Talent wise Tyson was athe greatest HW ever

I must agree with you, talent-wise, Tyson was the most talented. Great hand speed and footspeed for a puncher, hit like a mule kicks, counterpunched very well for a puncher, had defensive acuity not seen in most pure punchers, very good reflexes, underrated boxing skills and jab, head movement that made him a hard target, always threw in combination, had a tungsten chin, and adequate stamina.

 

Well, he's not going to finish off Ali quickley, I can tell you that much. I also have my doubts about him beating Foreaman, for stylistic reasons. That said, I agree with you that the man is underrated in terms of talent and how great he was. The haters on this site have surpassed the nuthuggers in their idiocy and as of late, have even tried to deny the man the right as youngest champ of all time, on the technicality that he didn't beat Spinks until nearly his 22nd birthday. Frankly, I think people are disenchanted by his criminal background and less than desirable personality. Nevertheless,this shouldn't have an impact on how great he truly was.

 

He's in the top bracket, but he's sure not on his own.

 

Talent wise, he's up there, but then comes the fact that he's smaller than most of the other greats we'd be puttting him up against.

Also, regarding the bolded point, if you believe that, then you do believe he was beatable. So, if Bonecrusher Smith, James Quick Tillis, Mitch Green, and guys like that could go the distance with him, what makes you think Ali couldn't drag him out and start to gain the advantage the longer the fight goes on?

 

In that case, James Quick Tillis was one who used a style very similar to Ali's, just not nearly as effective, and didn't have nearly as good a chin.

 

Tyson is the most overrated fighter on these forums.

 

NO way does Tyson KO Ali. If there's one thing any version of Tyson couldn't do, it was ahndle a guy who knew how to clinch. Who was the greatest clincher of them all? Besides, Ali would get into Tyson's weak psyche. Tyson was used to being the one doing the intimidating. Ali wasn't gonna be intimidated, just like vs. Liston or Foreman.

And Tyson DID decelerate in the late rounds.

 

I am a fan of pre-Buster Tyson but Ali had at least as much talent, was longer, had better ability to make changes in the ring, had more unpredictable ring movement, would win the psychology games, and never got KTFO. Tyson punched harder than Ali, but the shots he took from Frazier and Foreman etc. shows how well Ali can handle it on the chin. He also faced much stiffer competition over a period of 15 years. Think about it. Sonny Liston was Ali's first championship fight! Pre-Buster Tyson never faced anyone that good, old Homes?, Spinks? Tony Tucker?

 

I recently watched some Tyson stuff on ESPN Classic and was thinking about how good he really was at his best. However, Put Iron Mike in a 15 rounder with "The Greatest" and Ali wins every time. Tyson did not hit harder than Big George, and Ali laid on the ropes and took everything Foreman could throw, and then at the bell he whispered in George's ear, "Is that all you got George?" WTF! Given what we now know about Tyson's psyche I'm confindent that Ali would ruin him emotionally with that same kind of stuff in the early rounds. Once Mike's psyche was good and battered Ali would step on the gas and take over physically.

The original poster mentioned that against Foreman Tyson would throw and land 3 while George lands one. The problem is I don't think Tyson would knock George out. As long as Foreman is still standing, he's still dangerous. If Buster Douglas KOs Tyson, so does George.

In a 15 round fight I think Tyson over Marciano is one helluva stretch! Here again, it's an issue of mike's fragile emotions. He would not be able to deal with a Marciano who keeps getting up, and keeps coming. Consequently Rocky beats him by a narrow decision or late tko.

But hey! Even being discussed among the greatest of all time is pretty damn good for a guy whose time on top lasted about as long as a fart in a wind storm!

Boo

 

Well he is now. Don't these people recognise that many of the true greats woulds be able to hang in there and turn this into a battle of wills and/or mental psychology? That's what would happen, especially Ali. Holyfield did of course.

 

Of course, but "Mike was too green" will be the usual answer. Just like he was past prime; Cus died; Rooney left; he was upset because a woman wouldn't let him have sex with her while she was under anaesthetic getting her wisdom teeth out; he was sluggish because he was trying to hide his hard-on when not working insde against Pinklon Thomas; his mind wasn't right because Jacobs wouldn't teach him his best handball moves; the fight started at 9.50pm and Mike had trained to peak at 9.42.

 

:rofl :rofl :rofl