Anyone think Tyson would have taken Ali's head clean off if they were to meet in their primes. No disrespect to Ali but Tyson's power and speed were crippling.
Ali in his prime. Even when not in his prime Ali already beat his generation's version of Tyson in his prime: George Foreman. He also went toe-to-toe with one of the most brutal heavyweights in history in Joe Frazier.
Ali in his prime. Even when not in his prime Ali already beat his generation's version of Tyson in his prime: George Foreman. He also went toe-to-toe with one of the most brutal heavyweights in history in Joe Frazier.
Buck_Hotep
Foreman didn't have one fifth the speed and instinct Tyson had. Foreman had power and not much else.
There is no question that Ali would have destroyed Tyson at any time of either man's career. If Holyfield, Lennox Lewis or even Buster Douglas could make him mentally quit, Ali might have killed him with 10,000 straight punches. Tyson broke down when opposed, and Ali broke people down exceptionally well.
Ali, and it would not have even been close. If you watched Tyson's fights, and I think I saw almost all of them, he was unstoppable early, but like the schoolyard bully once he got hit back it was over. It was all mental with Tyson, he could have been one of the greats, but once he realized he wasn't the "baddest man on the planet", he was gunshy and timid, never committing to any one strategy if he was in with a decent opponent. Ali would have been in his head before the contract was even signed.
Ali in his prime. Even when not in his prime Ali already beat his generation's version of Tyson in his prime: George Foreman. He also went toe-to-toe with one of the most brutal heavyweights in history in Joe Frazier.
savebattery
Foreman didn't have one fifth the speed and instinct Tyson had. Foreman had power and not much else.
Well, I wouldn't discount the not so much else outside of the killer hands on Foreman. I've watched footage of his fights and in his prime he was fast. Not Tyson fast, but faster than most people nowadays remember him. I can't even put Tyson in the top ten top heavyweights of all-time even in his prime just for the fact that if one looked at his level of competition it doesn't compare to Ali's in his prime. There's a reason why people saw Tyson as the savior of the heavyweight division during his rise to the top. The heavyweight fighters of the mid to late 80's were not that good.
Ali was the greatest. He was not only quick on his feet but knew how to move and had good punching power. He is the perfect example of a great Out Boxer. Also he never bit somebodies ****** ear off.
There is no question that Ali would have destroyed Tyson at any time of either man's career. If Holyfield, Lennox Lewis or even Buster Douglas could make him mentally quit, Ali might have killed him with 10,000 straight punches. Tyson broke down when opposed, and Ali broke people down exceptionally well.
hillelslovak
I'm not talking about the Tyson who lost too Holyfeild, Lennox or even Douglas.... when Tyson was at his best he was invincible (did you know he and Lennox sparred when they were in their teens and Tyson knocked him out of the ring? Tyson walked through the entire division and obliterated everything in his path. No disrespect to Ali, but he got knocked down alot in his career. I dont even think he would have survived the first two rounds against tyson, and if he did get knocked down, he wouldnt get up.
I think it could go either way....but I am more inclined to give the edge to Tyson.
He was an incredibly fast fighter, with technique, skill, and an ass load of power.
clayron
Tyson's technique was less to him being a great tactician and more of who was giving him instructions in his early days. Once Cus D'Amato passed away Tyson was never the same. Tyson's advantage was when he fought in close. He wasn't what you would call the traditional heavyweight. His reach was always shorter than his opponents. He lived and died in-close with bodyshots and the devastating uppercut when an opening presented itself. Buster Douglas is not what I would call a top-tier or even third-tier heavyweight but he followed his corner's advice and kept Tyson in check with fast jabs from his much longer reach. Ali did the same against Frazier in their third fight in Manila.
There is no question that Ali would have destroyed Tyson at any time of either man's career. If Holyfield, Lennox Lewis or even Buster Douglas could make him mentally quit, Ali might have killed him with 10,000 straight punches. Tyson broke down when opposed, and Ali broke people down exceptionally well.
tigermario
I'm not talking about the Tyson who lost too Holyfeild, Lennox or even Douglas.... when Tyson was at his best he was invincible (did you know he and Lennox sparred when they were in their teens and Tyson knocked him out of the ring? Tyson walked through the entire division and obliterated everything in his path. No disrespect to Ali, but he got knocked down alot in his career. I dont even think he would have survived the first two rounds against tyson, and if he did get knocked down, he wouldnt get up. Tyson was invincible against total and absolute scrubs, there is no disputing that. And yeah, he ko'd Lewis when he was older and Lewis had not even come close to developing fully. And watch Ali get knocked down, he always came right back up and was never hurt. What would Tyson do WHEN he couldn't even find Ali and Ali was cutting his face up with jabs? He would quit. Explosive power is nullified by a huge disparity in reach and when the other person had better speed and reflexes as well.
There is no question that Ali would have destroyed Tyson at any time of either man's career. If Holyfield, Lennox Lewis or even Buster Douglas could make him mentally quit, Ali might have killed him with 10,000 straight punches. Tyson broke down when opposed, and Ali broke people down exceptionally well.
tigermario
I'm not talking about the Tyson who lost too Holyfeild, Lennox or even Douglas.... when Tyson was at his best he was invincible (did you know he and Lennox sparred when they were in their teens and Tyson knocked him out of the ring? Tyson walked through the entire division and obliterated everything in his path. No disrespect to Ali, but he got knocked down alot in his career. I dont even think he would have survived the first two rounds against tyson, and if he did get knocked down, he wouldnt get up.
I'd say that would be a debate that will be forever be talked about, but I highly doubt Ali wouldn't last two rounds. Ali prepared and asjusted his fighting technique according to who he fought. People thought Foreman would kill him in their fight. Foreman devastated every opponent he fought until Ali and Ali pretty much used his smarts to tire the stronger man out.
Tyson's heyday he never went beyond the 5th round (I don't even think he got passed the 3rd in any of his fights). Again, I will point out the level of competition when he rose through the heavyweight class and when he unified the three sanctioned belts were mediocre to average at best. The one time Ali lost in what could be considered still his prime years was against Frazier and Ali had just returned from being in prison for dodging the draft. To say that Ali couldn't take Tyson's power punches haven't seen Ali fight or only seen clips. There's a reason the man is suffering Parkinson's. He took the hits and managed to survive them until too much damage was finally done to his brain in his later years.
[QUOTE="oniwabon27"]i give it to tyson. tyson's style is very simular to frazier's but more complete and frasier gave ali the most problems.hillelslovak
Except Frazier had cardio, the will to win and defense.........
I think people forget that the Thrilla in Manila fight almost had both fighters dying in the ring. That's how much will both fighters had. Frazier's corner pretty much threw in the towel despite Frazier telling them no. Ali wasn't far behind and probably would've died in the ring or after if the fight had gone the distance. The Ali/Frazier fights were like the Rocky/Creed fights but except it was for real and with both actually playing defense while attacking.
Ali, and it would not have even been close. If you watched Tyson's fights, and I think I saw almost all of them, he was unstoppable early, but like the schoolyard bully once he got hit back it was over. It was all mental with Tyson, he could have been one of the greats, but once he realized he wasn't the "baddest man on the planet", he was gunshy and timid, never committing to any one strategy if he was in with a decent opponent. Ali would have been in his head before the contract was even signed.btaylor2404
[QUOTE="btaylor2404"]Ali, and it would not have even been close. If you watched Tyson's fights, and I think I saw almost all of them, he was unstoppable early, but like the schoolyard bully once he got hit back it was over. It was all mental with Tyson, he could have been one of the greats, but once he realized he wasn't the "baddest man on the planet", he was gunshy and timid, never committing to any one strategy if he was in with a decent opponent. Ali would have been in his head before the contract was even signed.andyboiii
well said my friend Well thank you, I don't see how a boxing fan can even compare the two. So much of boxing is confidence (I know this too well, my favorite fighter and friend Jermaine Taylor has none) and without it talent or power doesn't matter a bit.
Well thank you, I don't see how a boxing fan can even compare the two. So much of boxing is confidence (I know this too well, my favorite fighter and friend Jermaine Taylor has none) and without it talent or power doesn't matter a bit.btaylor2404
A lot of people were so mesmerized by the way Tyson quickly knocked out his opponents but those opponents he knocked out are nothing compared to Foreman or Frazier. Not only that but Ali was just as quick and he could go the distance if he had to because he was a well conditioned athlete
[QUOTE="andyboiii"][QUOTE="btaylor2404"]Ali, and it would not have even been close. If you watched Tyson's fights, and I think I saw almost all of them, he was unstoppable early, but like the schoolyard bully once he got hit back it was over. It was all mental with Tyson, he could have been one of the greats, but once he realized he wasn't the "baddest man on the planet", he was gunshy and timid, never committing to any one strategy if he was in with a decent opponent. Ali would have been in his head before the contract was even signed.btaylor2404
well said my friend Well thank you, I don't see how a boxing fan can even compare the two. So much of boxing is confidence (I know this too well, my favorite fighter and friend Jermaine Taylor has none) and without it talent or power doesn't matter a bit.Still disagree. As the other guy put it, Mike Tyson is like Joe Frazier on steroids, Tyson's meaner, hits harder, faster, and has a killer instinct like Joe Dempsy. Styles make fights and Frazier had a similar style to Tyson, and he gave Ali all kinds of problems. A short fighter with a good inside game game is bad news for Ali. To say it would not have been close is a joke. You could never underestimate a fighter with the one punch knockout power of Tyson. Ali does too much dancing and clowning. If Tyson gets a fighter in trouble he finshes nearly every time. Iron Mike 2nd round ko.
[QUOTE="btaylor2404"][QUOTE="andyboiii"] well said my friendtigermario
Well thank you, I don't see how a boxing fan can even compare the two. So much of boxing is confidence (I know this too well, my favorite fighter and friend Jermaine Taylor has none) and without it talent or power doesn't matter a bit.Still disagree. As the other guy put it, Mike Tyson is like Joe Frazier on steroids, Tyson's meaner, hits harder, faster, and has a killer instinct like Joe Dempsy. Styles make fights and Frazier had a similar style to Tyson, and he gave Ali all kinds of problems. A short fighter with a good inside game game is bad news for Ali. To say it would not have been close is a joke. You could never underestimate a fighter with the one punch knockout power of Tyson. Ali does too much dancing and clowning. If Tyson gets a fighter in trouble he finshes nearly every time. Iron Mike 2nd round ko.
The fast footwork and great balance you seem to mistake for dancing around and clowning. All the best fighters were quick on their feet and well-balanced. If any, people underestimated Ali's punching power. Ali had middleweight speed, stamina and footwork in combination to heavyweight power. While I don't think he'll have an easy time with Tyson I don't see him falling into a brawl against Tyson.
I also think Frazier was and is a better fighter than Tyson. Tyson was on his way to being one of the greats but it took one death for him to start a downward spiral to what we see now. Take Cus D'Amato out of the equation and Tyson was nowhere as good as he was when he had D'Amato giving him instructions in his corner. Bert Sugar, a man whose opinion I rspect a lot, wouldn't even put Tyson in the same league. People just see Tyson's killer KO's of average to mediocre opponents and think he was the best ever. The moment he started fighting opponents who used their advantages against him he faltered. I mean, come on, Buster Douglas.
[QUOTE="btaylor2404"][QUOTE="andyboiii"] well said my friendtigermario
Well thank you, I don't see how a boxing fan can even compare the two. So much of boxing is confidence (I know this too well, my favorite fighter and friend Jermaine Taylor has none) and without it talent or power doesn't matter a bit.Still disagree. As the other guy put it, Mike Tyson is like Joe Frazier on steroids, Tyson's meaner, hits harder, faster, and has a killer instinct like Joe Dempsy. Styles make fights and Frazier had a similar style to Tyson, and he gave Ali all kinds of problems. A short fighter with a good inside game game is bad news for Ali. To say it would not have been close is a joke. You could never underestimate a fighter with the one punch knockout power of Tyson. Ali does too much dancing and clowning. If Tyson gets a fighter in trouble he finshes nearly every time. Iron Mike 2nd round ko.
Ali did not clown. It was his superb footwork and defensive skills. Tyson was nothing like Frazier. Joe Frazier would set up his offense, get inside, and wear the opponent down round by round. To say Tyson wore fighters down would be stupid. His power was devestating, yes, but if you can't hit someone and they make you look like a fool WHILE hitting you, AND you abandon your gameplan and go for that one big shot, you're screwed. Holyfield broke Tyson down simply by taking his punches and beat him down, so what would Tyson do against someone like Ali when he was missing, getting very tired, and being systematically broken down? He would lose, and lose badly.
Log in to comment