Poll: Muhammad Ali vs Mike Tyson, both in their prime.

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Who would win?

  • Ali

  • Tyson

Results are only viewable after voting.
JMapleton

JMapleton

Diamond Member
Nov 19, 2008
4,179
2
81
Mike Tyson gets a bad rap because of the bad decisions he made later in life but people forget how talented he was. Ali is put on a pedestal because of his important place in history.

http://youtu.be/vP_u808cQwo?list=UUnvWjIat376_qHNllDlamcw

Prime Mike Tyson vs Prime Muhammad Ali

Remove your preconceived notions. Remove the bad rap for Tyson. Remove Ali from his aura of historical importance. Just leave the fighters. Who would win?
 
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angminas

angminas

Diamond Member
Dec 17, 2006
3,331
26
91
That's a really, really tough question. On the one hand, prime Tyson is easily the most dangerous fighter ever...on the other hand, prime Ali was the greatest ever at doing the kind of things he'd have to do to defeat Tyson.

Ali was the most evasive heavyweight ever- he could dodge most attacks and fall back quickly to reduce the power of an opponent's punch. Ali also had the greatest chin in history- he stood up to poundings from Foreman, Shavers, etc. Tyson's one-punch power might not have brought Ali down.

Ali was also the best at head games. Tyson was frightening but easily frustrated when intimidation failed. Tyson's laser focus might have failed if Ali proved a tough nut to crack.

Ali was a master of endurance and pacing, while Tyson was known to burn out. Knowing this, Ali would dance for ten rounds to exhaust, confuse, and enrage Tyson. Once Tyson was mentally disconnected, Ali could jump in for a quick kill, just like he did with Foreman.

And, of course, Ali had a massive reach advantage on Tyson, which would play right into Ali's game plan.

To get some idea of how Ali would have fought Tyson, watch the first Holyfield fight. Tyson was never really in it, and nobody is going to say that Holyfield was as great as Ali. Of course, that was post-Cus, post-Douglas, and post-prison...Tyson was perhaps even more dangerous than he used to be physically but past his prime mentally.

I think that, at the very peak of his powers, Tyson had about 2-1 odds to defeat Ali, but no shot at all post-Douglas.
 
DigDog

DigDog

Lifer
Jun 3, 2011
14,215
2,677
126
ali if he ever made it to round 4 - which i find unlikely.

he just didn't have the preparation, nothing compared to what tyson had. different times, different technologies.
 
B

bradley

Diamond Member
Jan 9, 2000
3,671
2
81
Ali was a pure strategic boxer, Tyson a raw puncher. In baseball, it's the difference between being a pitcher and a thrower.

My vote is always for the boxer or Ali to outlast the punchers of the world, no matter how talented.
 
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angminas

angminas

Diamond Member
Dec 17, 2006
3,331
26
91
bradley said:
Ali was a pure strategic boxer, Tyson a raw puncher. In baseball, it's the difference between being a pitcher and a thrower.

My vote is always for the boxer or Ali to outlast the punchers of the world, no matter how talented.
Click to expand...

I disagree with this characterization of Tyson. He slugged because it worked, not because it was all he could do. Check out this video, especially 1:43. Gangsta rap audio track.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woTLysKIQVM
 
B

bradley

Diamond Member
Jan 9, 2000
3,671
2
81
Tyson was great, no doubt. But compared to Ali he was sometimes easily distracted, lacked stamina and much of a deep or alternative game plan. I believe Ali would have outlasted him. I also believe Ali fought a much higher caliber of fighter throughout his career.
 
OverVolt

OverVolt

Lifer
Aug 31, 2002
14,278
89
91
Mike Tyson, because his grill makes some pretty good burgers out of cheap 80/20 hamburger.
 
BarkingGhostar

BarkingGhostar

Diamond Member
Nov 20, 2009
8,410
1,617
136
I think some people forget how savage Tyson was in his youth. What was the quickest bout for each boxer?
 
SP33Demon

SP33Demon

Lifer
Jun 22, 2001
27,928
142
106
Ali. Foreman arguably hit with as much force as Tyson since he was 20-25 lbs heavier with longer limbs (arms, height 6-4). If Ali can shrug off full body blows from the musclebound mammoth of a man that was Foreman in his prime then he most certainly would have been able to take Tyson. Reach advantage, check. Endurance advantage, check. Higher boxing IQ, check. Tyson would lose in the decision.
 
z1ggy

z1ggy

Lifer
May 17, 2008
10,010
66
91
SP33Demon said:
Ali. Foreman arguably hit with as much force as Tyson since he was 20-25 lbs heavier with longer limbs (arms, height 6-4). If Ali can shrug off full body blows from the musclebound mammoth of a man that was Foreman in his prime then he most certainly would have been able to take Tyson. Reach advantage, check. Endurance advantage, check. Higher boxing IQ, check. Tyson would lose in the decision.
Click to expand...

I'd have to agree with this. I don't think Ali would get hit enough unless MT got lucky. I forget what fight it was, but Ali danced around some guy with his hands down for like 30 seconds, and didn't get hit once. Shit was cray.
 
S

smackababy

Lifer
Oct 30, 2008
27,024
79
86
Tyson wins, IMO. Ali was great, but I give the edge to Tyson.

Either way though, I think it would be one of the best fights in the history of boxing.
 
P

PokerGuy

Lifer
Jul 2, 2005
13,650
201
101
angminas said:
That's a really, really tough question. On the one hand, prime Tyson is easily the most dangerous fighter ever...on the other hand, prime Ali was the greatest ever at doing the kind of things he'd have to do to defeat Tyson.

Ali was the most evasive heavyweight ever- he could dodge most attacks and fall back quickly to reduce the power of an opponent's punch. Ali also had the greatest chin in history- he stood up to poundings from Foreman, Shavers, etc. Tyson's one-punch power might not have brought Ali down.

Ali was also the best at head games. Tyson was frightening but easily frustrated when intimidation failed. Tyson's laser focus might have failed if Ali proved a tough nut to crack.

Ali was a master of endurance and pacing, while Tyson was known to burn out. Knowing this, Ali would dance for ten rounds to exhaust, confuse, and enrage Tyson. Once Tyson was mentally disconnected, Ali could jump in for a quick kill, just like he did with Foreman.

And, of course, Ali had a massive reach advantage on Tyson, which would play right into Ali's game plan.

To get some idea of how Ali would have fought Tyson, watch the first Holyfield fight. Tyson was never really in it, and nobody is going to say that Holyfield was as great as Ali. Of course, that was post-Cus, post-Douglas, and post-prison...Tyson was perhaps even more dangerous than he used to be physically but past his prime mentally.

I think that, at the very peak of his powers, Tyson had about 2-1 odds to defeat Ali, but no shot at all post-Douglas.
Click to expand...

Excellent analysis :thumbsup:

My first thought was Tyson just from his ability to create immense immediate violence and power and dominate opponents. After reading your post, I think I've changed my mind, Ali would outsmart and outlast Tyson.
 
S

smackababy

Lifer
Oct 30, 2008
27,024
79
86
PokerGuy said:
Excellent analysis :thumbsup:

My first thought was Tyson just from his ability to create immense immediate violence and power and dominate opponents. After reading your post, I think I've changed my mind, Ali would outsmart and outlast Tyson.
Click to expand...

I don't put my faith that Ali could dance around Tyson for 10 rounds though. It is basically Russian Roulette. Ali had strong chin, but how many Tyson blows could he brush aside without slowing? People are quick to dismiss Tyson's boxing ability and say he was just some kind of beastmode rage fighter, but he wasn't. Before his divorce and outside the ring troubles (which many believe led to his upset against Douglas), he was incredible.
 
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