I dont know if anyone remembers but Rocky was BEAT by Apollo Creed. It was only after they became friends that Rocky started to excel.
Ali beat foreman who was probably the baddest heavyweight that ever stepped into the ring. Secondly, Tyson had little boxing skill, he was a headhunter. I think that Ali would have out thought tyson and ultimately beat him. Tyson really wasn't half the man Ali was, and character alone would have been a factor. Foreman was tyson in a lot of ways, he took you out. It wasn't the rope a dope that beat Foreman it was the mental aspect and with tyson, even in his prime he couldn't deal with Ali's mental edge.
John L. Sullivan In the last bare knuckled championship fight, the Boston Strong Boy won when his opponent's trainer threw in the towel ... IN THE 75th ROUND. Boxing with a set number of rounds is stupid. "You got an all-out prize fight, you wait 'til the fight's over, one guy's left standing and that's how you know who's won."
You are comparing apples to oranges. Ali did not have the same workout information, access to tools, techonlogy, training, things had just evolved from there so the style was different so its not fair to say who would've won against eachother. All yo ucan do is compare their respective greatness in the context of their times. Tyson was a physical specimen unmatched with his power and speed which made him dominant. Ali as noted above was quick and just a smart boxer, given the context of their respective times, I go with Ali
I don't recall a figther that was as strong and fast as Tyson during the Ali era. They had a different game. Iron Mike was a one of a kind heavyweight. And He beat himself.
Except tyson was youngest heavy weight champion of the world in history. The young tyson was not only fast and strong, but very skilled and motivated.Watch his head movement in his early fights vs his later fights. However, I think the size think would have been a problem for him.
Mike Tyson's signature wins were against Michael Spinks and Larry Holmes. Ali beat Liston, Frazier, Foreman, and Norton. I don't know how this is even debatable. I'm not sure that Mike Tyson was a better boxer than Evander Holyfield in their respective primes.
Ali would win that fight before they entered the ring. First clinch Ali would whisper, "That's all you got boy?" Second clinch, "You talk with a lisp boy." After Tyson goes down, "What's my name?" He would have Tyson so psyched up & out that Ali would need ear protectors. Ali in his prime would butcher him.
As is...Ali. However, it's scary to think how good Mike could have been since we never really saw his full potential. His dominance at such a youn age (no matter who he was fighting) was amazing. Even so, if they fought 10 times i think a 21 year old Mike still takes Ali in 3 fights, simply because of his amazing power. With more experience, more training, more wisdom, less psycho, etc...i think a case could be made to say Mike could take over half.
I actually can't believe Tyson got a vote. I think that is because so many people remember how intimidating Tyson was and he practically won all of his fights before he ever stepped into the ring. The true measure of a fighter is their heart, and Tyson had none. You punch him in the face and it was all over.
I'm the biggest Tyson fan in the world and even I have to admit this comparison is crazy lopsided in Ali's favor. Ali vs. Tyson would have been fun to watch, though. My guess is it wouldn't make it past the sixth round -- either way.
For those mentioning Tyson's jail time, you seem to forget that Ali lost a few years of his prime because of the whole Vietnam thing, arguement works both ways.
The jail time isn't really the issue. The mental health is the key and why Tyson isn't a viable option.
My post was more in response to those saying we never saw how good Tyson was because of the jail time.
