Talk > Sports Chat > Ali vs. Tyson in their prime?

Ali vs. Tyson in their prime?

Oops...dupe post...hate it when that happens.

reply to TCO1962
Tough one to call, really. Two completely different types of fighters. Ali was more of a 'finesse, rope-a-dope type strategist' (and yes, a great puncher as well), where Tyson was just a bad dude in your face street brawler.
I think the fight would be very similar to some of the Ali-Frazier fights.
Certainly some "thrillas", and while I think Ali might have won it, I doubt it would have been "hands down", but rather one heck of a fight to the very finish.
(Just my personal opinion, of course).
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I had a life once.....now I have a Computer and a Modem.

reply to TCO1962
What's with ESPN nowadays? Simply reporting on sports doesn't seem to hack it there anymore. Must be the 'fantasy football' syndrome constantly gnawing away at their brain cells.

You can computer-generate anything you want, but the plain fact is those two human beings never faced off against each other in a boxing ring, so no matter what anyone does or says, speculation will always remain pure speculation, and since a fight didn't happen, won't happen, and can't happen, who cares?

Plus, you're talking about Ali at which stage of his career, and Tyson at which stage of his career? Neither one was equally good during all points of their respective careers.

Tyson at his best and Ali at his best, Ali very likely wins every time. He's taller than Tyson, has a longer reach than Tyson, and is quicker than Tyson.
Every time Tyson tries to move in close to throw a meaningful punch, Ali whaps him about the face with three or four jabs and combinations, then moves away. Over the course of a few rounds, Tyson's face swells up to where he can't see straight anymore, and the more he can't see, the better target he becomes for more punches. Not a formula for success on Tyson's end.
Not to mention Ali could take a punch as well as any fighter who ever lived, so Tyson just being able to land a couple of big blows most likely doesn't turn the tide for him.

There. There's my speculation.

And reading your post reminded me of this:

reply to TCO1962
Ali would win simply because he is a smarter man. Tyson was a purely punishing fighter, whereas Ali is a boxer. Ali would perform a combination of taking Tyson's body blows along with long periods of evasion and simply wear Tyson down.
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You're so vain... I bet you think this post is about you.

reply to TCO1962
Just lucky for them they never had to face ME in the ring. I'd have taken' the both of 'em on at the same time.
Put my "pint-a-blood-technique" on 'em, and they'd have dropped like flies!
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I had a life once.....now I have a Computer and a Modem.

reply to TCO1962
Ali lost a few fights in his prime. Tyson didn't.

reply to TCO1962
What about Rocky Marciano?

"Oh, there they go. There they go, every time I start talkin 'bout boxing, a white man got to pull Rocky Marciano out they ass."
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You're so vain... I bet you think this post is about you.

reply to TCO1962
Today is Ali's 70th Birthday.....I talked with someone this past Saturday who has been around him recently and he told me he is not doing well at all....his health it appears has taken a turn for the worse.

If anyone is interested you can send The Champ a birthday greeting at the following link. Scroll down a bit.

»www.ali.com/interact_message.php

reply to TCO1962
Would of been interesting if Ali didn't lose 3 years of boxing because of the draft. And when Tyson lost to Buster Douglas, he was in his prime at 37-0. He fought 4 more fights before he went to prison for rape. Ali didn't lose till after his 3 years out of boxing.

Ali would of frustrated & wore out Tyson and it wouldn't of been close. Sonny Liston was the "Mike Tyson" of that era when Ali beat him.

reply to TCO1962
Jackie Chan would beat them both.

reply to TCO1962
Ali ... great boxers are far better than brawlers like Tyson.

I remember this being discussed on another forum I visit and it seemed to me those favouring Tyson had grown up with him and simply didn't know much about Ali.

reply to Vathral

reply to TCO1962
Having seen each of them fight in their prime, Ali would handle Tyson pretty easily.
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their dreams a tattered sail in the wind

reply to TCO1962
Ali. The thing is, though, he spent his real "prime" out of the ring--in court--and unable to fight. (Bruce Lee, however, was still the best "fighter".)

reply to TCO1962
Ali would win everytime.

Actually Spike TV should do a simulation with their "Deadliest Warrior" show..
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