Who would win in a fight between Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali both in their prime?
2006-07-06 05:38:18 · 22 answers · asked by rxseventt@sbcglobal.net 1 in Sports ➔ Boxing
In his career, Ali fought several boxers with very similar characteristics to Tyson; they were fast, intimidating and heavy hitters. And he found a way to beat all of them.
As impressive as Tyson was at his peak, you have to look at the quality of those he fought against. He was clearly the best of his era..but the rest were really not truly top quality boxers. The late 1980s and 1990s saw a whole row of pretty mediocre fighters contest the Heavyweight title. Not until Lennox Lewis was there a fighter who was as good as Tyson, and by the time they finally met each other, Tyson was well past his best.
But Ali's era saw many, many great fighters; from hugely powerful and frightening thugs like Liston and Foreman, to technical and clever boxers like Patterson and Frazier.
Sure, Ali also fought several bums who were probably not worthy of sharing the same ring as him. But the main point is that he fought all the other great names of his era, and beat them. The reason he was "The Greatest" is because he proved it again and again against the very best.
Tyson was easily the best of his own era...but he was never pushed too hard to prove it, because there was no-one who was even remotely in his class. Of course, Tyson could only ever beat the guy in front of him. But its a real shame that he never fought Lennox Lewis when both were at their peak.
2006-07-06 06:07:36 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Mike Tyson was known for his power and ability to KO guys early in fights. If Ali and Tyson would've fought against eachother in their primes, I think you may have seen Ali fight much the same way you saw him fight Foreman. Weather the storm and then beat Tyson when he's tired. You wouldn't have wanted to open up against Tyson when he had his full power, because not even Ali could withstand a square hit if Tyson was fully behind the punch.
Result: Ali wins in the late rounds.
2006-07-06 05:45:46 · answer #2 · answered by Cedars Coach 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Nate Will has it right. This question is too difficult to be answered easily. Ali's brain makes him the greatest. But you can't compare Tyson to Liston, Frazier or Foreman. Tyson was a young and fast 20 year old Champion in his prime. Plus, Teddy Atlas & Kevin Rooney had him in perfect condition throwing 4 punch combos in under a second. You can easily make a case for Ali outpointing Tyson and nobody can disagree. But you can also make the case that young Tyson's 4 punch lightning fast combos could've found their mark on Ali and been a bit much. Not Liston, Frazier or Foreman threw that fast against Ali.
2006-07-07 05:29:42 · answer #3 · answered by caldenjones 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Muhammed Ali would easily have beaten Tyson even when Mike was in his prime. Ali would beat him just like he took out Foreman which was a much harder puncher & Frazier which had a lot more heart than Tyson ever did.
2006-07-06 17:40:04 · answer #4 · answered by Rey817 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Without question or hesitation.... Ali. The man was practically born to fight guys like Tyson.
2006-07-06 05:43:18 · answer #5 · answered by Miss Red 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Check out the first Clay/Liston fight on ESPN classic and insert Tyson in Liston's place.
Ali in a landslide.
I love the young Mike Tyson. The one that would shred his opponents to bits. Liston was just like Tyson, from what I've heard. He was a terror in the ring just like Tyson. But Clay just simply outclassed him.
2006-07-06 07:02:42 · answer #6 · answered by El Teke 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Ali, because even in Tysons prime he lacked heart.
2006-07-06 06:32:20 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think Ali of the 1970's would have struggled against Tyson and may have scraped a decision....he had problems with similar style fighters, such as Frazier, Norton and Shavers. The Ali, when he was Cassius Clay in the 60's would have outpointed him more comfortably.
2006-07-06 05:55:27 · answer #8 · answered by mikers1117 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Ali
2006-07-06 21:08:05 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ali would have pecked and poked his way to a win over Tyson!
2006-07-06 06:21:21 · answer #10 · answered by toughguy2 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋