Who do you reckon he could've beaten ? My picks would be - Jess Willard Ingemmar Johansson Leon Spinks Michael Spinks Michael Moorer Shannon Briggs
He could definitely beat Moorer and Leon Spinks, but if we're talking best for best, I don't see that he would be a favourite. I also don't think he would be a favourite against Willard in Willard's own era. Willard probably wouldn't be champion in any other era, but over 40 rounds he's pretty difficult to beat. Johansson was certainly a better technician and possibly a better puncher. I don't think Lyle has much chance there. I feel pretty convinced that Lyle would lose to Micheal Spinks more often than not. So, for me, Briggs. Lyle never KO'd a ranked fighter, I don't think, and he's not outboxing any of these guys.
Of fighters not mentioned, I think that he almost certainly beats Old Foreman. And Michael Moorer. Of the best fighters tht i think he would favour his chances against, i thiink that Lennox and Wlad might consider him a very dangerous hurdle, especially if he catches them clean early.
He wasn't ranked at that time. If he was, he's the only ranked fighter Lyle ever KO'd. Handing out knockout wins over champs seems a little optimistic in the light of this fact.
I'd give him a good chance against Leon, who didn't look that impressive against a worse Ali than the one Lyle fought impressively. I'd make him a slight favourite. I'd also pick him to beat Moorer. If he can hurt Foreman that badly, he's going to KO Moorer. He loses to Johanssen and Spinks. Very boxers vs. a good puncher. Willard would also be too strong and wear him down. It's hard to judge with Marvin Hart, but I see no reason, given Hart's record, to think that Lyle couldn't beat him. He outboxers Old Foreman in a 12 round bout. I'd pick Lyle against Primo Carnera and James J. Braddock, though I think they were all roughly on the same level. Of course Lyle would beat Briggs, though I think it would be a really entertaing slugfest like Lyle-Foreman or Lyle-Shavers, and Briggs would have an outside chance.
If Braddock was defending his title against Lyle i'd be very, very confident in picking Braddock. His jaw was near-iron and he was hard to hit that clean anyway, and fit and healthy he was awkward and frustrating. Baer lost because he didn't have the sophistication or layers to his game that would allow him to solve Braddock to the necessary degree to outpoint him. Lyle would be exactly the same. He's a tough man. Tough man shouldn't be messing with no Irish.
I don't think that awkward or frustrating fighters did particuarly well against Lyle. I also think that reducing Lyle to a "tough man" basically ignores most of his best work as a boxer. I expect Lyle to win because I expect him to win more rounds and I don't see Braddock taking him out late.
I don't think Lyle has that kind of generalship. I think, like Baer, he would end up fighting Braddock's fight and I think it's unlikley that he wins more rounds in that type of contest. When I called Lyle a tough man I didn't mean to sound in any way disparaging.
Lyle could be a tough opponent for anyone, but the problem was that he wasn't consistant enough to make him a solid pic over too many guys who genuinely made it to the top of their class. Jimmy Young and Jerry Quarry outboxed him convincingly.. Ali was past it, yet managed to get a stoppage win.. Foreman struggled heavily in one of the most entertaining HW bouts of all time against Ron, but was also coming off a 15 month layoff and a devastating defeat. My guess is that if George had fought Lyle on the night be beat Frazier, it may have ended sooner, minus the knockdowns he sustained. Earnie Shavers nearly had him out, and according to Shavers, Ron benefitted from a long count by the referee. If Jimmy Ellis had been a few years younger, he might have taken a win over Lyle as well... I just don't see Ron Lyle doing very well against the elite of most eras. He is most noted for giving good losing efforts to top fighters, or beating faded contenders on the way down. Somewhat of a razor Ruddockesque career if you will. He'd probably beat guys like Leon Spinks, but there are men we've never even heard of who could have done that. A lot of people have picked him to beat Michael Moorer, but I am sort of up in there on that one.. For one thing, we don't know how he'd do against a good competant south paw and one who hit hard like Moorer.. There have been some questions about Moorer's chin, which I agree was shaky, but it wasn't exactly made of pure glass either.... He rose off the canvas to beat both Burt Cooper and Evander Holyfield ( albeit holy in bad shape ), and took some heavy shots from an aged, but still hard hitting Smith.. Lyle did the best he could with the career he was handed... He didn't make his debut until age 30, and didn't ascend to the rankings until something like 35, and had the misfortune of having to compete in one of the toughest period's of the division's history.. Can't fault him for acheiving what he did under the circumstances... But asside from being a long shot who "got by" I don't see him as being a monster in head to head fantasy fights.
again though, my issue with lyle is not his skills (which were evident) but in using those skills to beat elite opposition (which he didn't, despite numerous opportunities)
Rahman...he KOs Rahman. Probably decisions Briggs like the Bugner fight. Two of the worst lineal Champions ever, so not saying much. Moorer/Lyle would be an intersting toss up with some knockdowns I think.
moorer/lyle is a pick em and by far the most interesting of those mentioned to me. moorer, like lyle, had sound fundamentals but i think he edges this. power is likely about even and neither had the sturdiest chin. you're probably right and knockdowns would be traded like hotcakes, but in the end i see moorer getting up one more time than lyle.
In my opinion...He would beat Willard, Johansson, Leon Spinks, Moorer......60-40 against Briggs, Michael Spinks would beat him....
