How people believe that Ali said in an interview that in their primes Tyson would beat him?

Question

MY POINT WAS THAT SOME MADE THAT STAMENT IN YAHOO BOXING. I HOPE IS READING THIS NOW!!!

I AM WAITING FOR INPUT FROM:
BRAD
FRANK
L L VETTE
PANCHO
SANTA
TOUGH GUY
ROMEO
GARRET T
BLACK PANTHER
AND ANYBODY ELSE THAT I MISSED

MY PEEPS (PEOPLES) IN BOXING YAHOO ARE THE GREATEST OF ALL- TIIII---MMMEE.

EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT CHOP SUEY IS MADE FROM LEFT OVERS.

TO METABOLIC - YOUR THOUGHT PROCESS IS SLOW AND ILLOGICAL. LET ME MAKE THESE POINTS AND THEN I AM FINISHED WITH YOU.

1). WHEN HE GOT TAGGED A LOT, HE WAS NOT IN HIS PRIME.
2). HENRY COOPER TAGGED HIM BECAUSE HE WAS CLOWNING AROUND.
3). TO MY KNOWLEDGE ALI WAS FLOORED ONLY 3 TIMES
4). ANY FIGHTER THAT GETS HIT A LOT AND DOESN'T GO DOWN MEANS THE FIGHTER HAS A GREAT CHIN/HEART.

Answer 1

Tyson beat Ali? No way! Ali was the greatest heavyweight ever to lace up a pair of gloves! He may have said it out of respect to Mike, but i guarantee you he didn't mean it or he wasn't serious. This is a man who told us for his whole career that he was "The Greatest", and suddenly he's going to give that up to another fighter? I don't think so! A prime Ali would have dominated even a prime Tyson. Ali in his prime was almost untouchable! Speed, footwork, defense, quickness, accurate punching, he had it all. And Metabolic thinks Tyson would have ko'd Ali? Say What? Give me some of what you're sipping on buddy! Foreman couldn't ko Ali, Frazier couldn't ko Ali, Liston couldn't ko Ali, and even the huge punching Earnie Shavers couldn't ko Ali, and these were some of the most powerful punchers in boxing history. Ali would have knocked Tyson out by the 9th round!

Answer 2

Ignoring what's blatantly obvious, the viewer of these streams has to "read between the lines" or take it in context of the situation. It seems quite apparent that Ali was showing respect for the young champ, being a consumate gentleman and professional means you can shower compliments on others. So, yes he did say Mike would've KOd him. A compliment to a young champ.

The fact is that Tyson's destruction at the hands of Buster Douglas was more or less (less so as not to put The Greatest on par with Buster) from a blueprint of Ali's style and tactics to aggravate and frustrate the opponent. Douglas got into Tyson's head, he used a long jab (often doubling and tripling the jab), lateral movement, and quick combinations from the outside to keep Mike at bay. If Mike rushed in or appeared to be gaining momentum tie him up and smother him til the aggression dissipated (been there done that since Ali made these tactics commonplace to him).

Also, Ali’s chin is and was in my opinion the best in that division's history. He stood toe to toe and absorbed the bombs of Liston, Frazier, Foreman, and Shavers. Tyson's KO power would be no different and not surprising for Muhammad. Ali would control the ring center in punishing Tyson physically. Ali would've taunted Mike using psychological mind games to chip away at him mentally, to make the defeat total. Ali by late TKO or lopsided unanimous decision. The biggest concern for Ali would've been wheter he leaves the ring with two ears or one and a half.

Answer 3

I think Pancho and commander vader have got it right, if this had been said by Ali it would of been out of politeness and courtesy, but i also dont think for one minute that the greatest Heavyweight of all time is going to say that, it just isnt like him, after telling everyone how great he is for the whole of his career i cant see him saying that someone is possibly greater, and anyway if he had said this we all know it just isnt true, Tyson was just a lot less talented version of Frazier and we all know what Ali did to Joe in those 3 superb fights, Frazier pushed Ali a lot harder than Tyson would.

ADDITION

I have just watched the links and he does say it, but it is quite obviously tongue in cheek, Ali is asked who would win between himself and Mike and he points towards Tyson but then the whole crowd stand up and start chanting "Ali, Ali" then Mike tells everybody in the room that he is no doubt that Ali would beat him and that Ali is the greatest of all time, which we all knew anyway. End of argument.

Answer 4

I think Ali was just being modest or either joking around if he said that. Ali in his prime would've been to fast and smart for Tyson in his prime. I'm not saying it would've been an easy fight for Ali because Mike in his prime was a terror, but Ali would've out boxed and frustrated Mike. And Ali had a great chin so i doubt if Mike would've knocked him out. James "Quick" Tillis, a fighter who fought with a style similar to Ali's, gave a young Tyson fits when they fought with speed, a good jab, and movement and we all know that Tillis is no Ali. I believe Ali outboxes Mike and takes a decision.

Answer 5

I remember watching this show and I also just watched it again. Muhammad Ali was one of the nicest people outside of the ring and away from promoting fights. He has always felt bad the way he treated Joe Frazier during the promotion of those fights. He was just being courtious to Mike Tyson. I don't agree with some of the people here who say this would be an easy fight for Muhammad Ali but he would win.

Answer 6

ALI would have whooped Tyson, Tyson was to predictable well Ali floated like a butterfly and stung like a bee!

Answer 7

Ali was just being nice and generous.If a slightly over the hill James Tillis can handle Mike, think of what Ali would do to him.

Answer 8

I agree with Brent, Ali was being nice. Tyson has to put a glove on Ali to knock him out and no one ever knocked Ali out. Tyson would get frustrated and quit or get disqualified on purpose. Ali would have the answer to Tyson....

Answer 9

If he did he was being nice. In his book "Muhammad Ali - His Life and Times" He stated that Tyson would be easy to time. His style was predictable and if matched in their respective primes he would have whupped Tyson.

Answer 10

Hey Smitty! I don't recall Ali ever saying that anyone could beat him. I believe he would have frustrated Tyson if they could have fought and won either a very comfortable decision or by TKO.