faster and probably harder than what foreman could have done. The stamina thing is his killer, but he was incredibly aggressive and savage-like in the ring. Ali would have never seen anything like it. If he managed to survive 2 or 3 rounds of extremely aggressive non-stop blows, he would win. Tyson was no chump, he knew when it was show time, so I think he would have brought his A game.

[sva91]

Re: Tyson vs Ali

Wasn't Foreman Tyson before there was a Tyson?? What I'm saying is that Foreman was the beast that was knocking people out in 2 rounds, just destroying fighters, and then Ali used his smarts to slow him down finally KO'ing him..

With that said, I think Tyson was much quicker than Foreman, so that might give Ali some problems, but the quality of boxers in Ali's days compared to Tyson's was much higher. I would take Ali 7 out of 10 times. Tyson would beat his opponent pschologically before the fight would begin, once he fought someone he wouldn't back down and fight back(Douglas, Holyfield, Lewis) he would totally lose his mind. Ali would probably get into Tyson's head more than any fighter Tyson had ever fought.