once and for all - muhammed ali vs mike tyson, in their primes...who takes it?

Answer 1

i think the only fighter that would give ali a decent fight in their prime is rocky marciano,,,ali would still prevail against all..he had the physical and mental prowess that found a way to beat anyone

Answer 2

Are the people that picked Tyson serious? There is no way that in his prime, Cassius Clay loses to Tyson.

For one, Clay was a much better strategic boxer then Tyson could imagine. Ali knew how to get a boxer in to the later rounds, which was Iron Mike's weakness. Generally, if Tyson couldn't knock someone out in the 1st 3 rounds, it usually went late, where Ali would just dissect him.

Secondly, Tyson was quite possibly the greatest puncher, but not much of a fighter. Ali was one of the best punchers as well as one of the best pugilists.

Finally, Tyson, for a heavyweight, was short for that division and therefore needed to get inside and control the fight. Ali is 6'3" while Iron Mike is only 5'9" giving Ali a HUGE advantage in reach, which would keep Mike out of his kitchen.

I'm not saying Ali would knock down Kid Dynamite in the 1st round, but Tyson is not a good enough of an overall boxer to take down Ali. If they would have 10 matches, I would figure Ali to win 7.

Answer 3

There are so many reasons Ali would beat Tyson that its ridiculous. First of all, strategy is key in any fight. Tyson cant spell strategy while Ali is a virtual chess master in the ring. Everyone who thinks that Ali would not withstand Tyson's power forgets that Ali, in his prime and past his prime, fought and beat the hardest punchers in the history of the sport. Just to name a few: Foreman, Frazier, Norton, Shavers, Liston. All of these men had power comparable if not greater than Tyson and were tougher in general to beat. With the exception of Frazier, who only had a great left hook, all of them had a vast arsenal and could end the fight with any punch. Tyson has 3 punches (left hook, overhand right, right uppercut) that he threw in the whole fight. He had no jab to speak of and did not use combinations in a way that could set up his opponent. Therefore he did not have the repertoire to defeat a strategist like Ali.
Tyson's shortcomings aside, Ali's strengths more than adequately defeat Tyson in every way possible. Ali had superior handspeed, superior footwork(which is an underestimated skill in boxing) and a greater ring saavy. Ali in his prime was underrated in power. His knockout percentage was better than average. His speed was unchallenged and in his prime Ali was nearly impossible to hit. Tyson would be tired by the second round with a connection percentage under 20%. Then it would be a matter of 2 rounds before Ali in his prime would end the fight. Past his prime Ali would have won in the later rounds, probably the 10th.

Answer 4

As great a fighter as Ali was, I suspect Tyson would have destroyed him. In pretty much every sport the althetes just get better and better with every generation. It happens because of improved training methods, better techniques learned over time, and better technology involved in training for/doing the sport. While there may be a stand-out athlete from time to time who is better than everyone before him/her and even afterwards for a few generations, Tyson and Ali both fit that description, but Tyson would have the benefit of everything that the sport of boxing had learned between Ali's prime and Tyson's.

Answer 5

Once and for all? Ali. I mean, look at his record, specifically, Rumble in the Jungle. George Foreman was fearsome in his prime, and considered unbeatable. Like Mike. Foreman didn't just beat opponents, he DESTROYED them, and quickly. Like Mike. Ali wasn't intimidated by Foreman, he sure as hell wouldn't be intimidated by Tyson. For all of Tyson's power and speed, he was never really a boxer, more of a scrapper. Ali would have out-boxed and outsmarted Mikey. Not that it would have been easy, mind. Mike would have caught him with some nasty shots. But ultimately, Ali takes it, as Mike burns himself out trying to get an early knockout. And that is the last word on the matter!

Answer 6

I must make some replies before I get started.
To goozzlenoid (Gunja Brain) - If Tyson was so good how did Douglas knock him out.

To otis t - You said today's fighters are better due to progress; I guess that means John Ruiz is better than Tyson (Duh?)

To wlvrne1964 Ali with stood these great top ranked punchers A. Moore (#4), Foreman (#9), Liston (#15) and B. Foster (#17). I don't understand why you think he could not take Tyson's best shots.

Tyson - W 50 (KO's 43) TF 58 - wins over Holmes, P. Thomas and Spinks - Ko'ed by Holyfield, L. Lewis and Douglas (average fighter) - 16th greatest puncher of all-time - 72nd greatest fighter fighter of all time - Tyson did not have Frazier's will or heart.

Ali - W 56 (KO's 35) TF 61 - wins over Frazier, Liston, Foreman and Patterson - KO 'ed by Holmes (he was near 40 yrs old) - Greatest chin/will/heart ever - great boxing skills and athletic speed/prowess - 2nd greatest fighter of all-time - Ali could out box , out point or out think anyone.

Ali would KO this boy between 7&10 rds.

Answer 7

Ali,since we are talking in their primes, if you are able to check out the sixties Ali you'll see what I'm talking about. Handspeed, speed of foot. Tyson couldn't handle that. One other thing that may be the most important of all factors, since we are all aware that Tyson is vulnerable mentally, could you imagine the trash Ali would be talking to Tyson before the fight started. He'd have Tyson's head so twisted he' be beat mentally before the fight started. Ali win by unanimous decision or TKO round 12.

Answer 8

I'd still go for Tyson. If he caught him twice the hay maker and then the finishing punch Ali would be on queer street then Tyson would take him out. There was alot of people who caught Ali with the first punch Henry Cooper, Joe Frazier but could never connect with the finishing punch. I think Mike Tyson would have been the one to do that.

Answer 9

Muhammed takes him in two. Tyson is (was) a brawler, Ali is (was) a BOXER! Ali had already taken down several brawlers like Tyson and came out laughing!
Ali takes Tyson EVERY time, and had they met even ten year ago, Ali STILL might have taken him!

Answer 10

Ali

Tyson wouldn't have the stamina. He relies on heavy punches for a quick knock-out. Ali was the master of letting the strong guy punch himself out of energy. Ali would take the blows early on and then he'd start taking care of business once the other guy was worn out. Ali was a classic case of smart fighter.

What is it 15 - 4, Ali!

There were lots of guys Ali shouldn't have beat but he found a way to beat them.

Answer 11

Ali. He'd dance around Tyson for a half-dozen rounds, letting Tyson get arm weary, then he'd beat him on points in the final rounds. It's easy to forget how good Ali was at strategy. Tyson? Strategy? Ludicrous!